Effect of Treatment with a Commercial Bacterial Suspension on Water Quality in Channel Catfish Ponds

Abstract

Four channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) ponds were treated with a commercial bacterial suspension (Aqua-Bacta-Aid(R)) and four ponds served as controls. Concentrations of inorganic nitrogen, total phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand, 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, and chlorophyll α; numbers of bacteria and phytoplankters per milliliter; and percentages of blue-green algae did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between treatments on any sampling date. On three sampling dates between mid July and mid August, there were significantly higher (P < 0.05) dissolved oxygen concentrations in the morning and in the afternoon in ponds treated with the bacterial suspension. Fish production did not differ between treatments (P > 0.1).