Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is used to filter out organic waste (fish waste) in aquaculture systems. The function of RAS is to convert harmful waste compounds into less toxic, converting ammonia to nitrite and then nitrite to nitrate through nitrification process. If ammonia left untreated in water causes toxic to fish and the nitrifying bacteria helps to oxidize ammonia to nitrate (lesser toxic compound) can then be safely accumulated. Nitrogen elimination bacteria comes in further reduce nitrate to nitrogen gas to be discharged into the atmosphere with no harm.
The discharge of fish waste to the environment and the constant need of manpower to dispose of wastewater from farms has been a huge hassle. Using a RAS system consisting of a SBBR and Anammox chamber, this experiment aims to collect data on nitrifying and denitrifying trends of sludge in the Spinning bed bio-film reactor (SBBR) and Anammox chamber to create an optimal RAS system. Even with minimal water changes the experimental tank showed optimal water conditions in the aquaculture system, which is mostly due to the nitrification of the SBBR and Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) process of the Anammox chamber. This proves that the new configuration of the RAS is effective in conserving water and reduces the amount of manpower needed in fish culture.