Effectiveness of Nitrobacter on the specific growth rate, survival rate and feed conversion ratio of dumbo catfish Clarias sp. with density differences in the aquaponic system

The increased production of catfish has resulted in the addition of cultivated land area and the use of water specifically for this purpose, so technology is needed in catfish culture that promotes high density stocking that can be applied to narrow land and limited water sources; this is the system of aquaponics. With the addition of Nitrobacter, it can reduce the increase of ammonia and nitrite compounds in the water so as to produce a high nitrate content that can be absorbed if the roots of the plants are to grow optimally. The purpose of this research was to determine the density of dumbo catfish stocks that are effective for the specific growth rate, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio by putting Nitrobacter into an aquaponic system. This was an experimental study using a Completely Randomized RAL Design consisting of 5 treatments and 4 replications with different stocking solids; P0 = 30 fishes/15 L without Nitrobacter; whereas P1 = 30 fishes/15 L; P2 = 35 fishes/15 L; P3 = 40 fishes/15 L and P4 = 45 fishes/15 L with Nitrobacter 1 x 10⁸ CFU/ml. The data was processed using ANOVA and continued with Duncan's Multiple Test. The best results obtained were in the stocking solid of 45 fishes/15 L.