EFEITO DOS FATORES DENSIDADE DE PEIXE E VOLUME DE MATERIAL FILTRANTE SOB SISTEMA AQUAPÔNICO CULTIVADO COM RÚCULA E TILÁPIA

Abstract

The aquaponics system emerges as a viable alternative among the food production systems with greater efficiency in the use of water. However, its maintenance essentially reflects on the water quality, from the monitoring of fish and the parameters pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids. The present work aimed to evaluate the water quality in an aquaponic system under arugula cultivation, aiming at the sustainability of the production system. The experiment was conducted at the experimental station of the Instituto Federal Goiano – Campus Rio Verde – GO. The experimental design was a randomized block (DBC), in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, with 3 replications, with the following factors: two volumes of filter material in relation to the tank (VF 50 L and VF 70 L); three fish densities (DP 30, DP 60 and DP 90 fish per tank) totaling 18 experimental units. The parameters pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity and electrical conductivity are within the established limits, in relation to fish factors, filter volumes. Thus, the density of 90 fish together with the volume of filter material of 50 L caused greater degradation of water quality. On the other hand, the density of 30 fish together with the volume of filter material of 70 L showed adequate conditions for fish production. It was generally observed that the lower density of fish provides better maintenance of water quality. The more the fish density increases, the more filter volume becomes more efficient.