Freshwater Source Suitability for Aquaculture

A Case Study of Ikpoba Reservoir, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the Ikpoba Reservoir water quality suitability as source water for aquaculture. Sixteen (16) water physico-chemical parameters were monitored for a duration of eighteen (18) months from February 2018 to July 2019, and analyzed according to standard methods. Concentration values were compared with the International Standard Water Quality Criteria for fisheries. Results showed that mean water temperature (27◦C), electrical conductivity (100.46 µS/cm), chloride (27.08 mg/L), potassium (3.40 mg/L), calcium (25.16 mg/L), magnesium (15.56 mg/L) values were favourable for aquaculture. While mean water pH (5.78), turbidity (24.59 NTU), total suspended solids (23.70 mg/L), dissolved oxygen (4.36 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (4.16 mg/L), nitrate (15.67 mg/L) and ammonium (1.63 mg/L), iron (0.95 mg/L), copper (1.37 mg/L) and zinc (1.23 mg/L) concentrations were unsatisfactory for the breeding and survival of fish. The unsatisfactory levels of several physico-chemical parameters and their attendant effects on the development of fishes makes the reservoir water source unsuitable for use in freshwater aquaculture.