Formulation of artificial rock for removal of inorganic nitrogen in ornamental aquaria

Abstract

This study aims to remove inorganic nitrogen using artificial rock by mixture of different percentage clay with zeolite and clay with activated carbon. Efficiency in ammonia absorption rate and perfect rock forming was show by formulation 30 % zeolite and clay that is 0.005 mg(g-1d-1 ) ammonia absorb. Clay with activated carbon mixture was eliminated because low average ammonia absorption rate then mixture clay with zeolite that is 0.002 mg(g-1 d-1 ) and 0.004 mg(g- 1 d-1 ). Fixed formulation was recreated with addition of different water ratio during forming process to create different surface area (pore) during firing process. Experiments show higher water content in mixture of clay and zeolite tends to created large surface area by formulation with 37.5 % water create 3.714 cm2g-1 while formulation with 25 % water create 0.428 cm2 t 1 . Result on ammonia absorption rate by all formulation with different water ratio show large surface area does not influent the ammonia absorption. Artificial rock with small surface area (0.428 cm2g-1 ) absorb high volume of ammonia then artificial rock with large surface area (3.714 cm2g-1 ) by 3.987 g(cm- 2d-1) and 0.407 g(cm-2d-1 ) of ammonia. The average of removal ammonia by formulated artificial rock was significantly greater than control with average ammonia removed in formulated artificial rock was 26.137 mgL-1 compare to 11.617 mgL-1 in control.