Effectiveness of biological filter media derived from sea urchin skeletons
2015
Akino, M. (Kushiro Fisheries Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization, Kushiro, Hokkaido (Japan). Processing and Utilization Division) | Aso, S. | Kimura, M.
This paper describes a study of the use of sea urchin skeletons, a waste product of food-processing, as a biological filter medium. We obtained skeletal materials (tests, spines, and teeth) from the northern sea urchin Strongylocentrotus nudus by alkali treatment and evaluated their performance as biological filter media in an aquarium experiment. The nitrification performance was investigated in an aquarium using these skeletal materials. The results showed that the tests and spines particularly provided high ammonia oxidation performance. In addition, sea urchin skeletal materials kept the pH of the aquarium water constant at 7-8. Therefore, we conclude that the structure and components of sea urchin make them suitable for use as biological filter media.
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