Aquaponics for Biological Regeneration of Water Quality in the Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) Farming Systems and Its Impact on the Ecuadorian Consumer's Perception

The red tilapia is an aquatic species widely farmed in Ecuador due to its commercial value and worldwide demand. However, as in all aquaculture activities, the culture of the red tilapia at high densities generates an excessive amount of ammonia and other harmful compounds that are usually treated with flocculation technology. In this study, aquaponic systems were developed as an alternative to flocculation technology. In total, 5 aquaponic systems (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5) were tested, consisting of Oreochromis sp. and two species of macrophytes (Lemna spp., Pistia stratiotes) recognized for their phytoremediation capacity. As a result, it was found that the floating plant Lemna spp. was the most adaptable macrophyte to the aquaponic system, showing significant growth in biomass and a high capacity to improve water quality. The S1 system was the most efficient, presenting the lowest levels of nitrite and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), in addition to maintaining adequate concentrations of nitrate, pH and total nitrogen. Regarding the survey, participants indicated that the perception of safety and hygiene is the main factor when choosing a new product, and pointed to universities as the most reliable sources of information to reduce or increase the perception of risk upon using an unknown innovation.