RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WIND-SPEED AND REAERATION IN SMALL AQUACULTURE PONDS

Two 1000 m2 ponds at the El Carao National Aquaculture (enter at Comayagua, Honduras were deoxygenated by treatment with sodium sulfite and cobalt chloride, and biological activity was suppressed by formalin and copper sulfate application. Wind speed and the change in dissolved oxygen concentration were monitored with a data logger system during reaeration period. Standard oxygen transfer coefficients were related to wind speed measured at 3-m height by the equation: K(L)a20 = 0.017X-0.014; r2 = 0.882 where K(L)a20 = standard oxygen transfer coefficient at 20-degrees-C (h-1) and X = wind speed (m s-1). A method for computing pond reaeration rate from the standard oxygen transfer coefficient is presented.