Volume 18 Issue 3
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Article Navigation >  Water Science and Engineering  > 2025  >  18(3): 345-353
Limin Teng, Takahiro Watari, Mami Nagai, Nur Adlin, Penpicha Satanwat, Masashi Hatamoto, Takashi Yamaguchi. 2025: Performance evaluation of downflow hanging sponge-upflow sludge blanket system for Oreochromis niloticus-Brassica oleracea aquaponic system. Water Science and Engineering, 18(3): 345-353. doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.04.004
Citation: Limin Teng, Takahiro Watari, Mami Nagai, Nur Adlin, Penpicha Satanwat, Masashi Hatamoto, Takashi Yamaguchi. 2025: Performance evaluation of downflow hanging sponge-upflow sludge blanket system for Oreochromis niloticus-Brassica oleracea aquaponic system. Water Science and Engineering, 18(3): 345-353. doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.04.004
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Performance evaluation of downflow hanging sponge-upflow sludge blanket system for Oreochromis niloticus-Brassica oleracea aquaponic system

doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.04.004

  • a. Department of Energy and Environment Science, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-2188, Japan;

  • b. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-2188, Japan;

  • c. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Oita College, Oita 870-0152, Japan;

  • d. Department of Science of Technology Innovation, Nagaoka University of Technology, 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-2188, Japan;

  • e. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat School of Engineering, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand

Funds:

This work was supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (Grant No. JPMJPF2211).

  • Received Date: 2024-11-24
  • Accepted Date: 2025-03-24
    • Available Online: 2025-10-15
    Abstract
  • Maintaining low nitrate concentrations in aquaponic systems is crucial for improving water quality and maximizing the growth efficiency of fish and vegetables. Downflow hanging sponge (DHS) and upflow sludge blanket (USB) reactors have shown potential for wastewater treatment, but their use in aquaponic systems is relatively underexplored, particularly for overall performance and efficiency. In this study, a DHS reactor was coupled with a denitrifying USB reactor in an aquaponic system comprising Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC). The USB reactor achieved a nitrate removal rate of 80.8% ± 20.5%. The specific growth rate of tilapia was 6.11% per day from day 16 to day 30. On day 45, kale growth achieved stem lengths of (4.1 ± 1.2) cm, root lengths of (12.2 ± 6.0) cm, and leaf counts of (6.3 ± 2.0) leaves per plant. Changes in the microbial communities within the reactors positively contributed to denitrification, resulting in a nitrogen utilization efficiency of 88.3%. The DHSeUSB aquaponic system effectively maintained optimal water quality and stable parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature). It regulated ammonia levels well and achieved 80.8% ± 20.5% removal rates for nitrite and nitrate after day 10. Microbial analysis highlighted significant shifts in the microbial communities within the DHS and USB reactors, under-scoring their critical roles in nitrification and denitrification. Therefore, the DHS—USB aquatic system has the potential to improve agricultural production efficiency and promote sustainable development.

     

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