PRODUCTIVITY OF ROTIFER Brachionus plicatilis CULTURED UNDER BATCH SYSTEM BY USING SUGAR BEET MOLASSES AS A SUBSTITUTE MEDIUM

Servet ATAYETER¹

This study deals with the determination of availability of sugar beet molasses as a nutritional enrichment factor for rotifer cultures. A series of experiments under varying conditions such as ratio of sugar beet molasses in the nutrient complex were carried out in order to determine the effectiveness of sugar beet molasses as a carbohydrate and mineral source for the purpose of aquacultural operations. The culture water of Brachionus plicatilis with the salinity of 38% was treated through mechanical filtration and UV sterilization. 1 T cylindro-conical tanks are utilized for rotifer culture. Parameters of culture water were stabilized at values as following; Oxygen concentration:5 to 10 ppm, temperature: 270C and pH:6.8 to 7.4. Rotifers were counted by using Sedgewick Rafter Cell on a daily basis in order to determine increase of number of individuals. The study was conducted as 3 different trial groups, each consisting three separate tanks, so triplicate determinations were obtained.

Keywords
Sugar Beet Molasses, Ciliate, Brachionus Plicatilis, Rotifer, Culture Medium,