Tratamento de efluentes de cultivos de tilápia do nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) com a microalga Spirulina platensis

Abstract

In this study, the microalgae Spirulina platensis was used to promote the treatment of the water from a cultivation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Five treatments were carried (VD, CD, CS, SI and SE). In VD, fish were cultivated in fresh green water from a fish culture tank, containing several species of microalgae. In CD, tilapia fingerlings were cultivated in fresh clear water, without the presence of native microalgae. In CS, fingerlings, previously acclimated, were cultivated in clear water with salinity 10. In the treatment carried on the internal system (SI), the microalgae were cultured in a 1,500 L pool with tilapia effluent and artificial lighting. In the treatment SE, microalgae S. platensis were cultured with natural lighting in a 1,500 L boxe containing only the effluent of the fish cultivated in the clear water with salinity 10 (CS). The abiotic parameters analyzed during the cultures were: absorbance, pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and total ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and total phosphates concentrations. The zootechnical development of fish was monitored and the production of microalgae biomass was determined. The results showed that fish growth in weight (W) and length (L) of treatment VD (W = 12.25 ± 0.50 g and L = 7.1 ± 0.1 cm) were higher than the treatments CD (W = 9.19 ± 0.59 g and L = 6.3 ± 0.1 cm) and CS (P = 9.90 ± 0.69 g and L = 6.7 ± 0.1 cm). The maximum cell density of S. platensis obtained in the treatment SE was 322,000 trichomes mL-1, whereas in SI were obtained 550,000 trichomes mL-1, which resulted in the greatest production of dry biomass of S. platensis (0.22 g L-1) and maximum yield (0.02 g L-1 day-1). SI was also the treatment which better reduced ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and phosphates concentrations ( 95%), leaving the effluent nutrients levels below to those established by nº 357 CONAMA Resolution, making the water suitable for reuse in the fish culture or to be disposal in the natural environment.