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Contributions of the periphyton to the growth of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings on different fixation substrates: an ecological approach
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This study compared how different substrate materials — PET plastic, geomembrane, and bamboo — supported periphyton (algae and microbe communities) in tanks raising Nile tilapia fingerlings. Fish in PET substrate tanks showed the best growth performance, while bamboo supported the most diverse algal communities. The findings suggest PET substrates may offer practical benefits in aquaculture despite being a synthetic plastic material.
Knowing about the ecological aspects involved in the commercial breeding of aquatic organisms becomes an important tool to make aquaculture more productive and less impactful. Thus, periphyton taxon composition and biomass on different substrates and the influence of these on water quality and growth parameters of Nile tilapia fingerlings were examined. An experiment with three treatments (substrates for growth of periphyton: geomembrane, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and bamboo) and a control (without substrate), each with five replicates, was conducted in a greenhouse with controlled aeration and temperature. Each mesocosm was populated with ten tilapia fingerlings with an average weight of 2.3 g for 30 days. Water quality parameters were not significantly different among treatments but remained within that established by the environmental legislation. In all treatments, 36 periphyton taxa were observed. The bamboo substrate was the most diverse, which could be attributed to the fact it was a natural substrate. Regarding fish growth, there was a significant difference among the treatments, with the PET treatment having a higher condition factor (kn). The bamboo substrate was good for colonization concerning alga diversity; however, fish in the PET treatment and control exhibited higher performance and algae consumption values, respectively.
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