Egypt. J. AquaL Bioi & Fish.

, Voi 10, NoJ: 85-97 (2006) ISSN 1110-6131

AQUAPONIC PRODUCTION OF NILE TILAPIA

(OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) AND BELL PEPPER
(CAPSICUM ANNUUML.) IN RECIRCULATING
WATER SYSTEM

Salah M. Kanial
Department of Aquaculture, Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research
at Abassa, Sharkia Goveraorate, Agriculture Research Center, Ministry of
Agriculture, Egypt.

Key words: Aquaponics, integrated, hydroponic, Nile tilapia, pepper.

ABSTRACT

A quaponics is the combined culture of fish and hydroponic plants in

recirculating systems. An integrated fish and hydroponics bell
pepper system was evaluated for application in Central Laboratory for
Aquaculture Research at Abassa, Sharkia Governorate, The system was
constructed from readily available materials, and designed to minimize
capital costs, energy, water use, and the technological skills needed for
operation. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloiicus) and bell pepper (Capsicum
annuum L. 'Godeon') were cultured for 180 days in a closed system
containing 1160 L of water for each unit. Six units were used with three
treatments (all three treatments were in duplicated) to determine the effect
of the integration between plant number /m2 to fish density (100 fish /m3)
on fish performance. Each unit consists of 500 L fish rearing tank,
hydroponic tank (2 m2), filter and sump. Treatments were Ti (fish culture
with 10 plant/m2), T2 (fish culture with 15 plant/m2) and T3 fish culture
without plant (control). Water quality suitable for fish production was
maintained by aeration, mechanical and biological filtration, hydroponics
vegetable production unit and the addition of make-up water. Fish
metabolites, and wasted feed served as nutrient sources for pepper
production. The results showed that Ti (fish culture with 10 plants /m2)
gave the best significant (P<0.05) fish production 20.1 kg / m , followed
by T2 (fish culture with 15 plants /m2) 17.95 kg / m and the lowest
(P<0.05) was T3 fish culture without plant (control) 16.3 kg / m3. Also Ti
(fish culture with 10 plants /m2) was higher in average yield of marketable
bell pepper 11.34 kgfai2 (P>0.05) than T2 (fish culture with 15 plants /m2)
86 S ALAH M. KAMAL

which produced 9.43 kg/m2. Under the condition of the present study,
results show in general that units integrated with hydroponic pepper T]
and T2 resulted in best economic efficiency, and Ti was better than T2.

INTRODUCTION
The use of recirculating water in aquarium systems presents a
problem of nutrient accumulation as a result offish excrement and waste
feed These waste products include ammonia, which is in a non-ionized
form is toxic to fish (Alabaster and Lloyd, 1982). Biofilters are often
employed to facilitate the digestion of these waste products and ammonia
is converted to nitrite then oxidized to nitrate. The accumulation of the
end products is controlled by partial flush or by chemical filtration
(Spotts, 1970). Partial flush is usually employed in large aquaria or fish
culture system where reconditioning by other methods is relatively
expensive. However, this method has a large water requirement and may
increase pollution problems .if the nutrient waste is discharged into the
environment. Recirculating aquaculture-hydroponic systems are designed
to provide an artificial, controlled environment that optimizes the growth
of fish (or other aquatic species) and hydroponics plants, while
conserving water resources (Rakocy and Hargreaves, 1993). In such
systems, the fish and plants are grown in a mutually beneficial, symbiotic
relationship. Un-ionized ammonia-nitrogen is produced as an
intermediate by-product of protein metabolism by the fish and high
concentrations of this nitrogen can cause mortality. However, some forms
of nitrogen can be used as a plant nutrient, and are removed from the
water by the plant roots as the water circulates through the hydroponics
unit. Thus, a harmful by-product of fish production becomes a beneficial
input for plant production (Rakocy et aL, 1993). The present study was
conducted to determine the production of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis
niloticus) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. *GodeonV) in aquaponic
system, using different number of plant for maintaining water quality at
acceptable range for fish production-

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was conducted in a greenhouse at Central
Laboratory for Aquaculture Research at Abbassa, Sharkia Governorate,
Agriculture research center, Egypt, during one growing season 180 days
(from 2nd October 2004 to 30 March 2005). Three recirculating treatment
tanks for fish culture were performed. The first system (Ti) was
 AQUAPONIC PRODUCTION OF NILE TILAPIA AND 87
BELL PEPPER IN RECIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM

integrated with 10 bell pepper {Capsicum artnuum L. *Godeon* )

plants/m , the second (T2) was integrated with 15 bell pepper planis/in" v
and the third (T3) fish culture without bell pepper, as a control. All three
treatments were carried out in duplicated. The aquaponic system( Fig. 1)
used in this experiment was consisted mainly of fish rearing fiberglass
tank of 500 L total water volume, filtering unit, hydroponic system for
bell pepper plants (2 m ) and sump. The deep-water hydroponic unit was
designed to allow the fish effluent toflowover the plant roots so essential
nutrients can be extracted by the plant. The hydroponic tanks (2 m long
by 1 m wide by 25 cm deep) and a raft system, consisting of floating
sheets (2 m long by 1 m wide by 5 cm thick) of polystyrene, were
installed. The filter unit consisted of 120 L plastic drum containing 80 L.
graveL The sump was a 40 L. plastic tank. Total system water volume
was 1160 L (1.16 m3). One air pump and air stones were used to aerate
the fish rearing tanks. Each tank was provided with one water heater (200
watt). A single 32 wt submersible pump was lifting 300 L of water / hour
from the sump to the fish rearing tank. Mono sex Nile tilapia (Oreockromis
niloticus)fingerlingswere used in this experiment with an initial average
weight of 10.5 gm / fish. Fish stoking density was 100 fish / m3, The
experimental integrated systems were operated with fish for 15 days in
order to acclimate the biofilter and establish steady-state bacterial
biornass with consequent nutrient build up in the system. The bell pepper
seedlings obtained from the greenhouses of the Ministry of Agriculture
were then introduced into the system.
Using normal operating procedures, effluent from the fish-rearing
tank flowed into the filter. Effluent from the filter tank was discharged
into the hydroponics tank and discharged into a sump, from which the
treated water was pumped back to the rearing tank. The fish was fed two
times daily on a complete pelleted diet containing 25 % protein. The daily
feeding rate was calculated as a percentage of the estimated fish biornass
and was gradually reduced from 4 to L2 % as the fish grew. All fish were
harvested after 180 culture days. No pesticides or fungicides were used
during the whole period of the experiment,
Water quality parameters including pH, dissolved oxygen (DO)
and water temperature were measured daily at 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. by
using pH/mV meter model 3505 and oxygen meter WPA20WAP
scientific instrument, respectively. NH3, N0 2 , N0 3 and P were measured
biweekly by C 99 and C 200 Series Multiparameter Bench Photometers.
Mean total yield of pepper (kg/ m2)5 mean yield of marketable fruit (kg/m2),
88 SALAH M KAMAL

Market fruit weight (g) and Plant height (cm) were determined. Additionally,
fish from each tank were weighed every two weeks to evaluate growth in
weight and survival.
Statistical analysis _
Statistical analysis for the experimental results carried out by
using SAS program (SAS Institute, 1990). Differences between averages
were determined by using Duncan's multiple range test (Duncan, 1955).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Fish performance:
The averages of live body weight of Nile tilapia are presented in
Table (1). Data show that the averages of initial weight for all treatments
were 103 - 10.5 g with insignificant differences between all the
treatments, indicating the accuracy of randomization process among the
experimental treatments. The results of fish growth showed that all
treatments offish gave satisfactory growth during the experimental period
since live body weight values increased progressively with age
advancement All the tested growth parameters {gain, average daily gain
(ADG), specific growth Tate (SGR)} showed that the highest average of
final body weight (FBW) was observed by Ti (fish culture with 10
plants/m2) 207g / fish, followed by T2 (fish culture with 15 plants/m2)
189g / fish, while using fish culture without plant T3 (control) exhibited
the lowest final weight (170g / fish). The same trend was observed for
gain, ADG, and SGR. Statistical analysis showed that (fish culture with
10 plants/m2) Ti resulted in significantly (PO.05) higher value of BW?
ADG and SGR than that offish culture without plant T3 (control), but not
significantly higher than T2 (fish culture with 15 plants/m2). Also no
significant difference was observed between T2 and T3 in FBW, ADG and
SGR.
Data of Table (1) showe that the integration between fish
culture and hydroponics bell pepper (Ti and T2) exhibited significantly
(PO.05) better FCR (1.81 and 1.86, respectively) than that of fish
cultured without plant (control) 22. There were no significant differences
(P>0.05) between Ti and T2 in this trait The same trend was observed for
Tn?d fed.
Fish survival was 97, 95 and 96% for Ti, T2 and T3 respectively
(Table 1). The losses, which did occur, were the result of fish jumping out
of the rearing tank, and from injuries incurred during stocking. There
 AQUAPONIC PRODUCTION OF NILE TILAPIA AND 89
BELL PEPPER IN RECIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM

were no significant differences (P>0.05) among treatments in survival

rates.
Results of Table (1) show the effect of integration between fish
culture and hydroponics bell pepper on total fish production. It is obvious
that Ti (fish culture with 10 plants/m2) surpassed all treatments applied.
Meanwhile, fish culture without plant (control) gave the lowest total fish
production. Differences between treatments were significant (P<0,01).
These results may be attributed to integration between fish culture and
hydroponics bell pepper. In the integration system, wastes from fish
culture provide nutrients required by plants, while the nutrient uptake by
plants can improve water quality and increase fish production (Rakocy
1989). Chaves et al (2000) showed that introducing lettuce in the fish
system decrease nutrient concentration when compared to system which
did not have any plants. Also Ti (fish culture with 10 plants/m2) had
significantly (PO.05) higher fish production than T2 (fish culture with 15
plants/m2). This may be due to the fact that this ratio between plants
number (10 plants / m2) to fish density (100fish/ m3) was optimum.
Pepper production:
Data in Table (2) shows that increasing number of plant / m2
reduced mean total yield of pepper; Ti (fish culture with 10 plants/m2)
was higher (P >0.05) than T2 (fish culture with 15 plants/m2). The same
trend was observed for Mean yield of marketable ripe fruit. With regard
to the effect of plant number / m2 to fish culture density on marketable
pepper weight (table 2) data shows that Ti (fish culture with 10 plants/m2)
was significantly (PO.05) higher than T2 (fish culture with 15 plants/m2).
The same trend was observed with Plant height. This results may be due
to that this ratio between plants number (10 plants / m2) to fish density
(100 fish / m3) was optimum. Rakocy (1989) determined the optimum
ratio between the fish feeding rate and plant growing area. At this ratio
(57g of feed / m2 of plant growing area / day) the nutrient accumulation
rate decreased and the hydroponics tanks were capable of providing
sufficient nitrification. The incorporation of hydroponics into a
recirculating aquarium system offers two potential benefits: (1) the
provision of a secondary crop or animal feedstuff and the depletion of
harmful fish waste products (Clarkson and Lane, 1991). Chaves et al
(2000) suggested that fish culture water might be used to fertigate
hydroponically grown lettuce with minor nutrient supplementation. The
lettuce produced equal to that with a standard nutrient solution and did
not present perceptible symptoms of nutrient deficiencies.
90 SALAHM.KAMAL

Water Quality:
As given in Table (3), the averages of water temperature, pH,
dissolved oxygen and water ammonia, nitrite and nitrate content were
suitable for growth of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. In this respect,
DeganL et al (1988) observed that the optimum water temperature for O.
aureus ranged between 24 and 3l°C. As presented in the same table pH
was maintained at average values between 8.17- 8.45 (Table 3). These
values considered being high for a hydroponic system, but in an
aquaponic system pH must be maintained above 7.0 to promote
nitrification (Rakocy et ai, 2004). Fish excrete large quantities of
ammonia, which must be oxidized to nitrate to prevent toxicity.
Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate concentration remained within safe limits for
fish culture (Table 3). According to this study, when pepper was stocked
at a density of 10 plants / m2 (Ti) the integrated system discharged 51%
and ■ 52.6% (NO3 and phosphate, respectively) less • than a fish
recirculating system without plant (control), while, when pepper was
stocked at a density of 15 plants / m2 (T2) the integrated system
discharged 69% and 39.5% NO3 and phosphate* respectively less than a
fish recirculating system without plant (control). These results are in
agreement with those of HongXin et cd. (2001) who reported that the
hydroponic vegetable's the maximal purification rate of ammonia-N,
nitrite-N, nitrate-N, totai-N, phosphate-P and COD was 57.46%, 51.72%,
3.7%, 10.67%, 9.72% and 21.78%, respectively. Nutrients concentrations
were lower than the levels normally found in hydroponics system, but
they were generally acceptable for aquaponic system because nutrients
were produced daily, excreted directly by the fish or generated from the
mineralization of organic matter (Rakocy. et aL9 2004). :
Daily make-up water averaged 20 L or 4 % of system volume. Water loss
was attributed to sludge removal, evaporation and transpiration.
Economic Efficiency:
A projected cost and return analysis was compiled using the
system design and yield data (Table 4). Operator labor (approximately
180 h /year) and land rental were not included in cost estimates as the
system was designed to be operated on a youth or a family use basis.
Production figures were based on one crop offish and one crop of pepper
per one season (6 months). As- presented in Table (4) results of total costs
including the variable and fixed costs for the treatments applied in L.E.
were found to be 157; 162; and 125 L.EVunit for the Ti; T2; and T3 groups
respectively. These results revealed that the total costs of T3 were the
 AQUAPONIC PRODUCTION OF NILE TILAPIA AND 91
BELL PEPPER IN RECIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM

lowest due to the fact that there is no hydroponic unit and pepper seedling in this
system. On the other hand, the total costs of T2 were the highest due to tb^ costs
of higher number of pepper seedlings 60 plant/unit than Ti (40 plants/unit). T^e-i
returns in L.E per unit were 114.6; 74.99 and 2 1 1 L.E./unit for the T t ; T2 and T3
groups, respectively, (Table 4). Percentages of net returns to total costs were
72.99%; 46,3% and 17,4% for the Ti; T2 and T3 groups, respectively. Under the
condition of the present study, results show in general that units integrated with
hydroponic pepper Ti and T2 resulted in higher economic efficiency compared to
the control. These results are in full agreement with results of Adler et al. (2000)
who concluded that treatment of fishery effluent using hydroponic crop
production represents a potentially profitable secondary enterprise to aquaculture
producers.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on results obtained in this study and on the economical evaluation it
could be concluded that the integration of the hydroponic vegetables production
unit into the closed recirculating fish culture system was the key to the success
achieved in this study. The hydroponic unit not only contributed to the
maintenance of water quality suitable for good fish growth, but the subsequent
pepper harvest was essential for the favorable economic projections developed
for the culture system. However, from the economical point of view fish culture
with 10 plant/m2 (Ti) seemed to be the best in terms of ratio of returns to total
costs.
REFERENCES
Adler, P. R.; Harper, J. K.; Takeda, F.; Wade, E. M. and Summerfelt, S.
T. (2000). Economic evaluation of hydroponics and other
treatment options for phosphorus removal in aquaculture
effluent HortScience, 35: (6) 993-999.

Alabaster J. S. and Lloyd R. (1982). Water Quality Criteria for

Freshwater Fish. Butterworths, London.

Chaves, P.A.; Beltrao, J.; Laird, L.M. and Sutherland, R. (2000). Lettuce
(Lactuca sativa sp.) response to fish culture effluent. Acta
Horticult. 2: (537) 705-708,

Clarkson, R. and Lane, S. D. (1991). Use of a small-scale nutrient-Film

hydroponic technique to reduse mineral accumulation in
aquarium water. Aquacult and fisheries manag. 22: (1) 37-45.
92 SALAH M. KAMAL

Duncan, D.B. (1955). Multiple range and Multiple F-test. Biometrics, 11:
1-42.

Degani, G.; Dosoretz, C. and levanon, D. 1988- The influence of cow

manure on growth rate of 0. aureus and Parias lazera in Israel
small outdoor tanks. Bamidg. 36: 114-120,

HongXin, T.; GuoZhi, L.; XueBao, Z.; YuJi, Q. ZhiMing, Y.; Hx, T.and
GZ, L.; (2001). Effect of hudroponic vegetable on water quality
purification of aquaculture waste water. J. of Shanghai Fisheries
University. 10: (4) 293-297.

Rakocy, J, E. (1989). Vegetable hydroponics and fish culture; A

productive interface. Worled aquacult 20: (3) 42*47.

Rakocy, J. E.and Hargreaves, J. A. (1993). Integration of vegetable

hydroponics with fish cukture: A review. In J. Wang (Ed.),
Techniques for Modem Aquaculture (pp. 112-136). St. Joseph,
MI: American Society of Agriculture Engineers.

Rakocy, J. E.; Hargreaves, J. A. and Bailey, D. S. (1993). Nutrient

accumulation in a recirculating aquaculture system integrated
with hydroponic vegetable production. In J. Wang (Ed.),
Techniques for Modem Aquaculture (pp. 148-158). St Joseph,
MI: American Society of Agriculture Engineers.

Rakocy, J. E.; Shultz, R. C; Bailey, D, S. and Thoman, E. S. (2004).

Aquaponic production of Tilapia and Basil: Comparing a Batch
and Staggered cropping system, Acta Horticult. 648 : 63-69,

SAS (1990). SAS user's guide statistics version 6, 4th Ed., SAS Institute
Inc.,Cary,RC.,USA.

Spotts S. (1970). Fish and Invertebrate Culture. Water Management in

Closed Systems. Wiley-Interscience, advision of John Wiley and
Sons, Inc., London.
 AQUAPONIC PRODUCTION OF NILE TILAPIA AND 93
BELL PEPPER IN RECIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM

Table (1): Growth performance and feed utilization of Nile tilapia grown in a
closed, recirculating fish and Bell pepper production system.
Item T,(10 T2 (15 plant/m2) T3 (control)
plant/m2)
Initial Weight g/ fish 10.5 a ±0.16 10.3 a ± 0.16 10,5*±0.16
Final Weight g/ fish 207 a ± 4.76 189 ,b ±4.76 170 "±4.76
Total Gain g/ fish 196.5'±4.76 178.7 a 6 ± 4.76 159.5 "±4.76
SGR(%/d) 1.66a±0.02 1.615 at> ±0.02 L55b±0.02
Feed fed g/ fish 355.6 a ± 2.71 332.3 "±2.71 350.3 b ± 2.71
FCR (g feed/ g gain) 1.81b±0.06 1.86" ± 0 . 0 6 2.2 "±0.06
Survival rate (%) 97 a ± 1.41 95"± 1.41 96 a ±1.41
Total production (kg/m3) 20.1 a ± 0.19 17.95" ±0.19 16.3°±0.19
a,b,c: Figures in each row having the same superscript are not significantly different
(p>0.05).
Table (2): Yield of Bell pepper grown hydropnically in a closed, recirculating fish and
Bell pepper production system. *
Treatment Mean total Mean yield* Marketable Market fruit Plant
yield* of fruit of marketable ripe fruit weight (g) height
(kg/m 2 ) fruit (kg/m2) (%) (cm)
Tj(10 11.93 a ±0.58 11.34* ±0.60 95* ±0.71 63*±2 105 *± 3
plant/m3)
T 2 (15 10.25* ± 0.58 9.43" ±0.6 92* ±0.71 45° ± 2 78 1) ±3
plant/m3)
T3 - - - - -

(control)
a Fresh weight basis.
a,b: means with different superscript in the same column are significantly different
(P<0.05).
94 S ALAH M. KAMAL

Table (3): Average of water quality parameters through the experimental period.
Water
D02* NH 3 « N02*** NOj**** P*
Treatment temperature PH
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)
°C

2 26.5" 8.17b 6.8* 0.41b 0.006* 8.42 b 1.8b

T,(10plant/m )
±0.21 ±0.05 ±0.21 ±0.03 ± 0.002 ±0.16 ±0.22

2 8.34,b 6.6* 0.31 b 0.005* 5.3 l c 2.3b

T2(15plant/m ) 26.2" ±0.21
±0.05 ±0.21 ±0.03 ±0.002 ±0.16 ±0.22

26.0* 8.45* 6.7" 0.75* 0.014* 17.28 3.8 a

Tj (control.)
±0.21 ±0.05 ±0.21 ±0.03 ±0.002 "±0.16 ±0.22
*D02: Dissolved oxygen.
**NH3: Ammonia
***N0 2 : Nitrite
****N0 3 : Nitrate
# P : phosphate
 AQUAPONIC PRODUCTION OF NILE TILAPIA AND 95
BELL PEPPER IN RECIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM

Table (4) Economic efficiency for one season (6 month) of integratedfishand

hydroponic pepper production system.
Items Treatments

T^lOplant/m 2 ) T2(15plantmi1 ) T} (control)

(l)Variable costs, L.E/unit.
a- Costs of tilapia fmgerlings: 15 15 15
r> Commercial diets 60 55 59
c- seedlings 20 30 -

d- electricity (300 kWh) 21 21 21

Total Variable costs, L.E/unit 116 121 95

Fixed costs, L.E/ unit - depreciation*
a- culture tanks and plastic drum 35 35 25
b- submersible and air pumps 3.5 3.5 3*5
c- pip and fittings 2.5 2.5 1.5
Total fixed costs, L.E/unit 41 41 30
Total operating costs Variable & 157 162 125
fixed
X2) Revenue (L.E.)**
Fish sales 180.9 161.55 146.7
Bell pepper sales 90.72 75.44 -

Total 271.6 236.99 146.7

Net return, L.E/unit. 114.6 74.99 21.7
%Net returns to total costs 72.99 46.3 17.4

quipment was depreciated at a fixed rate based on the expected life of the individual item.
** The economical evaluation of results was carried out according to market prices during 2004
2005 years in L.E.
 Filter tank
&A0_ Jt*A#
Fish rearing tank

Submersible pump
Hydroponic tank

sump

Figer (1): aquaponic system unit.