Preliminary Evaluation of Pellet and Tubifex Feed Treatments on Pangasius and Water Spinach Growth in a Bucket-Based Aquaponic System (Budikdamber)

Atip Nurwahyunani (Universitas Persatuan Guru Republik Indonesia Semarang)
Wiwi Isnaeni (Universitas Negeri Semarang)
Siti Alimah (Universitas Negeri Semarang)
Aditya Marianti (Universitas Negeri Semarang)

Advance Sustainable Science, Engineering and Technology (ASSET)
Vol. 8 No. 4 (2026): August-October

Bucket-based aquaponics offers a low-cost option for integrated fish and vegetable production, but treatment-level observations require cautious interpretation. This 43-day preliminary study descriptively evaluated commercial pellets (P1), a 1:1 pellet–Tubifex combination (P2), and Tubifex (P3) in separate 80-L Pangasius–water spinach systems. Recorded fish length and weight gains were highest numerically in P3 (10.5 cm; 10.2 g), whereas P2 produced the largest water-spinach height, leaf count, and leaf width (28 cm; 36; 1.7 cm). Mean pH ranged from 7.85 to 7.89, while recorded temperatures were high (36.8–37.8 °C). Because each treatment was represented by one bucket, results were analyzed descriptively. The observations do not establish treatment superiority or feed efficiency; confirmatory research requires replicated systems, quantified feed intake, and comprehensive water-quality monitoring.