High calcium concentration in water increases mortality of salmon and trout eggs

Progressive Fish-Culturist
By: , and 

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Abstract

Several experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of water chemistry during water hardening on survival of eggs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), and. brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Results of these experiments showed that survival was very low when eggs were exposed to very hard water containing high concentrations of calcium (approximately 520 mg/L or greater) during the first few hours of water hardening. Such high concentrations of calcium were associated with gypsum (calcium sulfate) in the water supply. In contrast, survival of eggs significantly increased when they were initially water‐hardened (1–3 h) in softer water (Ca concentrations, 34–64 mg/L). Incubation of eggs in high‐calcium water after the initial water‐hardening period did not significantly affect survival. Results of another experiment on water hardening of rainbow trout eggs showed a significant increase in survival when eggs were initially water‐hardened in either low‐gypsum water or in high‐gypsum water softened by ion exchange to markedly reduce the calcium; but not the sulfate, content.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title High calcium concentration in water increases mortality of salmon and trout eggs
Series title Progressive Fish-Culturist
DOI 10.1577/1548-8640(1988)050%3C0129:HCCIWI%3E2.3.CO;2
Volume 50
Year Published 1988
Language English
Publisher Oxford Academic
Contributing office(s) Leetown Science Center
Description 7 p.
First page 129
Last page 135
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