What is Biofloc Technology and Benefits of Biofloc Technology in Aquaculture

 

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 – 1^st is feed cost , 2^nd  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