Dániel Csontos, Zsuzsa Petra Bartal, László Bakacsy
{"title":"Removal of nitrate and phosphate by aquatic plants during aquarium‐based ornamental fish production","authors":"Dániel Csontos, Zsuzsa Petra Bartal, László Bakacsy","doi":"10.1002/naaq.10349","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"ObjectiveThe rising demand for ornamental fish and plants in aquariums is met through industrial production. However, higher production densities may negatively impact water quality (such as ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and dissolved oxygen levels), thus impacting production. This can be mitigated by utilizing specific aquatic plants to promote sustainable ornamental fish production. This study aimed to determine how the water quality in ornamental fish tanks can be improved using two floating aquarium plant species: Najas grass <jats:italic>Najas guadalupensis</jats:italic> and Java moss <jats:italic>Taxiphyllum barbieri</jats:italic>.MethodsThe efficiency of nitrate and phosphate filtration by the two plant species was determined in aquariums containing Endler Guppies <jats:italic>Poecilia wingei</jats:italic>. The duration of the study was 4 weeks, and the water quality parameters were measured weekly. The growth rates of the two plants were measured at the beginning and end of the study period.ResultNajas grass effectively maintained lower nitrate and phosphate levels while showing robust growth. By week 4, nitrate levels in control tanks rose to 33.75 and 35.00 mg/L in the two independent experiments, while nitrate in tanks with Najas grass only reached 8.75 and 11.50 mg/L. Phosphate levels in control tanks increased to 2.42 and 2.40 mg/L compared to 1.075 and 1.05 mg/L in tanks with Najas grass. In single‐species tanks, Najas grass showed a 1.6‐fold biomass increase, while Java moss showed a 1.2‐fold increase. In tanks with both species, Najas grass biomass increased significantly, whereas Java moss biomass decreased.ConclusionThe superior competitive ability of Najas grass (allelopathy and increased nutrient uptake) underlies the findings of this study and indicates that this species is a better option for maintaining low levels of nitrate and phosphate in aquarium water. This finding can contribute to creating a cleaner and healthier environment for fish species involved in industrial ornamental fish production and trade.","PeriodicalId":19258,"journal":{"name":"North American Journal of Aquaculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"North American Journal of Aquaculture","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/naaq.10349","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"FISHERIES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
ObjectiveThe rising demand for ornamental fish and plants in aquariums is met through industrial production. However, higher production densities may negatively impact water quality (such as ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and dissolved oxygen levels), thus impacting production. This can be mitigated by utilizing specific aquatic plants to promote sustainable ornamental fish production. This study aimed to determine how the water quality in ornamental fish tanks can be improved using two floating aquarium plant species: Najas grass Najas guadalupensis and Java moss Taxiphyllum barbieri.MethodsThe efficiency of nitrate and phosphate filtration by the two plant species was determined in aquariums containing Endler Guppies Poecilia wingei. The duration of the study was 4 weeks, and the water quality parameters were measured weekly. The growth rates of the two plants were measured at the beginning and end of the study period.ResultNajas grass effectively maintained lower nitrate and phosphate levels while showing robust growth. By week 4, nitrate levels in control tanks rose to 33.75 and 35.00 mg/L in the two independent experiments, while nitrate in tanks with Najas grass only reached 8.75 and 11.50 mg/L. Phosphate levels in control tanks increased to 2.42 and 2.40 mg/L compared to 1.075 and 1.05 mg/L in tanks with Najas grass. In single‐species tanks, Najas grass showed a 1.6‐fold biomass increase, while Java moss showed a 1.2‐fold increase. In tanks with both species, Najas grass biomass increased significantly, whereas Java moss biomass decreased.ConclusionThe superior competitive ability of Najas grass (allelopathy and increased nutrient uptake) underlies the findings of this study and indicates that this species is a better option for maintaining low levels of nitrate and phosphate in aquarium water. This finding can contribute to creating a cleaner and healthier environment for fish species involved in industrial ornamental fish production and trade.
期刊介绍:
The North American Journal of Aquaculture publishes papers on new research and practical experience in all areas of intensive and extensive fish culture. Topics include broodstock selection and spawning, nutrition and feeding, health and water quality, facilities and production technology, and the management of ponds, pens, and raceways.
The journal will consider papers dealing with ways to improve the husbandry of any aquatic species—marine or freshwater, vertebrate or invertebrate—raised for commercial, scientific, recreational, enhancement, or restoration purposes that may be of interest to practitioners in North America. Its scope includes both basic and applied science, but applied scientific endeavors—including practical experiences, descriptive studies, and other nontraditional, but pertinent works—are emphasized.