What is Biofloc?
Biofloc fish farming is one of the most innovative techniques used in aquaculture which results in better production of fishes and other invertebrates in smaller manually controlled tanks. Fishes have been grown in smaller tanks for decades, but over time their fecal matters along with the left over food and dead organic matter leads to high concentration of toxic materials like in the water. This concentration of these toxic materials eventually becomes so high that the rate mortality of the fishes would be very high. The only way to cope up with this was to drain the water out and refill the tank every few days. This wasn't feasible for fish farmers at places where water is scarce, hence their fish production would be hampered. The solution to this problem was Biofloc Technology (BFT), introduced by Prof. Yoram Avnimelech of Israel, where the need to change the water wouldn't be necessary.
The principle of this technique is the generation of nitrogen cycle by maintaining higher C: N ratio through stimulating heterotrophic microbial growth, which assimilates the nitrogenous waste that can be exploited by the cultured species as secondary feed. Hence, Biofloc technology is not only effective in treating the waste, but also provides extra nutrition to the aquatic animals. The higher ratio of Carbon to Nitrogen (C : N) is maintained through the addition of carbohydrate source and the water quality is improved through the production of high quality single cell microbial protein.
In such condition, dense microorganisms develop and function both as bioreactor controlling water quality and protein food source. Immobilization of toxic nitrogen compounds occur more rapidly in biofloc systems because the growth rate and microbial production per unit substrate of heterotrophs are manyfolds than of the autotrophic nitrifying bacteria.
Biofloc is defined as macro aggregates of organic matters which includes bacteria, algae, protozoa, diatoms, fecal matter of the fishes, remains of dead organisms and other invertebrates called Floc. It is an innovative and cost-effective technology in which toxic materials to the fish and shellfish such as Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia can be converted to useful product, i.e., proteinaceous feed., that way preventing a spike of harmful compounds in the water.
It is a very novel technique of enhancing and maintaining the water quality of the water through balancing the ratio of Carbon and Nitrogen (C:N ratio) in the system. The application of BFT offers benefits in improving aquaculture production that could contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals. This technology has resulted in higher productivity with less impact to the environment. The technology has recently gained attention as a sustainable method to control water quality with added value of producing protein rich feed and better yield.
Principle of Biofloc Technology
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