Influence of Water Hardness on Growth Performance and Survival Rate in Freshwater Prawn

Abstract

Water quality parameters play a critical role in aquaculture productivity, with water hardness being a key factor influencing growth performance and survival in freshwater species. This study investigates the influence of water hardness on growth performance and survival rate in freshwater prawn to determine optimal rearing conditions. The proposed methodology involves controlled experimental setups with varying levels of water hardness, monitored over a defined culture period. Key parameters such as growth rate, feed conversion ratio, survival percentage, molting frequency, and physiological responses are measured using standard aquaculture practices. Water quality parameters, including calcium and magnesium concentrations, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen, are continuously monitored. The collected data are preprocessed through cleaning, normalization, and statistical validation to ensure consistency and reliability. Advanced analytical and machine learning models, such as regression analysis, Random Forest, and Artificial Neural Networks, are employed to evaluate the relationship between water hardness and prawn performance indicators. Experimental results indicate that moderate water hardness levels significantly enhance growth rate, survival, and molting efficiency due to improved exoskeleton formation and metabolic activity. In contrast, extremely low or high hardness levels negatively affect survival and growth due to physiological stress and impaired mineral balance. The study identifies optimal hardness ranges that maximize productivity and minimize mortality. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining appropriate water hardness levels in freshwater prawn aquaculture systems. The study concludes that optimized water quality management, supported by data-driven analysis, provides a sustainable and efficient approach for improving growth performance, survival rate, and overall aquaculture productivity.