Effect of flow rate on water quality parameters and plant growth of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) in an aquaponic flow through system

Abstract

Flow-through aquaculture system (FTAS) are system where fish are held in ponds, tanks, raceways or other specially designed apparatus which have water constantly passing through them. These systems can be used to grow either fresh or marine species.The flow of water through the culture system supplies oxygen to the fish and carries dissolved and suspended wastes out of the rearing system. In this study, a prototype of an aquaponic system was built at the Freshwater Hatchery Unit in the campus of University Malaysia Terengganu. The system consists of a fish rearing tank, hydroponic trough, sand filter and water holding tank. Hydroponic troughs were planted with water spinach (Ipomoea ciqiiaticci) that had been used to treat wastewater from aquaculture system stocked with African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The effect of two different water flow rates (0.8 and 1.6 L min"1) was tested in order to evaluate the relationship between nutrients removal and water quality with plant growth performance.