For each assay, we used a single factor experimental
design with three replicates per treatment. The evaluation
of the productive performance of the biculture of tilapia and
crayfish involved two treatments: AS and RAS. The
evaluation of the strategy of physical distribution of
protection for crayfish involved two treatments: 1:1 number
of shelter: crayfish ratio with random distribution in the RAS
(Cruz-Ordoñez, 2009) and 1:1 number of shelter: crayfish
ratio with homogeneous distribution in the AS. The
experimental period lasted for 12 weeks. The cultivation of
green fodder starts four weeks after of tilapia/crayfish
cultivation, to ensure that the effluent for the AS had
enough nutrients for the GF growth from nitrogen metabolic
process. The cultivation of green fodder required two
assays, each with 4 weeks of cultivation, and two
treatments. Assay 1 (A1): aquaponic green fodder of assay
1 (AGF-1) with effluent from aquaponic system and
hydroponic green fodder(HGF-WN)as control treatment,
with commercial inorganic nutrients solution for green
fodder (Hydro-Environment, Mexico) in a concentration of
1.5 g L-1 by provider recommendation. Assay 2 (A2):
aquaponic green fodder of assay 2 (AGF-2) and a control
green fodder with no nutrients (CGF-NN), just with potable
water for irrigation.
Aquaponic and recirculating aquaculture systems