Peningkatan Kualitas Akuakultur Menggunakan Teknologi Biofilter Mikroalga Imobil

Abstrak

Immobilized microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa was applied initially to nutrient and heavy metal removal of wastewater. Immobilized microalgae using alginate was then developed for aquaculture application, such as controlling fish water culture quality to uptake concentration of ammonium, nitrate and to increase oxygen level in water. During immobilization, algal cells maintained their respiratory and photosynthetic activities as that in the normal condition. The objective of this research was to examine the role of immobilized C. pyrenoidosa on controlling water quality by measuring ammonium, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen contents. Five aquariums consisting of 40 litres of water were filled with 20 Nila tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with the average weight of 1.6 to 1.7 g. The immobilized algae cells were packaged in two nillon porous bags (pore size of 2x3 mm in diameter) and each immobilized cell had 4 millimeter in diameter. Each aquarium was added with 3000, 4000, 5000, and 6000 immobilized cells. The treatment had two replications. The results showed that the aquarium filled with 4000 beads of immobilized cells gave the best yield.