Treatment of water in intensive aquaculture system using bioirontech filter

Investigation was carried out to determine the feasibility and the capability of BioIronTech filter in the removal of nutrients from aquacultural effluent. This new technology uses the biological activity of iron reducing bacteria coupled with low cost iron ore to remove phosphorous from effluent. The experimental biofilter system was packed with iron ore and the control system was packed with inert gravels. After packing, inoculation was carried out using anaerobic sludge mixed with bottom sediment of an aquacultural pond. Following inoculation, a comparative analysis of the systems began. Parameters such as pH, oxidation reduction potential, total ferrous, phosphorous, ammonia nitrogen, total carbon, inorganic carbon, total organic carbon, turbidity and colour were measured to study the performance of the BioIronTech filter. Both batch and continuous systems were analyzed to determine the efficacy of the nutrients removal. It was found out that ammonia nitrogen concentration was high in the experimental setup in batch and continuous systems. High concentration of ammonia will result in ammonia poisoning in aquaculture. The study did not show that the BioIronTech filter have efficient phosphorous removal capacity in the continuous system.Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental Engineering