Reduction of Total Ammonia Nitrogen by Caulerpa lentillifera and Gracilaria fisheri in Amphiprion ocellaris Cultivation

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the use of seaweeds Caulerpa lentillifera and Gracilaria fisheri to reduce total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) in Amphiprion ocellaris cultured in closed system aquarium (no water exchange) for 14 days.  The results showed that C. lentillifera can reduce TAN up to 6 times in both small (2.0 cm) and large (3.5 cm) fish. Seaweed G. fisheri can reduce TAN up to 6 times in large fish. However, in the small fish, no significant differences were observed among treatments in TAN concentration. Large fish exhibited 100 % survival rate in all treatments except the control group (without seaweed) where the survival rate was 0 %. Survival rates of small fish were 66.67 %, 33.33 % and 0 % in C. lentillifera, G. fisheri and control, respectively. This result indicated that C. lentillifera and G. fisheri can reduce TAN and A.ocellaris can be cultured together with these seaweeds in closed system aquarium.