Stay in control of oxygen fluctuations

In fish farming, large fluctuations in the oxygen content of water have a negative impact on the well-being of the fish and consequently on its growth. High water temperatures or rich vegetation in the water are important alarming factors to observe, especially in summer periods.  

Oxygen saturation for economic growth 

The oxygen content of water is affected by many different parameters, in particular temperature, day-night variations, air pressure, feeding, size of fish and stress levels. Economic growth rates are only possible when these variations are taken into consideration. 

Trout for instance generally require a relatively high level of oxygen supply as they consume between 0.3 and 0.5 kg of oxygen for every 1 kg of feed to be digested. In traditional trout farming, for the needs of the trout to be adequately met, the recommendation is to keep the oxygen saturation level at 100 % as it enters the fishpond and that it should still be at least 70 % at the outlet.  

100 % oxygen saturation means that the water contains approx. 14 mg of oxygen per litre at 2 °C and only approx. 9 mg at 20 °C.  In practice, the saturation level at the inlet is often different, especially if the farm is run on surface water, for instance due to high summer temperatures or to rich vegetation. 

Day-night variation caused by rich vegetation 

In plant-rich watercourses, the oxygen content is influenced by the day-night rhythm. In summer periods, water bodies with strong plant or algae growth are often supersaturated with oxygen during daytime. This is a result of the photosynthesis of the plants and algae - they produce oxygen throughout the day in such quantities that the oxygen content of the water increases significantly. When it gets dark, photosynthesis stops, and during the dark hours, the plants consume oxygen. The oxygen level is often at its lowest shortly before the break of day. 

Impact of oxygen on FCR and growth 

The negative consequences of fluctuating oxygen levels on feed conversion call for oxygen control. A low oxygen content without oxygen enrichment leads to an unsatisfactory FCR, while oxygenation results in a good FCR and faster growth. In a trial run in summer, a traditional trout farm taking its inlet water from a stream with ample vegetation was divided into one section with and one without oxygenation. Using a 24-hour oxygen-measuring device with one probe in the inflow and another probe in the outflow, readings of the oxygen content were taken every 10 minutes.  

Oxygen levels in the trial 

The oxygen saturation level in the inlet to the farm fluctuated very much. At night, it showed out to be even lower than the minimum of what it should be in the outflow for the needs of the trout to be adequately met. In the section with no oxygenation the outlet water was very unsatisfactory throughout most of the trial period, especially at nighttime. In the section with oxygenation, the outflow values were balanced out by enriching the water with oxygen. It was clearly demonstrated that the outflow values could be kept at an optimal level by oxygenating the water from 4pm to 8am (16:00-08:00). 

FCR and growth – trial results 

In the section of the fish farm with no oxygenation, the FCR in the trial period was 1.04; the daily growth was 0.80 %. In the section with oxygenation, in contrast, the FCR was 0.86 and the daily growth was 1.30 %.  

The fish in the section with oxygen regulation needed 19 % more oxygen. This meant that 30 % more feed could be given, which in turn led to increased growth. 

This is a clear indication of how important the oxygen supply is in terms of commercial production. 

Influence of oxygen content on growth 

The growth of the fish is influenced by the oxygen content of the water. Comparing the optimum growth to the reduced growth, the loss in growth caused by a lack of oxygen becomes obvious.  If there is a lack of oxygen, the fish eat less. It was demonstrated that the feed intake can fall to a level below 50 % in the feeding guide.  

BioFarm – BioMar’s Expert Advisory Team

Decades of experience, extensive data collection, and feedback from farmers using oxygenation systems all point to the same conclusion: investing in optimal oxygen conditions quickly pays off. Improved growth rates, better feed conversion, and enhanced fish health and vitality lead to significantly higher returns.

BioMar’s technical advisory team, BioFarm, provides expert support on oxygen management and a wide range of other aquaculture management topics. For more information, please reach out to the BioFarm specialist for your region.