Abstract
Project Number
FLO-2022-38607
References
- Azhar, M.H., & Memiş, D., (2024). Nutrient removal from rainbow trout juveniles in fish ponds using integrated biofilter duckweed (Lemna minor) and freshwater mussel (Anodonta cygnea). Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences, 23(3), 371-388.
- Bahrioğlu, E. (2017). Growth performance and nutritional composition of river mussel (Unio crassus) fed with dried forms of two different algae species. Mugla Sitki Kocaman University MSc Thesis.
- Campos, M., Lobato-Bailón, L., Merciai, R., Cabezón, O., Torres-Blas, I., Araujo, R., & Migura-Garcia, L. (2022). Clearance and persistence of Escherichia coli in the freshwater mussel Unio mancus. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 12382. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16491-x
- Demircan, M.D., Ekici, A., Tunçelli, G., Tınkır, M., Keskin, İ., & Memiş, D. (2022). Using the thick-shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) filtering ability for water treatment process in aquaculture systems: an in vitro study on removal of the bacteria from the water. Aquatic Sciences and Engineering, 37(4), 212-219. https://doi.org/10.26650/ASE202221136891
- Geng, B., Li, Y., Liu, X., Ye, J., & Guo, W. (2022). Effective treatment of aquaculture wastewater with mussel/microalgae/bacteria complex ecosystem: A pilot study. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 2263. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04499-8
- Goddek, S., Joyce, A., Kotzen, B., & Burnell, G.M. (Eds.). (2019). Aquaponics Food Production Systems: Combined Aquaculture and Hydroponic Production Technologies for the Future. Springer: Cham, Switzerland. ISBN: 978-3-030-15943-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15943-6
- Junge, R., König, B., Villarroel, M., Komives, T., & Jijakli, M.H. (2017). Strategic considerations for integrating aquaponics into sustainable food production systems. Water, 9(3), 182. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9030182
- Kargın, H., & Bilgüven, M. (2018). Akuakültürde akuaponik sistemler ve önemi. Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 32(2), 159-173.
- Lopes-Lima, M., Prié, V., Österling, M., & Zając, T. A. (2024). Unio crassus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T210291828A215467836. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T210291828A215467836.en
- Rakocy, J.E., Masser, M. P., & Losordo, T.M. (2006). Recirculating aquaculture tank production systems: Aquaponics—Integrating fish and plant culture. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center Publication.
- Ranjbar, R., Shariati, F.P., Tavakoli, O., & Ehteshami, F. (2021). Fabrication of a new reactor design to apply freshwater mussel Anodonta cygnea for biological removal of water pollution. Aquaculture, 544, 737077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.737077
- Somerville, C., Cohen, M., Pantanella, E., Stankus, A., & Lovatelli, A. (2014). Small-scale aquaponic food production: Integrated fish and plant farming. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 589.
- Tang, J.Y., Dai, Y.X., Wang, Y., Qin, J.G., & Li, Y.M. (2015). Improvement of fish and pearl yields and nutrient utilization efficiency through fish–mussel integration and feed supplementation. Aquaculture, 448, 321-326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2015.05.028
- Tunçelli, G., Can Tunçelli, İ., & Memiş, D. (2023). Evaluation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in aquaponic system in terms of food safety. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 40(1), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.40.1.04
- Tunçelli, G., & Memiş, D., (2024). The effect of swimming activity and feed restriction of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on water quality and fish‐plant growth performance in aquaponics. Journal of Fish Biology, 2024, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15697
- Tunçelli, G., Ürkü Atanasov, Ç., & Memiş, D., (2025). Isolation and identification of cultivable bacteria in an aquaponic system with koi carp and parsley (Petroselinum crispum): Implications for water quality and system health. Aquatic Science and Engineering, 40(3), 163–172. https://doi.org/10.26650/ASE.2025.1702567
- Tyson, R.V., Treadwell, D.D., & Simonne, E.H. (2011). Opportunities and challenges to sustainability in aquaponic systems. HortTechnology, 21(1), 6–13. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.21.1.6
- Yegül, U., Eminoğlu, M.B., Türker, U., Colak, A., & Koparan, C. (2020). Modeling of in-season winter wheat nitrogen requirements using plant reflection indices. Environmental Engineering & Management Journal (EEMJ), 19(11). https://doi.org/10.30638/eemj.2020.187
- Yeşiltaş, M., Koçer, M.A.T., Pak, F., Aktaş, Ö., et al. (2025). Investigating the suitability of remineralized aquaponics sludge for microalgae culture: Biomass production and nutritional composition. Aquatic Sciences and Engineering, 40(2), 74-93. https://doi.org/10.26650/ASE20251577446
Preliminary study on the impact of mussel integration on qualitative changes of water in an aquaponic system
Abstract
Freshwater resource sustainability is a growing concern in modern agriculture. Aquaponic systems, which integrate fish farming and soilless plant cultivation, offer a promising solution by enabling nutrient recycling within a closed water loop. However, the accumulation of organic waste and suspended solids can challenge system stability and water quality. This study investigates the potential of the freshwater mussel Unio crassus as a biological filter to enhance organic waste removal and water purification in aquaponic systems.
Two system configurations were tested: the Media Bed System and the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system, each receiving identical daily tilapia effluent dosing, and containing identical plant cohorts (lettuce and collard greens) and U. crassus mussels. Over 30 days, key water quality parameters—total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and ammonia (NH₃)—were monitored, alongside plant biomass development.
Results indicated that while the media bed system achieved significantly lower TSS concentrations (14.2 ± 2.1 mg L⁻¹), the NFT system maintained higher DO levels (5.8 ± 0.6 mg L⁻¹) and supported greater plant growth. Localised zones of improved clarity were observed near mussel clusters; however, quantitative mussel-specific contributions were not measured.
Within this scope, integrating U. crassus may offer ecological value while warranting controlled, quantitative verification. Moreover, this approach may contribute to species conservation through practical ex situ applications. The study highlights the potential of hybrid aquaponic systems utilising both design types and nature-based filtration for sustainable food production.
Keywords
Aquaponics Freshwater mussel Organic waste Water quality NFT system Media bed Sustainability
Ethical Statement
Ethical committee approval was not required for this study as it utilized only aquaculture wastewater and invertebrate species (Unio crassus), with no direct experimentation on vertebrate animals.
Supporting Institution
This work was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University. Project number FLO-2022-38607.
Project Number
FLO-2022-38607
Thanks
The authors thank the Limnology Lab of Istanbul University Faculty of Aquatic Sciences for water quality analysis.
References
- Azhar, M.H., & Memiş, D., (2024). Nutrient removal from rainbow trout juveniles in fish ponds using integrated biofilter duckweed (Lemna minor) and freshwater mussel (Anodonta cygnea). Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences, 23(3), 371-388.
- Bahrioğlu, E. (2017). Growth performance and nutritional composition of river mussel (Unio crassus) fed with dried forms of two different algae species. Mugla Sitki Kocaman University MSc Thesis.
- Campos, M., Lobato-Bailón, L., Merciai, R., Cabezón, O., Torres-Blas, I., Araujo, R., & Migura-Garcia, L. (2022). Clearance and persistence of Escherichia coli in the freshwater mussel Unio mancus. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 12382. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16491-x
- Demircan, M.D., Ekici, A., Tunçelli, G., Tınkır, M., Keskin, İ., & Memiş, D. (2022). Using the thick-shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) filtering ability for water treatment process in aquaculture systems: an in vitro study on removal of the bacteria from the water. Aquatic Sciences and Engineering, 37(4), 212-219. https://doi.org/10.26650/ASE202221136891
- Geng, B., Li, Y., Liu, X., Ye, J., & Guo, W. (2022). Effective treatment of aquaculture wastewater with mussel/microalgae/bacteria complex ecosystem: A pilot study. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 2263. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04499-8
- Goddek, S., Joyce, A., Kotzen, B., & Burnell, G.M. (Eds.). (2019). Aquaponics Food Production Systems: Combined Aquaculture and Hydroponic Production Technologies for the Future. Springer: Cham, Switzerland. ISBN: 978-3-030-15943-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15943-6
- Junge, R., König, B., Villarroel, M., Komives, T., & Jijakli, M.H. (2017). Strategic considerations for integrating aquaponics into sustainable food production systems. Water, 9(3), 182. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9030182
- Kargın, H., & Bilgüven, M. (2018). Akuakültürde akuaponik sistemler ve önemi. Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 32(2), 159-173.
- Lopes-Lima, M., Prié, V., Österling, M., & Zając, T. A. (2024). Unio crassus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T210291828A215467836. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T210291828A215467836.en
- Rakocy, J.E., Masser, M. P., & Losordo, T.M. (2006). Recirculating aquaculture tank production systems: Aquaponics—Integrating fish and plant culture. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center Publication.
- Ranjbar, R., Shariati, F.P., Tavakoli, O., & Ehteshami, F. (2021). Fabrication of a new reactor design to apply freshwater mussel Anodonta cygnea for biological removal of water pollution. Aquaculture, 544, 737077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.737077
- Somerville, C., Cohen, M., Pantanella, E., Stankus, A., & Lovatelli, A. (2014). Small-scale aquaponic food production: Integrated fish and plant farming. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 589.
- Tang, J.Y., Dai, Y.X., Wang, Y., Qin, J.G., & Li, Y.M. (2015). Improvement of fish and pearl yields and nutrient utilization efficiency through fish–mussel integration and feed supplementation. Aquaculture, 448, 321-326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2015.05.028
- Tunçelli, G., Can Tunçelli, İ., & Memiş, D. (2023). Evaluation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in aquaponic system in terms of food safety. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 40(1), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.40.1.04
- Tunçelli, G., & Memiş, D., (2024). The effect of swimming activity and feed restriction of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on water quality and fish‐plant growth performance in aquaponics. Journal of Fish Biology, 2024, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15697
- Tunçelli, G., Ürkü Atanasov, Ç., & Memiş, D., (2025). Isolation and identification of cultivable bacteria in an aquaponic system with koi carp and parsley (Petroselinum crispum): Implications for water quality and system health. Aquatic Science and Engineering, 40(3), 163–172. https://doi.org/10.26650/ASE.2025.1702567
- Tyson, R.V., Treadwell, D.D., & Simonne, E.H. (2011). Opportunities and challenges to sustainability in aquaponic systems. HortTechnology, 21(1), 6–13. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.21.1.6
- Yegül, U., Eminoğlu, M.B., Türker, U., Colak, A., & Koparan, C. (2020). Modeling of in-season winter wheat nitrogen requirements using plant reflection indices. Environmental Engineering & Management Journal (EEMJ), 19(11). https://doi.org/10.30638/eemj.2020.187
- Yeşiltaş, M., Koçer, M.A.T., Pak, F., Aktaş, Ö., et al. (2025). Investigating the suitability of remineralized aquaponics sludge for microalgae culture: Biomass production and nutritional composition. Aquatic Sciences and Engineering, 40(2), 74-93. https://doi.org/10.26650/ASE20251577446
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Wastewater Treatment Processes, Water Treatment Processes, Shellfish Culture, Water Invertebrates, Aquaculture |
| Journal Section | Research Articles |
| Authors | |
| Project Number | FLO-2022-38607 |
| Early Pub Date | October 8, 2025 |
| Publication Date | October 21, 2025 |
| Submission Date | July 16, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | September 28, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 8 Issue: 4 |
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