Physico-Chemical Analysis of Fish Pond Water in Freshwater Areas of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study of Physico-chemical parameters in earthen fish ponds in five Local government areas in Bayelsa State, Nigeria was conducted to determine the quality of water for pond fish culture from June to October, 2005. Water samples were collected from the ponds and analyzed using standard laboratory methods and procedures. The results showed variation in the observed parameters at the different sampling stations. Temperature ranged from 24.9+ 0.3 o C-25.3+0.30 o C, pH 6.24+ 0.02-6.68+0.10 and Ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), 0.34+0.20-0.55+0.20mg/l. Dissolved oxygen values were 2.8+0.20-6.6+0.18mg/l, Biological oxygen demand ranged 2.9+0.60-4.52+0.90mg/l and Total alkalinity as 43.1+18.0-93.70+46.53mg/l. Total dissolved solids varied from 27.9+4.7-145.40+91.01mg/l while Total hardness was 19.7+4.1-44.3+15.07mg/l and Turbidity as 20.6+3.2-45.1+15.07ppm. Electrical conductivity was from 117.3+91.01-378.4+130.2mhos/cm. The values for NH3-N were higher than accepted values for fish culture while those of other parameters favoured good fish production. The observations in this study suggest that pond fish production in some freshwater areas of Bayelsa State in Nigeria could be practiced without adverse effects posed by the quality of water.