Unique Presentation Identifier:
18
Program Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Jyotheeswaran Panapakam
Document Type
Poster
Location
Face-to-face
Start Date
9-4-2026 1:00 PM
End Date
9-4-2026 3:00 PM
Abstract
Title: Re-purposing pre-existing tilapia open-design aquaculture systems for zebrafish biomedical research purposes.
Background: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) models are gaining popularity in biomedical research; however, the high infrastructure cost, at approximately $20,000 per unit, is a significant hurdle for primary undergraduate institutions (PUIs) establishing zebrafish facilities. This study assesses if repurposing existing tilapia open-design aquaculture systems could be a cost-effective method for zebrafish facility establishment.
Methods: Between November-2025 to February-2026, the study used a pre-existing tilapia aquaculture open-design system with personnel modified outlet filters. The water quality of this system was monitored and recorded. The study compared the stabilization phase or pre-introduction or phase-1 to the biological load phase or post-introduction or phase-2. Zebrafish introduction took place on February-06-2026.
Results: Upon fish introduction (Phase-2), ammonia levels rose significantly from 0 ppm to a peak of 0.25 ppm (p=0.0045), indicating insufficient biological filtration for research-grade zebrafish loads. Although mean temperature (70°F-86°F, p=0.36) and pH (7.0-7.7, p=0.33) shifts weren’t statistically significant according to the two-tailed t-test, the observed temperature fluctuations failed to maintain the 82°F zebrafish standard. Technical failures, including significant evaporation and water overflow, occurred exclusively during the biological load phase.
Conclusion: Repurposing the tilapia aquaculture open-design system is a possible low-cost entry point for adult zebrafish maintenance. However, it includes a high human-hour cost of manual monitoring and observed technical hurdles. Additionally, this system requires stabilization of successful zebrafish breeding and consistent embryo production. Future success requires automated light and dark cycles and flow controls to overcome the listed technical issues.
Recommended Citation
Cantu, Luke; Sierra, David; Curtis, Skyleigh; and Avila, Maya, "Re-purposing Pre-existing Tilapia Aquaculture Open-design System for Zebrafish Biomedical Research Purposes" (2026). ATU Scholars Symposium. 46.
https://orc.library.atu.edu/atu_rs/2026/2026/46
Included in
Agriculture Commons, Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins Commons, Bioethics and Medical Ethics Commons, Biomedical Informatics Commons, Engineering Commons
Re-purposing Pre-existing Tilapia Aquaculture Open-design System for Zebrafish Biomedical Research Purposes
Face-to-face
Title: Re-purposing pre-existing tilapia open-design aquaculture systems for zebrafish biomedical research purposes.
Background: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) models are gaining popularity in biomedical research; however, the high infrastructure cost, at approximately $20,000 per unit, is a significant hurdle for primary undergraduate institutions (PUIs) establishing zebrafish facilities. This study assesses if repurposing existing tilapia open-design aquaculture systems could be a cost-effective method for zebrafish facility establishment.
Methods: Between November-2025 to February-2026, the study used a pre-existing tilapia aquaculture open-design system with personnel modified outlet filters. The water quality of this system was monitored and recorded. The study compared the stabilization phase or pre-introduction or phase-1 to the biological load phase or post-introduction or phase-2. Zebrafish introduction took place on February-06-2026.
Results: Upon fish introduction (Phase-2), ammonia levels rose significantly from 0 ppm to a peak of 0.25 ppm (p=0.0045), indicating insufficient biological filtration for research-grade zebrafish loads. Although mean temperature (70°F-86°F, p=0.36) and pH (7.0-7.7, p=0.33) shifts weren’t statistically significant according to the two-tailed t-test, the observed temperature fluctuations failed to maintain the 82°F zebrafish standard. Technical failures, including significant evaporation and water overflow, occurred exclusively during the biological load phase.
Conclusion: Repurposing the tilapia aquaculture open-design system is a possible low-cost entry point for adult zebrafish maintenance. However, it includes a high human-hour cost of manual monitoring and observed technical hurdles. Additionally, this system requires stabilization of successful zebrafish breeding and consistent embryo production. Future success requires automated light and dark cycles and flow controls to overcome the listed technical issues.
Comments
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