Biofloc Fish Farming

Assignment: Potentiality of Biofloc Aquaculture System
in Bangladesh
Course Title: Fisheries Resource Management
BBA in Agribusiness
Level-1, Semester-2
Submitted To: Submitted By:

Md. Abdul Baten Kaniz Fatema-19-09777
Lecturer Jannatul Akter Shetu-19-09756
Dept. of Fishing and Post-harvest Fahim Shahria Prodeep-1909727
Technology
Md. Shakil Hossain-19-09755
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,
Toufiqul Hasan Tushar-10-09730
Dhaka
Maria Rahman Prottasha-19-09779
ABSTRACT
As the human population continues to grow, food production industries such as
aquaculture will need to expand as well. In order to preserve the environment
and the natural resources, this expansion will need to take place in a sustainable
way. Biofloc technology is a technique of enhancing water quality in aquaculture
through balancing carbon and nitrogen in the system. The technology has recently
gained attention as a sustainable method to control water quality, with the added
value of producing proteinaceous feed in situ. In this review, we will discuss the
beneficial effects of the technology and identify some challenges for future
research.
INTRODUCTION
The costliest factors in aquaculture are high-quality feeds, filtration systems and
the investment needed for ample space to grow target species. With continuously
rising production costs, farmers and researchers are looking for alternative ways
to produce more seafood while utilizing fewer resources.
Originally conceived as a natural way to clean water, biofloc systems are

becoming increasingly popular as a low-cost means of cleaning the culture water
of fish and shrimp farms while simultaneously providing an additional source of
feed. Best of all, implementing biofloc principles requires little investment – as
only sunlight, a carbohydrate source and plenty of aeration are needed.
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. It is the technology used in aquaculture system
with limited or zero water exchange under high stocking density, strong aeration
and biota formed by biofloc. The culture of biofloc will be productive in the case
of culture tanks exposed to sun.
WHAT IS BIOFLOC?
Biofloc is a heterogeneous aggregate of suspended particles and variety of
microorganisms associated with extracellular polymeric substances. It is
composed of microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, fungi, invertebrates and
detritus, etc.
Biofloc fish farming is a technique of enhancing water quality in aquaculture

through balancing carbon and nitrogen in the system. The technology has recently
gained attention as a sustainable method to control water quality, with the added
value of producing proteinaceous feed in situ.
COMPOSITION AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF
BIOFLOC
Biofloc is a heterogeneous
aggregate of suspended
particles and variety of
microorganisms associated
with extracellular polymeric
substances. It is composed
of microorganisms such as
bacteria, algae, fungi,
invertebrates and detritus, etc. It is a protein-rich live feed formed as a result of
conversion of unused feed and excreta into a natural food in a culture system on
exposure to sunlight. Each floc is held together in a loose matrix of mucus that is
secreted by bacteria and bound by filamentous microorganisms or electrostatic
attraction. Large flocs can be seen with the naked eye, but most of them are
microscopic. Floc size range from 50 –200 microns.
A good nutritional value is found in biofloc. The dry weight protein ranges from 25
– 50 percent, fat ranges 0.5 – 15 percent. It is a good source of vitamins and
minerals, particularly phosphorous. It also has an effect similar to probiotics. The
dried biofloc is proposed as an ingredient to replace the fishmeal or soybean in
the feed. The nutritional quality is good; however, only limited qualities are
available. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness of producing and drying biofloc
solids at a commercial scale is a challenge.
STEPS TOWARD BIOFLOC PRODUCTION
1. Tank or pond set up
2. Aeration
3. Pre-seeding beneficial microbes
4. Balancing carbon source input
5. Biofloc growth
6. Monitoring and controlling
biofloc development
water parameters and farm
infrastructure
farm stock
9. Harvest and clean up
TECHNOLOGY OF BIOFLOC
HOW BIOFLOC WORKS?
BIOFLOCK FISH FARMING IN BANGLADESH
Fish farming in Bangladesh is playing an important role to the total national
income of this country. Bangladesh is a south Asian country and there are hardly
any areas in the country where river or any other water source is not available. In
a word, Bangladesh is
surrounded by rivers and
various types of water
sources like pond, stream,
lake etc. And a major part
of the total population of
this country is directly or
indirectly involved with fish
or fish related business.
Especially, most of the people of southern area of Bangladesh are directly

engaged with commercial fish farming or fish farming related business. Khulna,
Barisal, Bagerhat, Satkhira etc. are considered as the best place for commercial
fish farming in Bangladesh. However, I am describing the main benefits of fish
farming in Bangladesh and the starting process.
SOME SPECIES CULTURED IN BIOFLOC IN
BANGLADESH
 Shrimp
 Koi
 Tilapia
 Shing
 Magur
 Pangas
 Carp fish
These fish are of great demand to the people of our country. As we are a
populated nation, we have not that much space for making fish farm. The biofloc
technology helps us greatly to meet the demand of fish to the growing
population. Many more species are under research that sre supposed to be
cultured by this technology.
NEED OF BIOFLOC SYSTEM
Biofloc system was developed to improve the environmental control over the
aquatic animal production. In aquaculture, the strong influential factors are the
feed cost (accounting to 60% of the total production cost) and most limiting factor
is the water/land availability. High stocking density and rearing of aquatic animals
requires wastewater treatment. Biofloc system is a wastewater treatment which
has gained vital importance as an approach in aquaculture.
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 spices as
a feed. The biofloc technology is not only effective in treating the waste but also
grants nutrition to the aquatic animal.
PROFITABILITY OF BIOFLOC FISH FARMING
Fish farming business requires some initial investment. Many local or
international banks are available which are ready to sanction loan. Some govt.
banks also providing loan for this type of business with a very low interest rate.
In a word, fish farming in Bangladesh has many benefits and opportunities. One
can take this earning opportunity for making a good profit form fish farming
business.
On an average a farmer earns Tk 1.75 lakh from it by incurring an annual

expenditure of Tk 25,000 only. The net profit of Tk 1.5 lakh from 2 acres of land is
about 50 percent more than what the farmers who cultivate wheat and paddy
crops get.
The most profitable fish to farm is TILAPIA, which must be done with monoculture
of monosex fries, in case of netting depends to area of ponds when harvesting
rounding fully or partially can be done.
BENEFITS OF BIOFLOC CULTURE SYSTEM
 Eco-friendly culture system.
 It reduces environmental impact.
 Improves land and water use efficiency
 Limited or zero water exchange
 Higher productivity (It enhances survival rate, growth performance, feed
conversion in the culture systems of fish).
 Higher biosecurity.
 Reduces water pollution and the risk of introduction and spread of
pathogens
 Cost-effective feed production.
 It reduces utilization of protein rich feed and cost of standard feed.
 It reduces the pressure on capture fisheries ie., use of cheaper food fish
and trash fish for fish feed formulation.

DISADVANTAGES OF BIOFLOC TECHNOLOGY
 Increased energy requirement for mixing and aeration
 Reduced response time because water respiration rates are elevated
 Start-up period required
 Alkalinity supplementation required
 Increased pollution potential from nitrate accumulation
 Inconsistent and seasonal performance for sunlight-exposed systems

CONCLUSIONS
A variety of beneficial features can be ascribed to biofloc technology, from water
quality control to in situ feed production and some possible extra features. Biofloc
technology offers aquaculture a sustainable tool to simultaneously address its
environmental, social and economic issues concurrent with its growth.
Researchers are challenged to further develop this technique and farmers to
implement it in their future aquaculture systems. The basics of the technology is
there, but its further development, fine-tuning and implementation will need
further research and development from the present and future generation of
researchers, farmers and consumers to make this technique a keystone of future
sustainable aquaculture.

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Assignment: Potentiality of Biofloc Aquaculture System

Submitted To: Submitted By:

Originally conceived as a natural way to clean water, biofloc systems are

It is an innovative and cost-effective technology in which toxic materials to the

Biofloc fish farming is a technique of enhancing water quality in aquaculture

Especially, most of the people of southern area of Bangladesh are directly

The principle of this technique is the generation of nitrogen cycle by maintaining

On an average a farmer earns Tk 1.75 lakh from it by incurring an annual

 Eco-friendly culture system.

 It reduces environmental impact.

 Improves land and water use efficiency

 Limited or zero water exchange

 Higher productivity (It enhances survival rate, growth performance, feed

conversion in the culture systems of fish).

 Reduces water pollution and the risk of introduction and spread of

 Cost-effective feed production.

 It reduces utilization of protein rich feed and cost of standard feed.

and trash fish for fish feed formulation.

 Increased energy requirement for mixing and aeration

 Reduced response time because water respiration rates are elevated

 Start-up period required

 Alkalinity supplementation required

 Increased pollution potential from nitrate accumulation

 Inconsistent and seasonal performance for sunlight-exposed systems

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