TILAPIA PRODUCTION IN

BIOFLOC SYSTEMS

YORAM AVNIMELECH

TECNION, ISRAEL INST. Of TECHNOLOGY

agyoram@technion.ac.il
 »  
» Biofloc technology is based upon a few principles: 
» (a) Zero or minimal water exchange, 
» (b) subsequent development of dense microbial population 
» (c) managing the microbial population as a part of the pond eco-
system 
» (d) adjustment of the C/N ratio to 15 in order to control inorganic 
nitrogen concentration in the water.
»  The bacteria, forming bioflocs, assimilate TAN, produce microbial 
proteins that is consumed by the fish, thus recycle the unused 
feed protein. (For more details: Yoram Avnimelech, Biofloc 
Technology, A Practical Handbook, World Aquaculture Soc. 2012).
Tilapia, an ideal fish for Biofloc Technology

Grow well in dense

cultures
Resistant •
FILTER FEEDER •
Very few studies as •
compared with
shrimp
Fish Biomass
Normally, 20-30 kg/m2
!times higher than shrimp BFT ponds 10
» High Biomass 20-30 kg/m3 (Up to more than 40kg/m3
» (w/o O2)
» High feeding (ca 500 g feed/m3 per day)
» Very high microbial activity
» High floc volume (20-50 ml/l).
» Very high natural feed storage.
» High levels of feed residues
» Need to drain out daily (or twice daily) excessive sludge.
» Pond constructed to facilitate sludge draining and perfect mixing.

:Implications
» High and effective aeration: 10-20 hp/1000 m2 pond
Drain bottom sludge twice daily till you
get clear water
» Bio flocs are made of bacteria, protozoa, feed 
residues etc.
» Bioflocs size may reach
A few mm diameter
» Effectively harvested
by tilapia
200 µm x10 x20

200 µm 200 µm
x10 x10

Bio flocs are made of bacteria,

protozoa, etc. Typicaly their
diameter is 0.1-2 mm.
» Normally, fish or shrimp recover just ~25% of 
feed protein.
» In bacterial controlled ponds, they eat the 
protein twice; Once in the feed and then they 
consume microbial protein. The protein 
recovery reaches almost 50%.

» Protein is the most expensive part

of the feed. 

Protein Recycling
BFT control Expt. # 1

days 51

16.6 11.1 FEED C/N

2.0b 1.59a )%(Daily Gain

2.17 2.62 FCR
2.42 4.38 PCR
0.583 0.848 FEED COST )US$/Kg fish(
Exp. # 2 )30 days(

16.6 11.1 C/N

2.22b 1.63a )%(Daily gain
2.02 2.62 FCR
2.18 4.35 PCR
0.543 0.848 Feed cost
(US$/Kg fish)
Results 1: % 15N in fish
» Bioflocs were taken up by fish and degraded 
biologically. Yet, the amount of bioflocs stayed 
almost constant. This implies that new flocs are 
constantly produced (using the excreted N).
» The residence time of bioflocs was calculated to 
be around 8 hours. The flocs seem to be a very 
dynamic system.
» most cells in the flocs are young and active.

Residence time of
bioflocs
» Conventional fish, shrimp ponds 20-25%
» BFT Tilapia ponds (Avnimelech) 45%
» BFT Shrimp ponds (McIntosh) 45%
» Closed shrimp tanks (Velasco) 63%

» BFT shrimp ponds, 15N study 18-29% of total N

consumption (Michele Burford et al.)
* Tilapia, 15N Study, flocs supplied about 50% of fish
protein requirement. (Avnimelech).
Data on feed
protein utilization
» Fish or shrimp growing in BFT systems eat the
pellets when applied, but eat bioflocs all the
time.
» Confirmed in a work done by Albert Tacon with
shrimp.
» Observations with tilapia.
» Effects on lowering of FCR in tilapia production

Feed Utilization
SPECIAL USES, ADDED VALUES

DESERT AQUACULTURE
 Effects on propagation

Shrimp broodstock grown in BFT 
have earlier sexual maturity
And higher productivity
Similar result with tilapia
Work by Julie Ekasari

?Better nutrition?  Fatty acids
? Hormonal effects
Summary of fatty acids analysis
on the collected bioflocs
Fatty acids Total Fatty Acids%
n-6 fatty acids is 
n-6 fatty acids is 
Total n-3 1.33
essential for tilapia 
essential for tilapia 
Total n-6 19.70 and its reproduction 
and its reproduction 
Total n-9 12.97 (Watanabe 1982)
(Watanabe 1982)
LA 13.43
ALA 0.36
Protein : 37 – 46% DW
EPA 0.56
Lipid : 11.9 % DW
DHA 0.32
AA 1.30

Biofloc considerably high in AA (Arachidonic Acid) ••
Biofloc considerably high in AA (Arachidonic Acid)
AA is beneficial for fertilization rates  stimulates testicular  ••
AA is beneficial for fertilization rates  stimulates testicular 
testosterone in goldfish (Izquierdo et al 2001)
testosterone in goldfish (Izquierdo et al 2001)
What triggers the fish to spawn? (Rocha
2008)
Physiological factors. 2
Hormones ˃
Morphological changes ˃
Mobilization of energy reserves ˃

Blood total cholesterol in fish in BFT tanks was higher •
Cholesterol  precursor of steroids hormones
Blood glucose as an indicator of mobilization of energy  •
reserves
Fish growth •
Results:
Higher concentration in  ••
Higher concentration in 
Blood total cholesterol BFT  higher 
BFT  higher 
concentration of 
concentration of 
hormones were 
hormones were 
involved
??involved
Results: Blood glucose

Higher concentration in  ••
Higher concentration in 
BFT 
BFT 
More energy was  ••
More energy was 
mobilized for 
mobilized for 
reproductive 
reproductive 
activities
activities
More energy supply ••
??More energy supply
Results: Average body weight
Despite of more active reproductive 
Despite of more active reproductive 
performance the female in BFT tanks 
performance the female in BFT tanks 
grew better
grew better

Yet, the fish in BFT required 
Yet, the fish in BFT required 
less feed
less feed
vs 8.3 kg/tank 9.3
((vs 8.3 kg/tank 9.3))
Results : Total fish fry production

a b

Julie Eskari
» Tilapia fingerlings (120 g) stocked to over-
wintering facility on January 4, 2011.
» Feeding ~ 1% BW
» On February 18, they weighed  171 g
» Daily growth of 1.16 g/fish
» FCR = 0.5 

:Fresh results from the field

OVER-WINTERING
 EFFECT OF WATER EXCHANGE RATE ON PRIMARY
AND SECONDARY INFECTION OF FISH BY STREPTOCOCCUS
Total infected Sick fish Dead fish Treatment

11 ( 2) 2 (9) 9 Control
Control
a)Injected
BFT 16 (2) 4 12 BFT
fish (3)

a)Non- 11 ( 1.5 ) 4 (5) 7 High

Control exchange
injected ( 4.7 )
fish
BFT 3 ( 1.0 ) 1.3 1.8
( 1.7 )
ASP
( 1.4 )
 High water exchange = 0.5l/min per kg fish (700% per day)
 BFT< Limited water exchange = 10% per day
Luo and coworkers in China reported
Yields of 45kg/m3. Higher production and
lower FCR as compared with RAS.
Higher concentrations of Superoxide
Permutase .
»Conclusions
» Biofloc technology is especially adapted to raise tilapia production
up to 20-30 kg/m2.
» This can be done using not too expensive system.
» BFT enables feed recycling, high feed quality and reduced
expenses.
» BFT reduces disease.
» The system is friendly and forgiving.
» More research is needed
» Cultivo de tilapia en sistemas
biofloc es simple, fácil y rentable.
• Tilapia como filtrador es feliz en
esos sistemas.
• Se ahorra los gastos de
alimentación (~ 30%) y comer
mejor.
• Menos enfermedades.
• Mayor crecimiento y menor FCR.
• La manera más rápida de iniciar la
producción intensiva de tilapia.
• Si necesita ayuda, estaré feliz de
hacerlo:
» agyoram@technion.ac.il