Water Quality Monitoring on Golden Arowana Scleropages Formosus (1)

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Caspian Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 2(AICCE'12 & GIZ' 12), pp. 190-196, 2013

Available online at http://www.cjasr.com

ISSN: 2251-9114, 2012 CJASR

190

AWAM International Conference on Civil Engineering & Geohazard Information Zonation

Water Quality Monitoring on Golden Arowana (Scleropages formosus)

Aquaculture Farm at Bukit Merah, Malaysia.

Nur Atiqah A.A*1, Abustan I2, Syafalni3, Mahyun A.W4

1,2,3School of Civil Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal,Penang,

MALAYSIA,4School of Environmental Engineering,Universiti Malaysia Perlis,02600 Arau,Pelis,MALAYSIA.

*Corresponding Author: [email protected]

A study on the water quality for Arowana farm was conducted. The golden Arowana can breed successfully at

Bukit Merah, Malaysia. Although widely research had been done on the water quality at Bukit Merah, but none

of them discuss about water quality index in Arowana farm specifically. Fourteen sampling points were selected

in series from upstream of Bukit Merah dam (N0501'04.5" E 10039'07.0'') and end up downstream at Sungai

Kurau (N0500'53.6" E 10036'47.5"). Water quality parameters were measured and classified based on the

Interim National Water Quality Standard, Malaysia (INWQS). The results were then being compared with the

guidelines given by Department of Fishery (DOF) on Arowana's water quality. Based on the result, the

calculated WQI showed that the water quality are varies between class II and class III from upstream at Bukit

Merah dam to downstream at Sungai Kurau. It indicates that the Arowana farm had contributed to the

degradation of water quality at Bukit Merah.

Key words:water quality, Arowana, Bukit Merah

1. INTRODUCTION

Arowana breeds successfully in pond and theproduction are highly depending on the waterquality. Therefore it is crucial to know theappropriate water quality for Arowana. Watersupplies are needed throughout the year. The waterresources are either from hill water, rivers, dam or

lake (DOF, 2005). Table 1 below shows the waterquality guidelines for Arowana that had beenhighlighted by the Department of FisheriesMalaysia (DOF) while Table 2 are the InterimNational Water Quality Standard (INWQS) forclass II that are suitable for fishery for sensitiveaquatic species.

Table 1:Water quality for Arowana (DOF, 2005)Water quality parameter Water quality guidelines

Temperature 29C - 31CpH 6.58.5Dissolved oxygen 5ppmAmmonia 1ppmSecchi disc 30cm

Table 2.National water quality standards for Malaysia for class II(Fishery II - Sensitive aquatic species) (DOE, 2010)

Parameter National Water Quality Standards For Malaysia

Ammonia nitrogen 0.3 mg/L

Biological oxygen demand 3 mg/LChemical oxygen demand 25 mg/L

Dissolved oxygen 5 - 7 mg/LpH 6 - 9

Electrical conductivity 1000 s/cmTotal suspended solid 50 mg/L


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The typical habitat of Arowana is swamps and

flooded forests, but they also occur in lakes,rivers, reservoirs and waterways (Yue et al, 2004).

In Asia, this species breeds in ponds and thereforemud ponds are the most cost effective and suitablefor breeding. Sandy clay with 55%-60% of clay is

the most suitable condition for pond breeding. Theoutdoor mud pond is a very dynamic environment

as it is subject to many factors like climaticchanges, soil conditions, amount of sunlight,density of rainfall, and availability of water plants(Goh and Chua, 2000). The Asian Arowana wasfirst bred in captivity in the Sembawang Field

Experimental Station (PPD, Singapore) in 1981.In the recent years, several other captive

broodstocks were established in Singapore,Malaysia and Indonesia (Yue et al, 2004). Theobjective of this study is to monitor the status ofwater quality parameter at Arowana farms atBukit Merah.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

In Malaysia, the Arowana are well known to

breed successfully at Bukit Merah. The sources ofwater are from the Bukit Merah dam. Bukit Merahdam is a modified homogeneous earthfillembankment located upstream of the confluenceof Sungai Kurau and Sungai Merah in the State of

Perak. The dam was constructed in 1906 and itsembankment was raised from RL8.08m to RL

10.67m in the 2nd Malaysia Plan (1961 to 1965)and constructed again in 1984 to its present levelat RL11.28m. It has a crest length of about 579m

and height at the deepest point of about 9.1m. It is

drained by an area of about 480sq.km and has astorage capacity of 92.8Mcm at RL 9.10m. The

main purpose of the dam is to provide irrigationwater for double cropping to some 24,000Ha ofpaddy land under the Krian-Sungai Manik Project.

In addition to the irrigation supply, it alsoprovides some 5.6 cumecs of water to meet the

domestic and industrial demands for the KrianDistrict. Fig. 1 below shows the Krian irrigationscheme. Water in the reservoir is also a source ofincome for the local fishermen (DID, 2011).

14 sampling points as shown in Fig.2 below

had been selected in series starting from theupstream at Bukit Merah Dam followed by

Terusan Besar, 8 Arowana ponds , the inflow,discharge ,drain water and lastly downstream atSungai Kurau. Sampling was conducted 3 timeson 18

th September, 25

th September and 1

st

October. The chemical and physical variables ofthe site were measured directly at each samplingpoints using YSI multiparameter ORP meter.Thein-situ parameter measured are temperature,conductivity, total dissolved solid (TDS),dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH. Surface waterwas collected from each point in 600ml samplingbottle for laboratory analysis to measure theammonia nitrogen (NH3N), total suspended solids(TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) andchemical oxygen demand (COD). All the samplescollected from the site were kept in cold room at atemperature below 4 C to reduce all the activitiesand metabolism of the organisms in the water.

Fig. 1: Kerian irrigation scheme (Rowshon et al,2003)


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Fig. 2: Location of Bukit Merah and sampling point

The BOD5, COD, TSS and ammonia nitrogen(NH3N) were measured in accordance with thestandard method procedure. Ammonia nitrogen(NH3N), TSS and COD were determined by usinga spectrophotometer Model HACH DR 2500 at a

specified wavelength (APHA, 2005). BOD5 wassampled using dark BOD bottle 300 ml. Six waterquality parameter which are DO, BOD5, COD,TSS , NH3N and pH were used in the calculationof DOE- Water Quality Index (DOE-WQI) inorder to determine the classes of water.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The calculated Malaysian Water Quality Index(DOE-WQI) from the result shows that water forArowanas farm at Bukit Merah are varies from

class II to class III with ranges from 70 (class III)

to 79 (class II). This shows that the water issuitable for water supply, recreational use andfishery. Table 3 below shows the 9 water qualityparameter range for all 14 sampling point. Basedon INWQS it shows that conductivity, TDS and

pH are in a range of class I. DO, TSS and BOD5in class II, NH3N in class III and lastly COD inclass IV.

Comparisons of water quality obtain from theresearch with the guidelines from DOF Malaysiafor Arowana are made based on Fig. 3 to Fig. 7. Itshows that from upstream to downstream, thewater quality for temperature, pHs are within the

range of the guidelines and there's only littledifference between each point. DO from upstreamto downstream shows not much different as wellwith the lowest point is at the downstream (SungaiKurau).

Table 3:Range of water quality for all 14 sampling point

Parameter Minimum Maximum Average

Conductivity 31.30 88.30 51.09Temperature 28.58 30.36 29.46

TDS 0.019 0.053 0.031

DO 5.77 6.01 5.92

pH 8.17 8.28 8.24

NH3N 0.36 1.74 0.88

SS 12.3 73.2 38.2

BOD5 0.66 2.24 1.49COD 40.00 75.20 57.34

WQI 70 79 74


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Fig. 3:Comparison of temperature for 14 sampling points with the Department ofFisheries (DOF) min-max guidelines for Arowana.

Fig. 4:Comparison of pH for 14 sampling points with the Department of Fisheries

(DOF) min - max guidelines for Arowana.

Fig. 5: Comparison of DO for 14 sampling points with the Department of Fisheries(DOF) guidelines for Arowana.


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Fig. 6:Comparison of NH3N for 14 sampling points with the Department of Fisheries (DOF)

The ranges of DO for all the sampling points wereall within the guidelines from DOF. DO play animportant role to support fish in surface water. Asfor NH3N, from upstream to downstream theparameter are all within the range except for fourArowana's pond which is pond 28, 37, 45 and 50.This is due to wastes of uneaten feed, feces and

bacteria. Generally, the feed contain protein,carbohydrate, fat, minerals and water. As the fisheat the feed, 25% of amount nitrogen isassimilated from the feed for the biomass

production whereas the rest is released asammonium nitrogen, dissolved organic nitrogen

or feces (Hargreaves and Tucker, 2003).

Fig. 7 to Fig. 9 below shows the comparisonmade between the results obtained from theresearch with the guidelines from Interim NationalWater Quality Standard, Malaysia (INWQS) forclass II. INWQS class II classified that the waterbody are suitable for water supply, fishery forsensitive aquatic species and for recreational use

with body contact (DOE, 2010). In Fig. 7, itshows that TSS had exceeded the guidelines fromthe DOF except at the upstream (Bukit MerahDam, Terusan Besar and inflow).However, all of

the parameter is within the guidelines fromINWQS for class II except for pond 28.

Fig. 7:Comparison of TSS for 14 sampling points with the Department ofFisheries (DOF) guidelines for Arowana and INWQS for class II


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In Fig. 8, the BOD5are varies from upstream to

downstream with ranges from 0.66 mg/L to 2.24mg/L and therefore it comply with the guidelines

for INWQS class II. BOD5 is one of the mostconcern water quality variables for aquacultureother than nutrients and TSS (Xinglong and Boyd,

2005). Lastly in Fig. 9, it shows that COD haddegraded from upstream to downstream with all

of the parameter exceeded the guidelines given.The reason for this is probably because of theeffect from the fish activity, feeding techniques,and the presence of heterotrophic organisms

(bacteria and fungi) in that aquaculture system

(Lin et al, 2008). COD values obtained are higherthan the BOD5 because of strong oxidising

conditions employed in the COD test.Table 4 below summarized all the point that

had been discussed earlier. It shows that for water

quality index (WQI), degradation had occur fromupstream to downstream since the WQI changes

from class II at the upstream (Bukit Merah Dam,Terusan Besar and inflow) to class III at thedownstream (Sungai Kurau).

Fig. 8: Comparison of BOD5for 14 sampling points with the INWQS for class II

Fig. 9:Comparison of COD for 14 sampling points with the INWQS for class II


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Table 4: Mean for water quality parameter for 14 sampling points on 18tSeptember, 25

tSeptember and 1

st

October 2011.

4. CONCLUSION

This study showed that the physical and chemicalparameters of water quality at Bukit Merah do

comply with the guidelines from DOF andINWQS class II except for COD. The WQI ranges

from class II to class III and therefore suitable forfisheries purpose. These proved by thesuccessfulness breeding of Arowana at BukitMerah. However further research are needed todiscover the relationship between the water

quality and the breeding productivity rate at BukitMerah.

REFERENCES

APHA (2005).Standard Methods for Examinationof Water and Wastewater, 21st ed,American Public HealthAssociation/American Water WorksAssociation/ Water EnvironmentFederation, Washington DC, USA.

DID, Department of Irrigation and DrainageMalaysia (2011). Official Website, Ministryof Natural Resources and Environment,Malaysia. http://www.water.gov.my/ [11November 2011].

DOE, Department of Environment (2010).Malaysia Environmental Quality Report2010, Ministry of Natural Resources and

Environment, Malaysia, p. 77- 78.

DOF, Department of Fisheries (2005). CadanganPerniagaan Projek Pembinaan Ikan

Arowana, Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry, Putrajaya, Malaysia, p. 9.

Goh W and Chua J (2000). The MilleniumDragon , Dragon Fish Industry, Singapore,p. 36.

Hargreaves J.A & Tucker C.S (2003). Definingloading limits of static ponds for catfishaquaculture. Aquaculture Engineering, 28 :47 - 63.

Lin L ,Yuan S ,Che J ,Xu Z ,Lu X (2008).Removal of ammonia nitrogen inwastewater by microwave radiation. Journalof Hazardous Materials, 161: 1063 - 1068.

Rowshon M.K, Kwok C.Y and Lee T.S (2003).GIS-based scheduling and monitoring ofirrigation delivery for rice irrigation system: Part I. Scheduling. Agricultural WaterManagement, 62(2) : 105-116.

Xinglong J & Boyd C.E (2005). Measurement of5-day biochemical oxygen demand withoutsample dilution or bacterial and nutrientenhancement. Aqucultural Engineering, 33: 250 - 257.

Yue G.H, Li Y, Lim L.C and Orban L (2004).Monitoring the genetic diversity of threeAsian Arowana (Scleropages formosus)captive stocks using AFLP andmicrosatellites. Aquaculture, 237: 89-102.

Water Quality Monitoring on Golden Arowana Scleropages Formosus (1)

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