The utilization of sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate or hydroxide in biofloc system: water quality, growth performance and oxidative stress of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract In biofloc technology (BFT) systems, nutrient cycling for microorganisms takes place. This results in minimal or null water exchange. The sum of fish biomass and microorganisms favors alkalinity consumption and, consequently, pH reduction. It is in this context that the present study evaluates alkalinity and pH maintenance using sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) on BFT during a Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) nursery. In this study, 25 fishes/tank was distributed in nine experimental units (useful vol. 37.5 L) and the performance was evaluated at 60 days. During the assay, the temperature, oxygen and pH were maintained within the ideal range levels for Nile tilapia growth. All alkalizing compounds were able to pH and alkalinity correction, but when using NaHCO3, the alkalinity and pH were more elevated than the other treatments. Furthermore, at the beginning these assay, the total ammonia (TAN; NH3 + NH4+) and NO2−-N accumulate and it caused a peak, but mostly experiment remained to very low levels because of the total nitrification activity, resulting in NO3−-N accumulation. Because the non water exchange, at the final experiment the ion Na+ accumulate when utilized NaHCO3, resulting in level similar to brackish water. While using CaCO3 or Ca(OH)2, the Ca2 + ion accumulate, resulting in extremely hard water. Despite this, the fish survival was similar between treatments (about 80%). Moreover, the final weight, daily growth rate and net yield for NaHCO3 and Ca(OH)2 they were higher than CaCO3 treatment. This may have been because of the higher total suspended solids (TSS) and lower protein content of the bioflocs in this treatment. In order to assess the possible physiologic alterations of the fish associated with the production system, the hematocrit, glycemia and plasmatic osmolality were evaluated. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity against peroxy radicals (ACAP), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities on the gills and liver were also evaluated. There were no differences in biochemical/physiological parameters when the different alkalizing compounds were utilized. The results demonstrate that the use of sodium bicarbonate, hydroxide or calcium carbonate is effective on the alkalinity and pH adjustments of the final proportion of 14.64 ± 0.49, 7.18 ± 0.32 e 24.09 ± 2.32% in relation to the feed consumption, respectively. Thus, the study demonstrates that the use of NaHCO3 and Ca(OH)2 are recommended for alkalinity and pH correction during Nile tilapia nursery on BFT systems, because of the higher growth and net yield, and this sum to less amount of these compounds may represent important economic gain. Statement of relevance The results of this manuscript demonstrate: − Amount of alkalizing compound utilized for maintenance of alkalinity and pH − Best growth to utilize NaHCO3 and Ca(OH)2 − The importance of evaluate the ionic concentration, specially Na+ and Ca+ 2, because the imbalance ionic − The difficulty to solids control in BFT system.