THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING BIOFILTER WITH THE ADDITION OF PALM FIBERS ON THE GROWTH OF RED LETTUCE (LACTUCA SATIVA VAR. CRISPA) AND TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) IN FLOATING RAFT AQUAPONIC SYSTEMS

• Main Author: Satria Mauldeva Wibawa, Made
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/74993
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The aquaponic system is a closed circulation system that uses interactions between plant and fish cultivation. One of the problems that often occurs in the development of aquaponics systems is the increase in the accumulation of poisons resulting from fish metabolites such as ammonia. The use of biofilters in the aquaponic system is expected to increase the transformation of ammonia into nitrates which can be used directly by plants. The addition of palm fiber to the bioball biofilter is expected to filter large particles in water. This research was conducted to determine the effect of adding palm fiber to the bioball biofilter on the growth of red lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. Crispa) and tilapia growth (Oreochromis nitloticus). In addition, we also want to know whether there is an effect on plant growth based on different positions in the floating raft system model. This research was conducted in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 2 installations that had different biofilters and 5 plant positions in each installation. The first installation uses a bioball biofilter as a control and the second installation uses a bioball biofilter with the addition of palm fiber (1:1). In each installation, the effect of each plant position which has a different distance from the inlet was observed with the order of position 1 (30 cm); position 2 (60 cm); position 3 (90 cm); position 4 (120 cm); and position 5 (150 cm) on the growth of red lettuce (L. sativa). Each position treatment was repeated 12 times. Measurements were made on growth parameters and plant biomass, fish growth, water quality (pH, TDS, and EC), and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, and light intensity). The highest plant growth and plant biomass were obtained in the control biofilter treatment with positions 1 and 2. The highest fish growth was obtained in the palm fiber and bioball biofilter treatment.