• ALGAE
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2007

A study was carried out in nine fertilized fish ponds under three treatments (T-I, T-II and T-III) at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to see the bloom of euglenophytes with the intention of observing its impact on the growth of fish in culture condition. Some water quality parameters viz., temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, PO4-P and NO3-N concentration and some biological parameters viz., phytoplankton population and growth of fish were monitored at fixed intervals. Euglenophytes showed a heavy bloom in late August in the ponds of T-II. The bloom was occurred by the genera, Euglena, Phacus and Trachelomonas of which Euglena was the most dominant genus. In relation of water quality parameters with euglenophytes bloom, it was hypothesized that euglenophytes prefers higher temperature and acidic environment with higher nutrient concentrations. Acidic environment and nutrient enrichment enhanced the bloom of euglenophytes which hampered the growth of other beneficial algal groups (chlorophytes and bacillariophytes) and fish. Due to heavy bloom, the fishes breathed with difficulty at the surface. The fishes in the heavy bloom ponds presented the weight values were lower than verified for those in the ponds where the bloom did not occur. Total production (calculated) of fish in different treatments ranged from 1355.89 to1760.63 kg ha–1 with significantly (p < 0.05) lowest in the ponds of T-II.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.30.1-30.10
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• 2017

Small-scale fish farmers in developing countries are faced with challenges owing to their limited information on aquaculture management. Nile tilapia farmers in Teso North Sub-County recorded lower yields than expected in 2009 despite having been provided with required inputs. Water quality was suspected to be the key factor responsible for the low yields. This study sought to assess the effects of earthen pond water physico-chemical parameters on the growth of Nile tilapia in six earthen fish ponds under semi-intensive culture system in Teso North Sub-County. The study was longitudinal in nature with pond water and fish being the units of analysis. Systematic sampling was used to select five ponds while a control pond was purposively selected based on its previously high harvest. Four ponds were fed by surface flow and two by underground water. Each pond was fertilized and stocked with 900 fry of averagely 1.4 g and 4.4 cm. Physico-chemical parameters were measured in-situ using a multi-parameter probe. Sixty fish samples were randomly obtained from each pond fortnightly for four months using a 10 mm mesh size and measured, weighed and returned into the pond. Mean range of physico-chemical parameters were: dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.86-10.53 mg/l, temperature $24-26^{\circ}C$, pH 6.1-8.3, conductivity $35-87{\mu}S/cm$ and ammonia 0.01-0.3 mg/l. Temperature (p = 0.012) and conductivity (p = 0.0001) levels varied significantly between ponds. Overall Specific Growth Rate ranged between 1.8% (0.1692 g/day) and 3.8% (1.9 g/day). Ammonia, DO and pH in the ponds were within the optimal levels for growth of tilapia, while temperature and conductivity were below optimal levels. As temperature and DO increased, growth rate of tilapia increased. However, increase in conductivity, pH and ammonia decreased fish growth rate. Temperature and DO ranging between 27 and $30^{\circ}C$ and 5-23 mg/l, respectively, and SGR of 3.8%/day and above are recommended for higher productivity.