The objective of the present work was to investigate the influence of four diets on population growth, development, total length, dry weight, and nutritional value of two zooplanktonic species, Moina micrura and Diaphanosoma birgei. The four dietary treatments were: algae alone (A); algae + vitamins (AV); algae + ration (AR); and algae + ration + vitamins (ARV). Growth rate peak for both species occurred faster with AV treatment. In general, AV treatment for M. micrura showed better results for intrinsic rate, fecundity, and embryonic and post-embryonic development. On the other hand, longevity and total spawning number were better with AR treatment (p < 0.05). Vitamin and ration treatments produced the best results in D. birgei species (p < 0.05). The highest percentage of protein and lipids for both cladocerans was verified for ration treatments. Carbohydrate was higher for the treatment containing algae alone (p < 0.05). Generally, diets containing ration and vitamin showed better results in cladocerans development, with water quality adequate for culture systems. Ration and vitamin diets may also be used in high-density cultures in the laboratory.

Current study investigates the effect of two alternative media NPK (20-5-20) fertilizer and NPK plus macrophyte (M+NPK) compared to the commercial medium (WC) under growth rate and physiological parameters in batch culture mode (2-L), and verifies whether the use of fertilizer (NPK) and macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes) would be a good tool for Haematococcus pluvialis culture in the laboratory. The highest number of cells of H. pluvialis has been reported in NPK medium (5.4 × 10⁵cells.mL^–1) on the 28^thday, and in the M+NPK and WC media (4.1 × 10⁵ cells.mL^–1and 2.1 × 10⁵ cells.mL^–1) on the 26^th day, respectively. Chlorophyll-a contents were significantly higher (p<0.05) in NPK medium (41-102 µg.L^–1) and lower in WC and M+NPK media (14-61 µg.L^–1). The astaxanthin content was less than 0.04 mg.L^–1. Production cost of 10-L of H. pluvialiswas low in all media, and NPK and M+NPK media had a cost reduction of 65% and 82%, respectively when compared with commercial medium (WC). The use of a medium based on commercial fertilizer and macrophyte (E. crassipes) produced a new medium formulation that proved to be efficient, at least in batch culture mode, in promoting high density culture of H. pluvialis. NPK and macrophyte (E. crassipes) medium seems to be an adequate alternative to replace the conventional one (WC).

Large-scale lab culture of Ankistrodesmus gracilis and Diaphanososma birgei were evaluated by studying the biology and biochemical composition of the species and production costs. Ankistrodesmus gracilis presented exponential growth until the 6th day, with approximately 144 x 10(4) cells.mL-1, followed by a sharp decrease to 90 x 10(4) cells.mL-1 (8th day). Algae cells tended to increase again from the 11th day and reached a maximum of 135 x 10(4) cells.mL-1 on the 17th day. D. birgei culture showed exponential growth until the 9th day with 140 x 10² individuals.L-1, and increased again as from the 12th day. Algae A. gracilis and zooplankton D. birgei contain 47 to 70% dry weight protein and over 5% dry weight carbohydrates. The most expensive items in the context of variable costs were labor and electricity. Data suggested that temperature, nutrients, light availability and culture management were determining factors on productivity. Results indicate that NPK (20-5-20) may be used directly as a good alternative for mass cultivation when low costs are taken into account, promoting adequate growth and nutritional value for cultured A. gracilis and D. birgei.

Analysis of macrophyte water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as an organic fertilizer of Colossoma macropomum (tambaqui) larvae in ponds is provided. Water hyacinth produce an organic fertilizer at the ratio of 100 g.m-2 in tambaqui ponds. Two groups of 5,000 larvae were transferred to two fishponds with and without water hyacinth fertilizer and reared until day 43. The fertilized pond evidenced more plankton abundance during the entire production period when compared with the control pond (P < 0.001). The phytoplankton community in the pond was not significantly different than in gut contents (P > 0.05) in both ponds (with and without organic fertilizer). Fish larvae failed to show any preference or selectivity in relation to the different algae (P > 0.01) in the pond, but exhibited high ingestion selectivity for zooplankton (P < 0.05). Application of fertilizer increased (P < 0.05) the abundance of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the treatment pond. Since water hyacinth fertilizer is quite cheap and easily available, it may be conveniently used to enhance fish yield in ponds.

Aim: The influence of three different culture media on the growth and biochemical composition of Ankistrodemsus gracilis microalgae is evaluated. Methods Microalgae were placed in a bath culture during 28 days, with inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes as culture medium to compare the growth of microalgae and commercial medium CHU12. Protein and lipid contents, water conditions of the culture medium and physiological parameters were assessed weekly. Results Growth rate, macro-minerals, micro-nutrients and nutritional values were similar to commercial culture medium in the media with inorganic fertilizer and macrophyte. The biological indexes of microalgae were not influenced by weekly differences during the study period. Although lipid contents, nitrogen and growth rate of A. gracilis were higher in inorganic fertilizer and macrophyte media; Mn, B, Cu, S, dry matter, ash content, cell volume, TOC and total length were similar among the media used. The same high cell density 25 x 105 cells.mL-1 was obtained in NPK and in CHU12 medium respectively after 11 and 14 days cultivation. Conclusion Culture media inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes), were adequate and may replace the commercial medium CHU12 for the cultivation of microalgae A. gracilis, resulting in high nutritional composition, high biomass, high nutrients and low-cost.