Effect of probiotic and sand filtration treatments on water quality and growth of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and pangas (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) in earthen ponds of southern Bangladesh. Issue 3 (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mahmud, Sultan; Ali, Mohammad Lokman; Alam, Md. Ariful; Rahman, Md. Mizanur; Jørgensen, Niels O. G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied aquaculture. Volume 28:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 199
• Page End: 212
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: Growth -- phytoplankton -- probiotics -- sand filtration -- water quality; Aquaculture -- Periodicals; Fish culture -- Periodicals; 639.8
• DOI: 10.1080/10454438.2016.1188339
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-4438

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Effects of water treatment by two probiotic products (PondPlus® and AquaPhoto®) and sand filtration were studied on growth performance of tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) and pangas ( Pangasianodon hypophthalmus ) stocked at tilapia:pangas ratio of 5:3 in traditional earthen ponds in Bangladesh. The fish were stocked at a density of 20, 000 fish ha −1 and reared for 7 months. Compared to untreated ponds, treatments of probiotic products or sand filtration in earthen ponds resulted in a higher O2 content, higher water transparency, less ammonium, and fewer cyanobacteria. Weight gain for individual tilapia was lowest in the AquaPhoto-treated ponds (177 g), while similar gains (188–194 g) occurred in the other ponds. For pangas, the lowest weight gain (627 g) was obtained in the sand filter-treated ponds, as compared to 690–797 g in the other ponds. Thus, a general positive effect from the treatments on fish growth was not observed, possibly due to a reduced content of detritus (supplementary feed for both fish species) in the treated ponds.