Recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) depend on nitrifying biofilters for the maintenance of water quality, increased biosecurity and environmental sustainability. To satisfy these requirements a packed bed bioreactor (PBBR) activated with indigenous nitrifying bacterial consortia has been developed and commercialized for operation under different salinities for instant nitrification in shrimp and prawn hatchery systems. In the present study the nitrification efficiency of the bioreactor was tested in a laboratory level recirculating aquaculture system for the rearing of Penaeus monodon for a period of two months under higher feeding rates and no water exchange. Rapid setting up of nitrification was observed during the operation, as the volumetric total ammonia nitrogen removal rates (VTR) increased with total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) production in the system. The average Volumetric TAN Removal Rates (VTR) at the feeding rate of 160 g/day from 54–60th days of culture was 0.1533 ± 0.0045 kg TAN/m3/day. The regression between VTR and TAN explained 86% variability in VTR (P < 0.001). The laboratory level RAS demonstrated here showed high performance both in terms of shrimp biomass yield and nitrification and environmental quality maintenance. Fluorescent in-situ Hybridization analysis of the reactor biofilm ensured the presence of autotrophic nitrifier groups such as Nitrosococcus mobilis lineage, Nitrobacter spp and phylum Nitrospira, the constituent members present in the original consortia used for activating the reactors. This showed the stability of the consortia on long term operation.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
February 01 2010
Nitrification in brackish water recirculating aquaculture system integrated with activated packed bed bioreactor
V. J. Rejish Kumar;
1National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Lake Side Campus, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi 682016, India E-mail: rejishkumar@gmail.com; valsamma@cusat.ac.in; bsingh@md3.vsnl.net.in
E-mail: rejishkumar@gmail.com
Search for other works by this author on:
Valsamma Joseph;
Valsamma Joseph
1National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Lake Side Campus, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi 682016, India E-mail: rejishkumar@gmail.com; valsamma@cusat.ac.in; bsingh@md3.vsnl.net.in
Search for other works by this author on:
Rosamma Philip;
Rosamma Philip
2Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Lake Side Campus, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi 682016, India E-mail: rose@cusat.ac.in
Search for other works by this author on:
I. S. Bright Singh
I. S. Bright Singh
1National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Lake Side Campus, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi 682016, India E-mail: rejishkumar@gmail.com; valsamma@cusat.ac.in; bsingh@md3.vsnl.net.in
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Sci Technol (2010) 61 (3): 797–805.
Citation
V. J. Rejish Kumar, Valsamma Joseph, Rosamma Philip, I. S. Bright Singh; Nitrification in brackish water recirculating aquaculture system integrated with activated packed bed bioreactor. Water Sci Technol 1 February 2010; 61 (3): 797–805. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.849
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Impact Factor 1.915
CiteScore 3.3 • Q2
13 days submission to first
decision
1,439,880 downloads in 2021