Design and Development: Filter Casing for Highly Efficenty Dissolve Oxygen

Abstract

This study presents the development and evaluation of a custom 3D printed filter casing designed to enhance the performance of Downflow Hanging Sponge (DHS) biofilters in small scale aquaculture settings. Given the importance of dissolved oxygen (DO) for nitrifying bacteria and overall fish health, the proposed casing incorporates an external air intake opening and an internal water splitting system to improve aeration and biological filtration efficiency. Experiments comparing the new casing with a traditional seep through DHS setup were conducted using real catfish wastewater from a local farm. DO, ammonia (NH?/NH??), temperature, pH, and total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured. Results indicate that the redesigned casing achieved higher DO levels and reduced ammonia concentrations at a faster rate, demonstrating its suitability for practical aquaculture applications. This work contributes to accessible, low cost innovations for improving water quality in fish tanks and small recirculating aquaculture systems.