Redução da amônia da água no cultivo de Acará Bandeira Pterophyllum ( schultze in lichtenstein, 1823) utilizando diferentes substratos em filtros submersos

Abstract

The trade in ornamental fish moves a large market in many countries. After the capture or captive breeding, fish are in confinement often in closed recirculating water systems. The fish excrete metabolites concentration that should be controlled in order to avoid losses in the health and growth of animals. The toxic ammonia is one of the most dangerous metabolites: if Ieft unchecked, can lead the animal to death. A more formal used for removing the ammonia is by use of biofilters, where chemi-autotrophic bacteria fixed on the substrate of biofilter will convert ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate, maintaining good water quality, There are a number of types of biofilters. however not many studies to confirm that the most effective. In this context, this study evaluated the reduction of water ammonia in growing angelfish Pterophyllum sealare (Schultze in Lichtenstein, 1823), using different substrates in submerged filters. Substrates were tested, which were divided into treatment comprising: only pebble, only zeolite and 50% combination of pebble and 50% zeolite. The main limnological variables were measured, including toxic ammonia. for a period of 60 days with the help of equipment and colorimetric tests. At the end of the experiment, the data were statistically analyzed for analysis of the substrates tested, the zeolite obtained a final average lower concentration of toxic ammonia (0.009 + 0.01| mg / L), followed by treatment containing pebble and zeolite (0.012 0.014 mg / L). Thus, this work suggests the use of zeolite substrate to reduce ammonia in the water cultivation angelfish.