Turbidity is a picture of the optical properties of water by the presence of suspended solids, especially materials and little affected by the color of the water. This suspended material in the form of particles of clay, silt, colloids soil and aquatic organisms (microorganisms). TSS is not only harmful to fish but also cause water unproductive for blocking sunlight for photosynthesis.
Water turbidity or often called turbidty is one physical test parameters in water analysis.
Water turbidity levels will generally be determined by the amount of NTU (Nephelometer Turbidity Units) after application of the test using a turbidimeter. If the material is in the form of suspended solids organism, then at a certain extent can be used as indicators of pollution a body of water. Therefore turbidity can affect / determine:
a) The occurrence of respiratory disorders,
b) It lowers oxygen levels in the water,
c) Disruption of vision (visual) of aquatic organisms
d) The occurrence of disturbance to habitat.
e) Inhibits light penetration into the water
f) reduce the effectiveness of disinfection in water purification process
Suspended solids positively correlated with turbidity, the higher the suspended solids contained in the waters, the waters are murky Senakin. Turbidity in the stagnant waters (tapering) more due to the suspended material in the form of colloid and fine particles, while the river was flooding due to the suspended solution which swept away the water.
Figure 6. Turbidity in pond aquaculture