What is Biofloc Technology ?
Biofloc is a Technology , it’s used in aquaculture to increase massive production in a small
area. In Biofloc the toxic item in aquaculture , Ammonia,
Nitrate, Nitrite convert to protein cell
, that is very useful for fish health. Biofloc is a zero or minimum water exchange
process of aquaculture and Biofloc is a
cost-effective technology. We culture fish in high stocking density with high aeration.
Why Biofloc System important for Aquaculture?
Biofloc
technology consist as the use of multitude of bacteria, algae,
or protozoa along with particulate organic matter, main purpose to improving
water quality, waste treatment and disease prevention of aquatic animal in intensive aquaculture systems.
The feed cost of any aquaculture project is 60% of Total
Project cost, and if we go for high production , then
stocking density will be high, that time another issue will be come environmental issue, Water will be polluted very quickly. The feed
waste and fish waste will create Toxic
item in Water. It is very dangerous for
fish. In Biofloc system we culture the
Heterotopic Bacteria , The Heterotopic
Bacteria consume the toxic item Ammonia by maintaining Carbon Nitrogen ratio , and
Bacteria develop the protein cell. This
Bacteria or Protein cell are very
effective for fish health, because it is full of protein , vitamins and minerals .. . The carbon requirement fulfill by use of Molasses or sugar
Biofloc Technology improve disease prevention
So to improvement of
environmental issue of aquatic animals
Biofloc Technology has been developed.
All the Fish Farmer facing the
issue of in aquaculture – 1st is feed cost , 2nd water pollution issue . Another success of BFT , it is use to increase the immunity and improve disease resistance of
aquatic animals if the animals consume the Biofloc. Also another point we can add, if the Aquatic
Animals consume Biofloc they get not
only supplemental macronutrients that
get constantly associated probiotics and other health
promoting bioactive compounds that
include vitamin C , poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) . Some of the big farm mix the Biofloc directly to in feed for extra
benefit of animals.
Biofloc Technology Decrease feeding Cost
In Biofloc
Technology we can decrease the FCR up to 20%
-30% . The FCR , means Feed conversion ratio . The main things to increase body
weight quickly we need feed high protein feed to aquatic animal. But in Biofloc
they will get high amount of protein ,
For these reason we need low protein feed for same or higher growth of Aquatic
Animal. And feed price depend on protein
% of feed. So the Farmer can reduce the feed cost by using the Biofloc
Technology.
Principal of Biofloc Technolgy
The Main Principal of these technique is Carbon Nitrogen
ratio - (C:N) , A high C/N ratio of
between 10 and 20 will stimulate the growth of heterotrophic bacteria, which
will directly feed on the toxic ammonia from the culture system and in turn
produce a cellular protein (Avnimelech, 2012).
Carbon : Nitrogen
we have maintain 10:1 or higher for proper Biofloc production. Heterotopic Bacteria consume Nitrogen and remove the Ammonia from water , but they needs carbon for re moving Nitrogen. The production of the cellular protein gives BFT additional
advantage over other culture systems because the cellular protein is available
as feed to the culture organisms (Bossier & Ekasari, 2017; Gaona, Almeida, Viau, Poersch, & Wasielesky, 2017) The microbial community (cellular protein)
contains a heterogeneous mixture of microorganisms (floc former and filamentous
bacteria), particles, colloids, organic polymers, cations, and dead cells (Avnimelech, 2012; Ekasari et al., 2010; Hargreaves, 2006). This suspended heterogeneous protein particle is available
as food to the culture organisms and has been found to be high-quality protein.
Advantage of Biofloc System in Aquaculture
1. it is a Eco-friendly Aquaculture culture system.
2. It reduces environmental impact our Fish Farming project.
3. We can Improves land and water uses efficiency.
4. Minimum or zero water exchange process.
5. Higher productivity in minimum space and water resource
6. We can improve Survival rate, growth performance, FCR in the culture systems of fish
6. Control high Bio-security.
7. Reduces water pollution and the risk of introduction and spread of pathogens.
8. Cost-effective Aquaculture system.
9. It reduces the utilization of protein-rich feed and the cost of standard feed.
Disadvantages Of Biofloc Technology
1.Energy requirement is high for mixing and aeration.
2. Reduced response time because water respiration rates are elevated.
3. The start-up period required for construction and install machinery installation.
4. 24 hours monitoring required.
Conclusion - Biofloc technology is able to
ensure maintenance of water quality through uptake of ammonia to produce microbial proteins and it also makes
available food for the cultured fish through utilization of the microbial
protein produced, hence increased efficient utilization of feed supplied,
decreased food conversion ratio, and decreased the cost of feeding in
aquaculture