Effect of different filter media use on aquaponics system on ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), nitrite (NO₂) and nitrate (NO₃) concentrations of catfish (Clarias sp.) aquaculture

Catfish cultivation has been carried out in Indonesia. One such development is the maintenance of catfish using an aquaponic system. Aquaponics aims to improve the water quality of fish farming with the help of plants. But plants cannot directly utilize fish farming waste directly, it is necessary to have a nitrification process first. Nitrification is the reformation of inorganic compounds into organic compounds with the help of bacteria. Nitrifying bacteria are colonized and non-motile bacteria, so a substrate is needed as a place to attach to the bacteria. The substrate that can be used is bioball and bioring. This study aims to determine whether the effect and filter media are effective in catfish farming with an aquaponic system. This study using the RAL method consisting of 4 treatments and 5 replications, namely P0 = control, P1 = bioball, P2 = bioring and P3 = bioball and bioring combinations. The results obtained that P3 (bioball and bioring combination) is the most effective treatment in reducing the nitrogenous waste catfish aquaculture using an aquaponics system, the results is 0,000 mg/L ammonium, nitrite 0.001 mg/L and nitrate 13.0 mg/L at the end of the study.