Indian Hydrobiology, 10 (2) : 301 - 302, 2007

Water quality management in gold fish (Carassius

auratus) rearing tanks using different filter materials
Y. Prema Latha1 and A.P. Lipton2
1
Department of Zoology, Holy Cross College, Nagercoil - 629 004, Tamilnadu, India
Centre for Marine Science and Technology, MSU, Marina Campus
Rajakkamangalam - 629 502, Tamilnadu, India

ABSTRACT

The present study deals with the management of water quality in Carassius auratus
(gold fish) rearing tanks using different filter materials. The system with dead coral pieces
(DCP) is the most suitable for rearing gold fish.

Introduction which are nontoxic to fishes (Sharma and

Ahlert, 1977).Water bacteria play an essential
The nitrogen compounds dissolved
role in maintaining water quality’(Cooper,
in the fish rearing tank are the most important
2006).
in determining the health of fish. Most
nitrogen compounds enter a tank in the form The application, design and
of nitrogenous wastes of fish. Generally maintenance techniques of bacteriological
ammonia is found in the water either as toxic filters are well established(Spotte,1973,1979).It
unionized (NH3) form or in nontoxic ionized is understood from the earlier studies that most
form (NH4). Ammonia containing nitrogenous of the filters designed are gravel bed
organic matter is directly or indirectly toxic to composed of calcareous material such as
many species of aquatic animals . Ammonia oyster shell ,fossil DCP,calcite and dolomite
and other toxic metabolites can be managed etc( Spotte,1979) and well graded with a grain
by filtration methods. There are three types of that falls with in the range of 2-5mm.
filtration;1.Mechanical filtration which In the present study attempts were
removes the solid particles, like floss, gravel made using modified methods , to manage
or a foam filter serve as mechanical filters. water quality in Carassius auratus rearing
2. Chemical filtration which is accomplished
tanks using different filter materials such as
using activated carbon, ammonia absorbents
gravel, pebbles, pebbles+DCPandDCP under
or water softeners. 3.Biological filtration which
laboratory conditions.
occurs in a series of steps in which
nitrogenous organic compounds are Materials and methods
maintained, and converted into inorganic
Design and Maintenance of filter system
nitrogen and removed from solution by
complete biochemical reduction by Five rectangular glass aquarium tanks
assimilation into plant tissues. It is provided of 40x20x15 cm were fabricated and numbered
by normal denitrifying water bacteria (1to 5). The first tank was kept without any
(Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter spp) which filter and treated as the control. The remaining
breakdown ammonia into nitrites and nitrates four tanks were fitted with filter plates made of
302 Y. Prema Latha and A. P. Lipton

acrylic sheets to the size of 39x19 cm with water, reducing the tank’s stocking density
drilled holes of 3.0 mm diameter size. The holes (Cooper, 2006).
were separated by a gap of 2.5cm. To each filter Although the recommended pH
plates, two vertical PVC pipes were connected range for fresh water fish falls between 6.8
in holes made at the extreme ends. One of the and7.2 (Cooper, 2004) most gold fish culturists
pipes served as the inlet to which aerator is were able to culture them successfully
connected and the other as the outlet. The between 6.5 and 8.5. In the present study
surface area of the filter plates in the four Carassius auratus was successfully reared in
tanks numbered 2,3,4 and 5 was spread with pH ranges between 6.0 and 8.3 in different
gravel, pebbles, pebbles + DCP and DCP types of filter systems (Fig.1). The changes
respectively to a thickness of 5 cm. All the in pH were very low and gradual. Higher pH
tanks were filled with 25 L of water. Five fishes of can enhance the formation of ammonia in the
same weight class (3.0 to 7.0g) were introduced water while low pH can adversely affect the
into each of the system and were fed ad libitum functions of the fish’s gills and can be
with commercial fish feed (Sanyu tropical). detrimental to the growth of denitrifying
Determination of physio-chemical parameters bacteria (Cooper, 2006).
in the aquaria : The carbon dioxide content was low
The various parameters of water only in the coral filter system (Fig.2) .This
such as temperature, pH, CO2 content , DO shows a regular and steady respiratory
and ammonia in all the filter systems were metabolism in the fish.
determined daily for 30 days. The temperature In the present study the dissolved
in the tanks were measured daily at 9.0 a.m oxygen content was highest (7.5 ml/L) in dead
using a Celsius thermometer (N.S.Dimble coral piece filter system (Fig.3). Although there
make). The pH of water was determined daily is no single upper limit on dissolved oxygen
using a pH meter (Systronics Model 321). The concentration which applies to all fishes or
carbon dioxide level in the water was fish cultured situations, there is general
determined following the method of Adoni agreement on the lower limit i.e. 4.0 ppm for
(1985). The dissolved oxygen content of the warm water fishes and 5.0 ppm for Salmonids
water was determined daily using modified (Wedemeyer et al; 1999).
Winkler’s method (APHA, 1998). The In fresh water fishes ammonia toxicity
dissolved ammonia was determined following varies from species to species, other water
the method of Solórzano (1969). quality parameters, experimental method, the
Results and Discussion age, acclimation history and conditions of the
experimental fishes etc. There was a gradual
The various types of modified filter increase in the amount of ammonia from the
system with different filtrants, designed for beginning to the 4th day and there was sharp
rearing of C.auratus are found very economic, decrease up to 28th day in gold fish rearing
easily installable under laboratory or home tank (Fig.4). It was reported that gold fish
condition. possesses higher tolerance to ammonia
The water temperatures, in the (12.75mg for 24 to 48 hr), compared to trout
present study ranged between23oC and 29oC (Olson and Fromm, 1971; Levin et al; 1972).
with a difference of 6oC.Higher temperatures The present study reveals that as the days of
reduce the amount of oxygen content in the rearing increases, the ammonia content
Water quality management in gold fish (Carassius auratus) rearing tank using different filter materials 303

9.0
Contro l
Gravel
P ebbles
P ebbles + DCP
DCP
8.0
pH

7.0

6.0

5.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Days

Fig. 1. Changes in pH in aquaria with different filter systems

28

24
Carbon dioxide (mg/L)

20

16

Co ntro l
12 Gravel
P ebbles
P ebbles + DCP
DCP
8
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Days

Fig. 2. Carbondioxide content in aquaria with different filter systems (Carassius auratus)
304 Y. Prema Latha and A. P. Lipton

8.0

7.0

6.0
O2 (mg/L)

5.0

4.0

Co ntro l
Gravel
3.0
P ebbles
P ebbles + DCP
DCP
2.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Days
Fig. 3. Oxygen content in aquaria with different filter systems (Carassius auratus)
5.0
Co nt ro l
Gravel
P ebbles
4.5
P ebbles + DCP
DCP

4.0

3.5
Ammonia (µg/L)

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Days

Fig. 4. Ammonia content in aquaria with different filter systems (Carassius auratus)
Water quality management in gold fish (Carassius auratus) rearing tank using different filter materials 305

Table 1. Relationship between various hydrological parameters of Carassius auratus aquaria (‘r’ values)

Water Water Carbon Oxygen Days

temperature temperature dioxide content v/s v/s
Type of filtrant
v/s oxygen v/s carbon-di- v/s ammonia ammonia
content oxide content pH content content

1. No filtrant (Control) - 0.805 0.708 - 0.272 0.422 0.042

2. Gravel - 0.734 0.561 - 0.759 0.757 - 0.760

3. Pebbles - 0.752 0.632 - 0.766 0.715 - 0.737

4. Pebbles + DCP - 0.833 0.626 - 0.883 0.600 - 0.723

5. DCP - 0.771 0.609 - 0.880 0.517 - 0.691

decreases in all types of filter systems. The References

calculated mean values show that, among all Adoni, A.D. 1985. Work Book on Limnology.
the four types of filtrants used, coral piece Indian IMBA Committee. Department of
filter system contained low level of ammonia. Environment, Govt. of India.
Relationship between various APHA 1998. Standard methods for the
physicochemical parameters of Carassius Examination of water and waste water,
auratus aquaria (“r “values) are presented in 20th edn. APHA. Washington, D.C.
Table 1. The results obtained in the present
Cooper, D.M. 2004. Basics of fish care. Fish
study indicate that preference can be given to
care (Electronics), p. 1-10.
DCP filter system while designing a filter
system and to pebble+DCP the next preference, Cooper, D.M. 2006. Basics of fish care. Fish
rather than all other filtrants, to ensure better care (Electronics), p. 1-9.
rearing condition. Levin, H.A., R.E. Wolke and V.J. Cabelli 1972.
Vibrio anguillarum as a cause of disease in
Acknowledgments winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes
First Author (Y.Premalatha) is americanus). Can. J. Microbiol., 13, 405-
thankful to the UGC for financial assistance in 412.
the form of FDP (2002 to2003). Solorzano, L. 1969. Determination of ammonia in
I record my deep sense of gratitude natural waters by the Phenol hypochlorite
to my guide, Dr.A.P.Lipton, Head, Centre for method. Limnol. Oceanogr.,14:799-801.
Marine Science and Technology, MSU, Marina Olson, K.R. and P.O. Fromm 1971. Excretion of
Campus, Rajakkamangalam, for his valuable urea by teleosts exposed to different
suggestions, constant encouragements to concentrations of ammonia. Comp.
complete this work. Biochem. Physiol., 40A: 999-1007.
I am thankful to, Rev. Sr. Dr. Mercy, Spotte, S. 1973. Marine aquarium keeping, the
Head, Department of zoology and science, animals and art. Wiley, New York,
Rev.Sr.Dr.Basil for their encouragements. 173 pp.
306 Y. Prema Latha and A. P. Lipton

Spotte, S. 1979. Fish and invertebrate Wedemeyer, G.A., F.P. Meyer and L. Smith 1999.
culture: Water Management in closed Environmental stress and fish diseases,
systems. 2 nd ed. Wiley, New York, Published by Narendra Publishing House,
179 pp. Delhi. pp. 192.