The Potential Effect of Using Fine Bubbles on the Growth Rate of Striped Catfish (Pangasianodon hypopthalmus) Fingerlings with Different Stocking Densities in Aquaponic Systems

Abstract

Aquaponic is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponic systems. To increase fish production, aquaponic system can be used as an option because it can increase fish production with high density in limited land and water. The problem that often occurs in fish farming with high or intensive stocking densities is a decrease in dissolved oxygen concentration due to high oxygen consumption requirements. Handling that can be done to maintain the availability of dissolved oxygen concentration is by adding aeration by using Fine Bubbles (FBs). This research was conducted in October - December 2019 at the Green House Ciparanje Land Aquaculture Area, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, UNPAD. The purpose of this research is to increase the growth of striped catfish with optimal density using the application of Fine Bubbles (FBs) and to improve the water quality of rearing media and plant productivity in aquaponic system. The research method used is an experimental method with randomized block design (RBD) consisting of four treatments and three repetitions. The treatment in this study is the spread of 375 striped catfish/150L, 450 striped catfish/150L, 525 striped catfish/150L and 600 striped catfish/150L. The parameters observed included specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), fish survival (SR), water quality and plant growth. During the research, two harvests of water spinach were harvested in one cycle of fish rearing. The results show that the use of aquaponic systems and the addition of aerated FBs can increase the stocking density of striped catfish fingerlings to 600 striped catfish/150 L, with a high fish survival rate of 98% at a specific growth rate of 4.41 g and a feed conversion ratio of 1.00 g. The results of water quality observations for pH and DO parameters still meet the requirements but for temperature and ammonia, it has exceeded the safe threshold based on SNI (2000). The result of observation of water spinach plants, that the highest productivity in both harvests was in treatment C (525 striped catfish/ 150 L) up to 197.44 g, final plant height 44.54-47.10 cm and for the number of final leaves ranging from 9-10 leaves.