Effect of difference filter media on Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) on tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production performance

This research aims to determine the composition of the best filter media on tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production performance. The method used in this research is experimental methods use Completely Randomized Design (CRD), which consist of four variables and three replications. The variable used is (A) without media filter (Control); (B) combination of cotton, bio ball and charcoal; (C) combination of cotton bioring and charcoal; (D) combination of cotton, Japanese matt and charcoal. The test fish used 180 tilapia fish with 7-9 cm length size. Tanks that used measured 60 cm x 30 cm x 36 cm as many as 12 pieces. The density during the research was 15 tails per tank. Duration of maintenance is 40 days. The feeding level is given by 5% of fish body weight. Water quality parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia, and nitrate) were observed every 10 days for 40 days. Other parameters are survival rate, absolute length and weight growth, specific growth rate and feed convertion ratio observed every 7 days for 40 days. The results showed that the best composition of filter media for tilapia production performance was combination of cotton, bioball, and charcoal. Tilapia production performance obtained a combination of cotton filter media, bioball, and charcoal with 100% survival rate, length growth 2.17 cm, weight growth of 9.91 g, and specific growth rate of 2.3% and feed conversion ratio of 1.88.