Sara Serina Sitepu, Rosmaiti Rosmaiti, Teuku Fadlon Haser, Suri Purnama Febri

Growth Performance of Nannochloropsis sp. in Different Aquaculture Wastewater Media

Introduction

Growth performance of nannochloropsis sp. In different aquaculture wastewater media. Evaluate Nannochloropsis sp. growth in various aquaculture wastewaters (shrimp, milkfish, grouper). Shrimp pond wastewater showed the highest cell density, proving it an effective, sustainable medium for microalgal cultivation.

Abstract

Nannochloropsis sp. is a microalga widely used as natural feed, particularly for rotifers, Artemia, and the larvae of fish and shrimp. During cultivation, this microalga requires essential nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate to support photosynthesis and growth. Aquaculture pond wastewater often contains organic matter that can cause environmental pollution but may also serve as a potential nutrient source for microalgal culture. This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance of Nannochloropsis sp. in different aquaculture wastewater media. The experiment was conducted from September to October 2021 using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments: P0 (control/seawater), P1 (vannamei shrimp pond wastewater), P2 (milkfish pond wastewater), and P3 (grouper pond wastewater), each with three replications. The results showed that P1 produced the highest growth performance, with cell density reaching 2.15 × 10⁶ cells/ml. These findings indicate that shrimp pond wastewater can be utilized as an alternative medium for microalgal cultivation while simultaneously supporting sustainable aquaculture waste management.

Review

This manuscript presents a focused investigation into the potential of utilizing various aquaculture wastewaters as nutrient sources for the cultivation of *Nannochloropsis sp.*, a microalga crucial for its application as natural feed in aquaculture. Addressing the dual challenges of environmental pollution from aquaculture effluent and the need for cost-effective microalgal production, the study's objective was to evaluate the growth performance of *Nannochloropsis sp.* across different wastewater types. Employing a Completely Randomized Design, the authors compared control (seawater), vannamei shrimp, milkfish, and grouper pond wastewaters. The key finding, that shrimp pond wastewater (P1) yielded the highest cell density (2.15 × 10⁶ cells/ml), offers a promising and practical solution for sustainable aquaculture waste management and reduced reliance on commercial fertilizers. While the study's objective is clear and highly relevant, and the experimental design appears sound, the abstract's conciseness leaves room for further detail that would enhance its interpretability. A critical missing piece of information is the initial characterization of the wastewater media, including nutrient profiles (e.g., nitrate, phosphate, ammonia), salinity, and pH. Understanding these parameters is essential for explaining *why* shrimp pond wastewater exhibited superior performance compared to others. Furthermore, although "growth performance" is mentioned, only cell density is reported. The inclusion of other growth metrics, such as specific growth rate, biomass productivity, or chlorophyll content, alongside the duration of the experimental period that led to the reported maximum density, would provide a more comprehensive assessment of the microalgal response. Despite these suggestions for expanded detail, the study offers valuable preliminary insights. Its primary contribution lies in empirically demonstrating the viability of aquaculture wastewater as a culture medium, directly supporting principles of circular economy within aquaculture. Future research building upon these findings should aim to characterize the complete nutrient dynamics within these wastewater systems during cultivation, optimize any necessary pre-treatments of the wastewater, and critically assess the nutritional quality and safety of the *Nannochloropsis sp.* produced for feed applications. This work lays a solid foundation for developing integrated bioremediation and biomass production strategies, holding significant potential for widespread adoption in sustainable aquaculture practices.

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