Keywords
nitrification
phytoremediation
Oreochromis spp
water quality
How to Cite
Abstract
This study was conducted within the framework of the optimization and validation of a commercial-scale aquaponic prototype (208 m³), based on phytoremediation processes using native aquatic macrophytes as a sustainable alternative for managing nitrogenous compounds in intensive aquaculture, with potential application in vulnerable communities. The objective was to evaluate the efficiency of the system in reducing ammoniacal nitrogen in the culture of red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) under three stocking densities (18, 27, and 55 fish/m³). The experiment was carried out over eight weeks, during which water quality parameters including pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), NH₃-N, NO₂-N, and NO₃-N were monitored, comparing the system influent (fish tanks and sedimentation unit) with the treated effluent collected in a plant-associated reservoir. The results showed an effective reduction in ammonia, consistently low nitrite concentrations (< 0.06 mg/L), and a progressive accumulation of nitrates, indicating an active and functional nitrification process. Although system pH remained around 5.5—a condition considered limiting for conventional nitrification—the interaction between aquatic plant roots and epiphytic bacterial communities in the rhizosphere enabled efficient nitrogen treatment. As the main limitation, a decrease in dissolved oxygen was observed at higher stocking densities, highlighting the need to optimize aeration systems for future scaling processes. Overall, the results validate the use of native aquatic plants as functional components in aquaponic systems, demonstrating their capacity to maintain water quality under medium-to-high loading conditions and their applicability in resource-limited production contexts.
References
Bakke, I., Åm, A. L., Kolarevic, J., Ytrestøyl, T., Vadstein, O., Attramadal, K. J. K., & Terjesen, B. F. (2017). Microbial community dynamics in semi-commercial RAS for production of Atlantic salmon post-smolts at different salinities. Aquacultural Engineering, 78, 42–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AQUAENG.2016.10.002
Blancheton, J. P., Attramadal, K. J. K., Michaud, L., d’Orbcastel, E. R., & Vadstein, O. (2013). Insight into bacterial population in aquaculture systems and its implication. Aquacultural Engineering, 53, 30–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AQUAENG.2012.11.009
Boyd, C. E. (2020). Water Quality. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23335-8
Camargo-Castellanos, J. C., Flores-García, L., Herrera-Díaz, I. E., Álvarez-González, C. A., Albertos-Alpuche, P. J., & Martínez-Yáñez, R. (2022). System management of Lemna minor in aquaponics. Aquaculture Research, 53(3), 974–988. https://doi.org/10.1111/ARE.15637
Department of Primary Industries. (2008). Best practice environmental management guidelines for recirculating aquaculture systems. Dept. of Primary Industries, Fisheries Victoria. https://vfa.vic.gov.au/aquaculture/publications/best-pratice-environmental-management-guidelines-for-recirculating-aquaculture-systems?
Ellawala, C., Asaeda, T., & Kawamura, K. (2012). The effect of flow turbulence on growth, nutrient uptake and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures in Chara fibrosa. Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology, 48(3), 349–354. https://doi.org/10.1051/LIMN/2012024
Francis-Floyd, R. (2001). Sanitation Practices for Aquaculture Facilities | Engormix. https://en.engormix.com/aquaculture/aquaculture-industry/sanitation-practices-aquaculture-facilities_n11915/
Gao, J., Li, L., Hu, Z., Yue, H., Zhang, R., & Xiong, Z. (2016). Effect of ammonia stress on nitrogen metabolism of Ceratophyllum demersum. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 35(1), 205–211. https://doi.org/10.1002/ETC.3182
Grunditz, C., & Dalhammar, G. (2001). Development of nitrification inhibition assays using pure cultures of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. Water Research, 35(2), 433–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(00)00312-2
Kafle, A., Timilsina, A., Gautam, A., Adhikari, K., Bhattarai, A., & Aryal, N. (2022). Phytoremediation: Mechanisms, plant selection and enhancement by natural and synthetic agents. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100203
Mandal, R. N., & Bera, P. (2024). Macrophytes Used as Multifaceted Benefits Including Feeding, Bioremediation, and Symbiosis in Freshwater Aquaculture—A Review. Reviews in Aquaculture, 17(1), e12983. https://doi.org/10.1111/RAQ.12983
Oktaviyani, D., Pratiwi, N. T. M., Krisanti, M., Chrismada, T., & Susanti, E. (2024). The Potential of Floating Treatment Wetlands for Pollutant Removal in the Recirculating Aquaculture System of Catfish. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 25(4), 111–118. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/183822
Prinčič, A., Mahne, I., Megušar, F., Paul, E. A., & Tiedje, J. M. (1998). Effects of pH and Oxygen and Ammonium Concentrations on the Community Structure of Nitrifying Bacteria from Wastewater. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 64(10), 3584. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.64.10.3584-3590.1998
Randall, D. J., & Tsui, T. K. N. (2002). Ammonia toxicity in fish. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 45(1–12), 17–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00227-8
Sikora, M., Nowosad, J., Kucharczyk, D., Sikora, M., Nowosad, J., & Kucharczyk, D. (2020). Comparison of Different Biofilter Media During Biological Bed Maturation Using Common Carp as a Biogen Donor. Applied Sciences 2020, Vol. 10, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/APP10020626
Vymazal, J. (2007). Removal of nutrients in various types of constructed wetlands. Science of The Total Environment, 380(1–3), 48–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2006.09.014
Wang, R., Xu, S., Sun, H., Feng, S., Jiang, C., Zhou, S., Wu, S., Zhuang, G., Chen, B., Bai, Z., & Zhuang, X. (2019). Complex regulatory network allows Myriophyllum aquaticum to thrive under high-concentration ammonia toxicity. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 4801. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41236-8
Yi, N., Gao, Y., Long, X. hua, Zhang, Zhi yong, Guo, J. yao, Shao, H. bo, Zhang, Zhen hua, & Yan, S. hua. (2014). Eichhornia crassipes cleans wetlands by enhancing the nitrogen removal and modulating denitrifying bacteria community. Clean - Soil, Air, Water, 42(5), 664–673. https://doi.org/10.1002/CLEN.201300211;WGROUP:STRING:PUBLICATION
Zhou, Q., Chen, T., & Han, S. (2017). Characteristics of bacterial communities in cyanobacteria-blooming aquaculture wastewater influenced by the phytoremediation with water hyacinth. Water (Switzerland), 8(12), 956. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9120956
Zimmermann, S., Kiessling, A., & Zhang, J. (2023). The future of intensive tilapia production and the circular bioeconomy without effluents: Biofloc technology, recirculation aquaculture systems, bio-RAS, partitioned aquaculture systems and integrated multitrophic aquaculture. Reviews in Aquaculture, 15(S1), 22–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/RAQ.12744
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Authors who publish in Revista Minerva agree to the following terms: Authors continue as owners of their work, assigning only dissemination rights to Minerva Magazine under the standards of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license allows others to mix, adapt and build upon the work for any purpose, including commercially, and although new works must also acknowledge the initial author, they do not have to license derivative works under the same terms.