Smectite Clay as an Adsorbent of Ammonia in the Rhamdia quelen Farming Under the Influence of Different Water Temperatures

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution Vol. 227; no. 8; p. 1
• Main Authors: Zadinelo, Izabel Volkweis, Alves, Helton José, Moesch, Augusto, dos Santos, Tais Correia, Bernardi, Fernanda, Bombardelli, Robie Allan, dos Santos, Lilian Dena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.08.2016; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Alkalinity; Ammonia; Aquaculture; Aquaculture industry; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Body weight; Clay; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Dissolved oxygen; Earth and Environmental Science; Efficiency; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Experiments; Farming; Fish farms; Hardness; Hydrogeology; Mariculture; Nitrification; Rhamdia quelen; Smectite; Soil Science & Conservation; Water quality; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Water temperature; Water treatment; Bentonite; Adsorption; Aquaculture effluent; Biorestoration
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-016-2972-2

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the use of smectite clay as an adsorbent of ammonia in Rhamdia quelen farming under the influence of different water temperatures. Eighty individuals of silver catfishes were distributed in four experimental blocks: without the use of smectite clay in water at temperature of 30 °C (A); using smectite clay at temperature of 30 °C (B); without the use of smectite clay at temperature of 23 °C (C); and with the use of smectite clay at temperature of 23 °C (D). The following parameters of water quality were evaluated: temperature, dissolved oxygen, ammonia and nitrite, alkalinity, hardness, and pH. At end of the experiment, the fish were individually evaluated for total and standard lengths, total weights, and liver weight. Differences between the means of treatments for dissolved oxygen, total hardness, total alkalinity, and pH were not checked. Smectite clay did not constantly decrease ammonia concentrations, even when, for a period, the formation of organo-mineral compounds occurred, reducing the availability of ammonia for nitrification in optimum temperature for bacteria. No effects of treatments were observed on body weight, total and standard length, and hepatosomatic index. Dosages of added smectite clay were not sufficient to adsorb all the ammonia present in fish farming.