Effects of Protein Skimmer Inclusion in an Integrated Aquaponic System Between the Red Tilapia Hybrid (Florida strain) and Mint (Mentha Spicata)

This study determined how the addition of a protein skimmer in an aquaponic system affected the red tilapia performance, water quality, feed utilization, body proximate composition, and mint growth performance. The experiment consisted of two treatments, one of which was a control system (non-PS), and the other was supported by a protein skimmer (PS). Experimental systems were stocked with 60 fish per m³. The dissolved oxygen (mg/ l) was significantly higher (P< 0.05) 7.20± 0.14 in the PS treated group compared to the control treatment (6.40± 0.32). Both ammonia and nitrite decreased significantly in PS with values of 0.17± 0.02 and 0.002± 0.001, respectively. Salinity was significantly lower in PS (0.66± 0.06) than in non-PS (1.11±0.11). Weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly higher in PS (109.97± 10.43 and 2.65± 0.11, respectively) than in non-PS (76± 5.38 and 2.27± 0.08, respectively). Survival rate % decreased significantly in non-PS than in PS (73.66± 1.85 and 85.74± 1.95, respectively). The FCR was significantly lower in the PS (0.53± 0.01) than in the non-PS (0.84± 0.02). The protein efficiency ratio was higher in PS (0.11± 0.02). The plant fresh weight, plant height, the number of leaves, fresh biomass, fresh cut biomass, and dry cut biomass were significantly (P< 0.05) higher with the addition of PS than the non-PS control group.  Mint root length was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in non-PS. The two treatments didn't differ significantly in fish body moisture and protein contents. Significantly lower fish body ash content (14.34± 0.55) was found in PS treatment than in non-PS treatment (18.94± 0.7). The total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll (a), and chlorophyll (b) of mint were significantly higher in PS (50.79± 2.04, 32.65± 1.36, and 19.52± 1.97, respectively) than in the non-PS. The addition of protein skimmer to aquaponic systems caused several advantages in water quality, fish growth performance, and plant growth performance.