Catfish Farm Water Quality Management

 

Water Quality Management 


Fish carry out all body functions in water; breathe, feed, grow, reproduce and excrete. Water quality is therefore critical in any fish venture. It affects fish growth health and performance. The quality for operation is therefore what the fish needs and not what the farmer wants or prefers 

Signs of poor water quality 

∙ Fish gasp at the surface  

∙ Fish groups around fresh incoming water  

∙ The slow growth of fish  

∙ Changes in watercolour: Good ware is greenish while deteriorating water is brownish. 

∙ Change in turbidity 

∙ A build-up of nutrients such as ammonia-nitrogen 

∙ Phytoplankton blooms  

∙ Non-fish animals leave the water  

∙ Repeated health problems  

∙ Poor transparency  

∙ Excessive growth of weeds especially in earthen ponds.

Causes of water quality deterioration  


  • ∙ Use of poor quality feed 
  • ∙ Overfeeding  
  • ∙ Overstocking  
  • ∙ Decomposition of vegetation  
  • ∙ Increased water temperature.  


Advantages of good water quality management. 

  • ∙ Good harvest 
  • ∙ Minimized mortalities  
  • ∙ Minimized vulnerability to fish diseases ∙ Good tasty fish - no off-flavour 
  • ∙ Increased profitability.  


Management of water quality 

∙ Regular monitoring 

∙ Aeration of ponds where necessary ∙ Removal of wastes such as fish faeces ∙ Removal of dead fish  

∙ Regular water change/renewal - ponds

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