Nitrogen budget and effluent nitrogen components in aquaponics recirculation system

Azizah, Endut and Ahmad, Jusoh and Nora’aini, Ali (2014) Nitrogen budget and effluent nitrogen components in aquaponics recirculation system. Desalination and Water Treatment, 52 (6). pp. 744-752. ISSN 1944-3994

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Abstract

In this study, the dynamics of nitrogen through aquaponics recirculation system was examined by developing a nitrogen budget. The model evaluated total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) production and removal in biofilters, identifying and quantifying the fate of nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 -N) and determining the system maximum carrying capacity. Of the nitrogen input into the culture tank via feed, 83.8% was recovered from different pool: 39.4% as fish flesh (harvested), 2.1% as mortalities, 34.7% as dissolved inorganic forms of nitrogen and 7.6% as total organic nitrogen. The remaining 16.2% of nitrogen unaccounted for likely was lost as nitrogen gas due to passive denitrification and as volatization of ammonia. Average TAN in the culture tanks was 2.08 mg/L. Under current condition, system loading with fish biomass at average of 68.5% of the maximum predicted. The hydroponic troughs removal efficiency averaged 60.4% TAN per pass. From TAN production, 88% was removed in hydroponic troughs, 11% by passive nitrification and 1% by water exchange. Under conditions of reusing treated effluent with residual TAN, the hydroponic troughs work normally, while TAN in the systems did not increase noticeably.

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