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Q55·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2023

Biofilters in recirculating aquaculture — waste treatment, ammonia to nitrate, phosphorus increase

S&TBiotechnology & GeneticsHow-many countingMediumStatic

Question

With reference to the role of biofilters in Recirculating Aquaculture System, consider the following statements: How many of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1.

    Biofilters provide waste treatment by removing uneaten fish feed.

  2. 2.

    Biofilters convert ammonia present in fish waste to nitrate.

  3. 3.

    Biofilters increase phosphorus as nutrient for fish in water.

Options

a

Only one

Answer
b

Only two

c

All three

d

None

Explanation

Only Statement 2 is correct. The primary function of a biofilter is biological: nitrifying bacteria cultivate inside it to convert highly toxic ammonia (from fish waste) into less toxic nitrate. Statement 1 is incorrect; mechanical filters (not biofilters) remove solid waste like uneaten feed. Statement 3 is incorrect; biofilters do not generate or increase phosphorus nutrients.

In aquaculture and wastewater, "biofilters" specifically denote the bacterial conversion of dissolved toxins (like ammonia), not the physical screening of solids.

Answer: (a).

Question details

Year

2023

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q55

Subject

Science & Technology

Sub-topic

Biotechnology & Genetics

Type

How-many counting

Difficulty

Medium

Nature

Static

Source hint

NCERT Biology Cl.12 / Recirculating Aquaculture Nitrification

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