Water quality is a critical issue in aquaculture. Water in production units is easily contaminated by manures, fertilizers, and the feed used to promote high levels of aquatic animal production. Effluents from production units can have adverse effects on the surrounding environment. Water quality treatment procedures have been devised in consequence for improving the quality of influent water, of water within production units, and of effluents from them. Aquaculturists must pay careful attention to water quality if they are to reduce mortality, decrease stress, and enhance the quantity and quality of aquatic animal production. Effluents must also be managed to reduce their impacts on the environment. Among the topics covered in this text are: water quality requirements of aquatic animals; aquaculture ecosystems; water quality in aquaculture systems; liming; fertilization; aeration; water circulation; turbidity and sedimentation; off-flavour; aquatic weed control; external sources of pollution; water quality control in alternative production systems, miscellaneous water quality treatments; waste and effluent management; and water quality analyses.
A review of chemical principles; physical factors; dissolved minerals and organic matter; dissolved gases; particulate matter, colour and turbidity; biological processes; PH, alkalinity and hardness; the redox potential; carbon; nitrogen; phosphorus; secondary elements; minor elements; water pollution; chemical budgets for aquatic systems; water sampling and analysis; interpretation of water quality data.