Growth and yield of tilapia hybrid (red tilapia) in aquaponics system

Faith  S. Tadeo,; Victoria  N. Malaya,

Growth and yield of tilapia hybrid (red tilapia) in aquaponics system

Abstract:

An aquaponics system was studied through the integrated culture of tilapia hybrid (Red Tilapia) and lettuce var. Estrosa in a recirculating system for 100 days. Red Tilapia with an Average Body Weight (ABW) of 36.99g were stocked in two treatments, 80 fish/m3 (Treatment I) and 100 fish/m3 (Treatment II), to assess the fish growth, survival, yield and production of lettuce. Specific Growth Rate (SGR) in Treatment I was 1.03 and Treatment II, 1.14. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) varies from 1.83 to 1.90, associated with stocking density. Treatment II incurred the highest survival rate of 92.85% while Treatment I has 90.19%. Biomass production of red tilapia was significantly higher in Treatment I with 1,761.00 g than in Treatment II with 1,341.00 g (p = 0.012). Highest yield of lettuce was obtained during the second cropping with 250.00g for Treatment I and 202.00g for Treatment II, but no significant difference was observed between the two treatments. Correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between red tilapia weights and water quality parameters such as ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temperature, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, and DO. However, a significant positive relationship was revealed between the biomass of lettuce and nitrite during the first cropping in Treatment II. This study demonstrated the stocking density of 80 fish/m3 had better effect on the growth, FCR, and biomass production of red tilapia under an aquaponics system.