| Home  | About ScienceAsia  | Publication charge  | Advertise with us  | Subscription for printed version  | Contact us  
Editorial Board
Journal Policy
Instructions for Authors
Online submission
Author Login
Reviewer Login
Volume 50 Number 1
Volume 49 Number 6
Volume 49 Number 5
Volume 49S Number 1
Volume 49 Number 4
Volume 49 Number 3
Earlier issues
Volume  Number 

previous article next article

Research articles

ScienceAsia 35 (2009): 118-124 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2009.35.118


Development of a closed-recirculating, continuous culture system for microalga (Tetraselmis suecica) and rotifer (Brachionus plicatilis) production


Chatchadaporn Sananurak*, Thaithaworn Lirdwitayaprasit, Piamsak Menasveta

 
ABSTRACT:     We have designed, built and operated a closed-recirculating, continuous culture system to produce microalgae and rotifers in seawater (25% salinity) for larval fish culture. The system opens a new perspective in terms of automated production of rotifers without labour cost. Rotifers can be easily harvested daily by a conical harvest net and there is no routine maintenance work. This new, automated system has three components: a microalga culture, a rotifer culture and storage with harvest, and a water treatment and re-use component. After treatment using mechanical filtration, biofiltration, UV sterilization, ozonation, and protein skimmers, water is re-used, thus nearly eliminating the need for seawater imports to the system. Our trial demonstrated that this culture system is capable of producing sustained and acceptable levels of rotifer production for at least 28 days. Microalga densities and yields were quite stable, while rotifer yield varied more during our 28 day culture period. Nitrogenous waste compounds were stable and well within acceptable levels, although nitrate and phosphate concentrations increased throughout the culture period, but did not negatively impact on rotifer production.

Download PDF

32 Downloads 1200 Views


Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

* Corresponding author, E-mail: myvarich2547@hotmail.com

Received 20 Nov 2008, Accepted 25 May 2009