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Nitrification an important process in aquaculture
In the water of aquaculture systems, certain bacteria transform potentially toxic ammonia to nontoxic nitrate through nitrification.
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Phosphorus: Key to phytoplankton management
Phosphorus from uneaten feed and feces of culture animals can cause excessive phytoplankton growth and associated degradation of water quality.
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Total alkalinity and total hardness
Alkalinity is an index of the capacity of water to neutralize acidity. Hardness represents the sum of calcium and magnesium concentrations. Both values vary greatly in freshwater sources.
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Sediment, water sampling in aquaculture
Simple tools can take water and sediment samples to monitor quality variables in aquaculture ponds. Water surface samples provide limited information, while water column sampling delivers more specific data.
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Study identifies maximum holding times for water samples
Although pond water samples collected to measure water quality are often held on ice, the values of some common variables in the samples can vary over time.
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Phytoplankton dynamics in aquaculture ponds
Phytoplankton are essential in intensive aquaculture ponds but an excess can result in shallow thermal stratification.
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Measuring circulation, mixing in ponds
There are several methods for evaluating water circulation and mixing in aquaculture ponds. Measurements of concentrated salt dispersal can be complex.
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Mechanical water circulation aids pond water quality
Mechanical water circulation can prevent stratification and provide more dissolved oxygen near pond bottoms. Strong water mixing can also control algae growth.
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Effluent effects from aquaculture ponds
In general, lower-intensity pond and cage farming tends to discharge higher overall pollution loads in farm effluents than closed aquaculture systems.
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Land use for aquaculture production
Space requirements for aquaculture include the culture water area and associated physical culture facilities as well as the land used to raise plant-based feed ingredients.
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Tractor-powered paddlewheels provide emergency pond aeration
Even with dedicated aerators, aquaculture farms can experience stress and mortality in culture animals due to low dissolved oxygen concentrations in pond water. Simple tractor-powered aerators offer a quick and portable solution to low dissolved oxygen levels that provides strong emergency aeration and water movement.
Aquafeeds
Feed efficiency indicators for responsible aquaculture
While feed conversion ratios are often used as indexes of feed efficiency, they can be misleading as ecological indicators.
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Measuring water flow
Water flow within channels can be measured using the float method or calculated using rating curves that project water velocity based on a series of finite measurements.
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Estimating water volumes in aquaculture
Accurate estimations of water volumes in aquaculture systems contribute to both better management of resources and cost-efficient production.
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Groundwater and wells
Groundwater from wells is sometimes used to supply hatcheries and ponds. The potential water supply via wells is defined largely by geology.
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Copper treatments control phytoplankton
Copper sulfate is widely used as an algicide in ponds and other aquatic systems. Although copper quickly disappears from pond water, cupric ions can be harmful to aquatic animals.