Effects of Tank Color on Growth Performance and Nitrogen Excretion of European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Juveniles

Abstract

The present study investigated feed efficiency and growth performance of juvenile Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) cultured in tanks with different colors. Triplicate groups of experimental fish were distributed into 12 tanks, which showed four different tank colors, i.e. red, blue, green, and yellow. All the fish in the trial received the same diet for a period of 60 days. Forty fish with an average weight of 44 g were stocked in the tank. All experimental tanks were supplied with seawater of 22 ppt salinity with temperature ranging between 17–20 °C during the course of the experiment. Tank water volume in the experimental facility of the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) was set to 40 L. The RAS system consisted of bio-filtration, UV filtration and gravel-mechanic filtration units. Results in the present study demonstrated that growth performance and feed utilization were affected by the tank colors tested in the trial. It is concluded that the selection of appropriate tank color might affect economic benefits in aquaculture facilities. © 2014, The National Academy of Sciences, India.