Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of biofloc technology (BFT) application on water quality and production performance of red tilapia Oreochromis sp. at different stocking densities. Three different fish densities were applied, i.e. 25, 50, and 100 fish/m 3 , and for each density there were Control (without external carbon input) and BFT treatments. Mixed sex red tilapia with an initial average body weight 77.89 + 3.71 g was cultured in 3 m 3 concrete tanks for 14 weeks. Molasses was added on BFT treatments as the organic carbon source at a C/N ratio of 15. Control treatments of each density tested showed more fluctuated water quality parameters throughout the experimental period. The highest TAN and nitrite-nitrogen were observed in control treatment at a stocking density of 100 fish/m 3 (3.97 mg TAN/L and 9.29 mg NO 2 -N/L, respectively). The highest total yield was observed in control treatment at the highest density treatment (43.50 kg), whereas the highest survival was obtained by BFT treatment at a density of 25 fish/m 3 (97.78 + 0.77%). Total feed used in BFT was lower than that of control treatments in particular at 50 fish/m 3 density (P
Highlights
The world demand of tilapia has been steadily increasing, especially in the United States and European countries
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) in water of all treatments were in optimal condition for fish culture which were ranged from 26.0-29.3 C and 3.26-6.89 mg/l, respectively (Table 1)
The range of pH in control treatments at each level of density tested throughout the experimental period seems to be lower than biofloc technology (BFT) treatment
Summary
The world demand of tilapia has been steadily increasing, especially in the United States and European countries. This is followed by the progressively growth of world tilapia and other cichlids production from only 107,459 MT in the early eighties to more than 2.5 million MT in 2008 with an average annual growth rate of 11.2% (Food and Agriculture Organization Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics, 2010). An intensive aquaculture system is characterized by the high stocking density which is followed by the needs of high quality and quantity of artificial feed (Piedrahita 2003; Avnimelech et al 2008). As application of high fish biomass and feed input brings about water quality
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