Ammonia and nitrite removal rates in a closed recirculating–water system, under three load rates of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

Tasas de remoción de amoniaco y nitrito en un sistema cerrado de recirculación de agua, bajo tres cargas de trucha arco iris Oncorhynchus mykiss

J. L. Arredondo–Figueroa ¹*, G. Ingle de la Mora², I. Guerrero–Legarreta³, J. T. Ponce–Palafox⁴ and I. de los A. Barriga–Sosa¹

¹ Planta Experimental de Producción Acuícola, Departamento de Hidrobiología, y Departamento de Biotecnología, CBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana–Iztapalapa, Mexico. Av. Michoacán y La Purísima s/n, Col. Vicentina, Iztapalapa. Apartado Postal 55–535, México 09340 D.F. * Corresponding author: E–mail: afjl@xanum.uam.mx Phone (55) 58046585. Fax: (55) 58044737

² Instituto Nacional de la Pesca, Secretaría de Agricultura, Recursos Hidráulicos, Pesca y Alimentación (SEMARNAP), México, D.F. Pitágoras 1320, Colonia Santa Cruz Atoyac, Mexico 03310, D.F., Mexico.

⁴ Laboratorio de Bioingeniería Acuícola, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Apartado Postal 584, Ciudad Universitaria, Cuernavaca 62001, Cuernavaca Morelos, Mexico.

Received 9^th February 2007
Accepted 20^th November 2007

Abstract

Nitrification and denitrification rates of inorganic nitrogen were studied in a closed recirculating–water system, comparing three load rates of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (89, 156 and 194 kg in each tank with two repetitions). Six self–cleaning water circular fish tanks with a volume of 4.3 m³ were used, maintaining a 3.94 m³/day of average flow rate and constant aeration. A total of 371 rainbow trout, 524 ± 8 g initial wet weight were introduced in the system and fed with a commercial feed that contained 38% of protein. A total study time of 44 days was divided into three phases of 14, 17 and 13 days according to the load fish rate. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), un–ionized ammonia, nitrite and nitrate were daily evaluated at four monitoring sites: fish tank (FT), settling tank (ST), biofilter (B) and reconditioning tank (RT). Water physicochemical characteristics and their fluctuations played an important role in treatment efficiency. Water temperature varied between 18 °C and 20.5 °C and dissolved oxygen from 4.6 to 7.7 mg/l. The lowest values of these two variables were registered in the ST where all wastes accumulate. No significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in pH values (8.3–8.6). These conditions allowed good nitrification and denitrification rates. TAN varied from 0.2 to 1.96 mg/l; however, this value was 80% lower in the outlet (RT) as compared to the inlet (ST). The load fish rate caused a significant difference (p<0.05) in TAN and non–ionized ammonia in the FT with the lowest value for 89 kg load density as compared to 156 and 194 kg respectively. Conversely, nitrite concentration did not show a significant difference (p>0.05) among load fish rate. Nitrate concentration had an accumulative tendency at 156 kg load rate batch up to 30 days with a further decrease. The results showed that a reduction of load rate did not change apparently the equilibrium of bacteria population. Therefore, it is possible to control variables such as TAN, non–ionized ammonia and nitrite concentration, hence maintaining an adequate water quality for rainbow trout.

Keywords: closed recirculating system, denitrification, load density, nitrification rate, rainbow trout.

Se estudiaron las tasas de nitrificación y desnitrificación del nitrógeno inorgánico, en un sistema cerrado de recirculación de agua, comparando tres cargas de biomasa de trucha arco iris Oncorhynchus mykiss (89, 156 y 194 kg por estanque con dos repeticiones). Se utilizaron seis estanques circulares de autolimpieza con volumen de 4.3 m³ de volumen, con un flujo promedio diario total de agua de 10.93 m³ y aireación constante. Un total de 371 truchas arco iris con peso inicial de 524 ± 8 g fueron introducidas en el sistema y alimentadas con alimento balanceado, que contenía 38% de proteína. El estudio duró 44 días continuos, divididos en tres fases de 14, 17 y 13 días respectivamente, de acuerdo con la carga de biomasa de peces. La temperatura, oxígeno disuelto, pH, nitrógeno amoniacal total (NAT), amoniaco, nitrito y nitrato fueron evaluados diariamente en cuatro sitios de monitoreo: estanque de peces (EP), estanque de sedimentación (ES), biofiltro I (BI) y estanque de reacondicionamiento (ER). Las características fisicoquímicas del agua y la fluctuación de los parámetros jugaron un importante papel en la eficiencia del tratamiento. La temperatura del agua varió de 18 °C a 20.5 °C y el oxígeno disuelto de 4.6 a 7.7 mg/l. Los valores más bajos de estas dos variables fueron registrados en el ST donde los desechos se acumulan. No se observaron diferencias significativas (p<0.05) en los valores de pH (8.3–8.6). Estas condiciones permitieron una buena tasa de nitrificación y desnitrificación. El NAT varió de 0.2 a 1.96 mg/l, sin embargo, este valor fue 80% más bajo en la salida (ET) comparada con la entrada al sistema (ES). La carga de biomasa de peces causó una diferencia significativa (p<0.05) en los valores de NAT y amoniaco en el EP, con los valores más bajos para 89 kg, comparado con 156 y 194 kg respectivamente. Por su parte la concentración del nitrito no mostró diferencias significativas (p>0.05) entre las diferentes cargas. Las concentraciones de nitrato tuvieron una tendencia acumulativa a 156 kg hasta los 30 días con un rápido decremento. Los resultados mostraron que la reducción de la carga de biomasa de peces, no cambia aparentemente el equilibrio de la población bacteriana del biofiltro. Además, es posible controlar las variables como el NAT, el amoniaco y la concentración de nitrito, manteniendo una adecuada calidad del agua para la trucha arco iris.

Palabras clave: sistema de recirculación, desnitrificación, carga de peces, tasa de nitrificación, trucha arco iris.

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