CLAM SHELL APPLICATION TO IMPROVE WATER pH ON KURUMOI RAINBOWFISH (Melanotaenia parva) REARING SYSTEM

Tutik Kadarini*, Rendy Ginanjar, Siti Subandiyah dan Siti Zuhriyyah,
Research and Development Institut for Ornamental Fish Culture
Jl. Perikanan No 13, Pancoran Mas, Depok West Java 16436
tutikdarso@gmail.com

 

The production of rainbowfish juvenile is still on low progress due to unstable water parameters. In order to improve this production, some efforts has been done through water quality management by adding clam shell into the filter media. In nature, Rainbowfish inhabit alkali waters which can reach pH 8,5 and hardness around 250 ppm. On the contrary, water pH and hardness of the rearing facilities in Research and Development Institut for Ornamental Fishes Aquaculture (BPPBIH) Depok slightly acid ranging from 5.5-6.5 and 33 ppm, respectively. The objective of this study was to regulate water quality improvement using different clam shell in order to increase juvenile production (growth and survival rate). This study was conducted in rainbowfish rearing facilities at BP2BIH Depok. Twenty four fibreglass containers filled with 50 liters water were used.

Every container was equipped with closed water reciruculation system (water discharge 0,138 L/s ) placed therein. Clam and snail shell inserted into the circulation tool served as a filter. Treatments were given as follows A) Strombus sp shells (B) Scallop Amunisiam sp shells (C) Ark clam Anadara sp shells (D) Asian green mussel Perna viridis shells (E) Babylonia spirata L sp shells (F) Babylonia sp shells (G) Murex sp shells and (H) without oyster/conch shells (control). Every treatment were replicated three times. 250 g of clam shell were added into each container. Fish with 2,5 cm ± 0.09 cm of total length and weight 0.25 ± 0.04 g were stocked 100 ind/container. Fish were fed with artificial feed (pellet) 5-7% of bodyweight twice a day 08.00 am and 15.00 pm. To remove fish  waste and residual feed, tank were cleaned and siphonized two times a day. Calcium, energy, blood sugar, growth, survival and water quality were observed as parameters.

Result showed that clam shell filter treatment was prominent compared to control treatment (without clam shell) with water pH 6,5 - 8,5 and alkalinity 33-180 ppm). Growth rate on total length about 8 % while on weight growth rate around 2,35%. On the other hand, the value for other parameters were described as follows : Survival rate 95 - 96 %, Energy 6249 kcal/kg and blood sugar 21 - 33.5 mg/dL.