GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND SURVIVAL RATE OF EEL (Anguilla marmorata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) IN RECIRCULATION SYSTEMS WITH DIFFERENT BIOFILTERS

Abstract

The potential of eel (Anguilla marmorata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) in Indonesia is quite high. The potential of eel seeds from nature has not been optimally utilized for raising to consumption size, so it is necessary to develop rearing technology. It is hoped that the technology applied and developed can be carried out both on a small and large scale. The problem in fish cultivation is maintaining good water quality. One technology that can be applied is the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology or a cultivation system with recirculation using natural filters derived from biofilter plants. The purpose of this study was to determine the use of different biofilters in the recirculation system on the growth and survival of eel (A. marmorata). The study was conducted at the Water Quality and Aquatic Biology Laboratory, Aquaculture Study Program, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Tadulako University, Palu. The study was designed using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments applied were in the form of biofilters, consisting of: treatment A = Lettuce Biofilter, treatment B = Celery Biofilter, treatment C = Pakcoy Biofilter, treatment D = Water spinach Biofilter. The results of the study showed that the use of different plant biofilters significantly affected the growth of the absolute weight of eels. The use of water spinach biofilter obtained the highest value in absolute weight growth (0.29±0.05 g), specific weight growth (1.83±0.28%); the lowest value of absolute weight growth in the use of lettuce biofilter (0.19±0.03 g) and specific weight growth in the packcoy biofilter treatment (1.38±0.21%). The highest survival rate was in the water spinach biofilter treatment (76±8.94%), while the lowest was in the celery biofilter treatment (60±14.14%). The results of the study concluded that the use of water spinach biofilter is the best treatment for the enlargement of eels (Anguilla marmorata Quoy & Gaimard).