Factors Controlling Biofloc

Characteristics
Vikas Phulia1*, Babita Mandal, Aritra Bera, Soibam Khogen Singh, Rakesh Das and Ankur Jamwal

Biofloc Technology Flocs can reach more than 1000 µm in diameter. Typical
Biofloc technology combines the removal of nutrients from flocs are irregular in shape, have a broad distribution of particle
water with the production of microbial biota, which can be used sizes, are fine and easily compressible, with more than 99 percent
by some fish and shrimp as food. Bioflocs are macroaggregates porosity, and are permeable to fluids (Chu and Lee 2004). The
of diatoms, macroalgae, fecal pellets, exoskeletons and the density of floc material is low, just slightly greater than that
remains of dead organisms, bacteria, and invertebrates. Biofloc of water. As a consequence, flocs sink rather slowly (1-3 m/h,
technology systems in aquaculture are based on activated-sludge Sears et al. 2006). Good-settling flocs are not necessarily lost
wastewater treatment systems. by sedimentation because
Biofloc technology is Biofloc technology combines the removal aeration devices keep them in
based on intensive growth of of nutrients from water with the suspension.
heterotrophic bacteria, which production of microbial biota, which can Extracellular polymeric
consume organic carbon and be used by some fish and shrimp as food. substances (EPS) form a
immobilize inorganic nitrogen, Bioflocs are macroaggregates of diatoms, matrix that encapsulate
depending on the C/N ratio. macroalgae, fecal pellets, exoskeletons and microbial calls and play a
Removal of nitrogen from the remains of dead organisms, bacteria, and major role in binding floc
culture water by means of invertebrates. Biofloc technology systems in components. The presence
biofloc technology (BFT) is aquaculture are based on activated-sludge of EPS in activated sludge
regulated by the balanced wastewater treatment systems. wastewater systems can be
addition of carbon. This substantial, up to 80 percent
transformation is achieved by adding different types of organic of the total mass (Hantula and Bamford 1991, Liu and Fang
carbon and results in the production of microbial protein that can 2003). EPS typically consist of polysaccharides, protein, humic
be used as fish food. compounds, nucleic acids and lipids (Zita and Hermansson
One striking feature of biofloc systems is very low retention 1994). They are produced as slime or capsule layers under
of nutrients by microbes. About 7 percent of the nitrogen and 6 various nutritional conditions, particularly nutrient limitation
percent of the phosphorus in feed are retained by conversion to (Steiner et al. 1976).
microbial biomass (Schneider et al. 2005). However, when carbon
and nitrogen are balanced in the water and microbial assimilation Critical Control Factors
of the ammonia is engineered efficiently, complete retention can The nutritional value and morphological characteristics of
be obtained. Avnimelech (1999) demonstrated that 10 mg NH4- bioflocs are dependent on a number of operational parameters.
N/L could be almost completely removed within 5 hours after the Inasmuch as floc is an aggregate of several components,
addition of glucose at a C/N ratio of 10, without the accumulation prevailing conditions in culture units strongly affect biofloc
of nitrite and nitrate. composition and characteristics.
Bioflocs have the potential to be used as fish food with good
nutritional quality. Biofloc technology can stimulate microbial Mixing Intensity
development in BFT ponds that will lead to improved nutrient In biofloc systems, one of the main functions of paddlewheel
efficiency and reduced need for dietary fishmeal and fish oil. aerators is to keep bioflocs in suspension. In aquaculture systems,
Biofloc technology can improve the efficiency in the use of a wide range of aeration devices are used, ranging from 0.1
nutrients from feed. Dried biofloc can be used as a protein source to 10 (up to 100) W/m3 (Boyd 1998). The correct number and
in aquafeeds. This article describes the factors that regulate the position of paddlewheel aerators used in ponds are critical. The
nutritional quality of bioflocs. steady-state floc particle size mainly depends on the number
and mixing intensity of aeration devices. The steady-state floc
Biofloc Constituents and Characteristics particle size distribution reflects an equilibrium between the
Microbial flocs consist of a heterogeneous mixture of rate of aggregation and the rate of breakage and dispersion as
microorganisms, particles, colloids, organic polymers, cations affected by turbulent mixing (Chaignon et al. 2002, Spicer and
and dead cells (Jorand et al. 1995). Living microbial cells are Pratsinis 1996). At greater mixing intensities, shear rates will be
only 2-20 percent of the organic fraction of sludge flocs. The high and the average floc size will decrease because of increased
total organic content of flocs may be 60-70 percent (Wilen et al. floc breakage. For BFT systems, the steady-state floc size is an
2003). (CONTINUED ON PAGE 58)

W W W.WA S .O R G • W O R L D AQ UACU LT U R E • D E C E M B E R 2 012 59

important feature because food quality for different aquaculture by-product of biodiesel production (Dube et al. 2007).
species is partially dependent on particle size (Garatun-
Tjeldsto et al. 2006, Knights 1983). In the case of cod and Organic Loading Rate
Macrobrachium rosenbergii larvae, floc particle size should The rate of organic carbon loading is a major technical
range from 250 to 1200 µm (de Barros and Valenti 2003). process factor. Filamentous bacteria have an advantage over
non-filamentous bacteria at low substrate concentration because
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration of their greater surface-to-volume ratio. Moreover, filaments
Dissolved oxygen (DO) is essential for the metabolic can extend from the floc core into the bulk water and are
activity of cells within aerobic flocs. Flocs tend to be larger thus exposed to greater substrate concentrations than non-
and more compact at higher DO concentrations (Wilen and filamentous bacteria that grow mainly within flocs (Martins et
Balmer 1999), although there is no clear relation between DO al. 2003).
concentration and average floc diameter. At low DO levels (0.5- Organic carbon can be added in small amounts, almost
2.0 mg/L), flocs have poor settling properties, with a sludge continuously, or in larger doses at regular time intervals. The
volume index (SVI) of 250 mL/g. At higher DO levels (2.0-5.0 second approach is known as a “feast or famine” regime
mg/L), the SVI is about 100 (Salehizadeh and Van
mL/g. Bioflocs have the potential to be used as Loosdrecht 2004) and
More filamentous bacteria fish food with good nutritional quality. results in transient
than zoogloeal bacteria occur Biofloc technology can stimulate microbial conditions of substrate
at DO concentration less than development in BFT ponds that will lead to limitation. Microbial
or equal to 1.1 mg/L (Martins improved nutrient efficiency and reduced biomass stores cellular
et al. 2003). Filamentous need for dietary fishmeal and fish oil. Biofloc energy reserves, such as
bacteria have a greater affinity technology can improve the efficiency in the poly-β-hydroxybutyrate,
for oxygen than zoogleal use of nutrients from feed. Dried biofloc can under conditions of excess
bacteria and thus dominate the be used as a protein source in aquafeeds. nutrient availability,
floc during periods of low DO allowing microorganisms to
concentration (Martins et al. 2003). Bioflocs with a greater bridge periods of nutrient shortage.
SVI can be produced at lower DO levels in biofloc ponds. This Energy storage products may be of importance to the
gives the aquaculture organisms opportunity to filter flocs from added value that bioflocs bring to aquaculture. As such, it may
suspension before they fall to the sediment and are lost as food. not be advisable to apply organic carbon sources continuously if
However, floc with a higher SVI can cause clogging of fish the goal is to produce reserve materials.
gills.
Any organic carbon source added to biofloc ponds causes Temperature
a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels from aerobic microbial The parameters described above can be controlled
metabolism. To produce biofloc as food, it is advisable to grow in aquaculture systems. Temperature influences floc
the heterotrophic biomass in an external reactor rather than characteristics but is more difficult to control. Temperature is
within the culture unit itself. Externally grown flocs can be of major importance for microbial metabolism. The influence
redirected to the pond as food without inducing stress through of temperature on biofloc characteristics is complex. More
depressed DO levels. deflocculation of activated sludge flocs occurs in cold water (4
°C) than cool water (18-20 °C), probably related to decreased
Organic Carbon Source microbial activity within flocs (Wilen et al. 2000). At high
Organic carbon can be supplied 1) as an additional organic water temperature (30-35 °C), bulking of sludge (SVI ≥ 500
carbon source (e.g., glucose, acetate or glycerol) with high- mL/g) occurs from excessive production of EPS (Krishna and
protein feed, or 2) by reducing the protein content of feed, Van Loosdrecht 1999). At intermediate water temperature (20-
thereby increasing its organic carbon content (Avnimelech 25 °C), flocs are stable and have an an intermediate SVI (200
1999). The quantity of organic matter needed for an intensive mL/g).
pond can be calculated on the basis of the amount of nitrogen The water temperature in BFT ponds is not a factor that
excreted by the aquaculture species. can be easily adjusted without imposing considerable additional
The organic carbon source of choice will, to a large operating costs, especially in outdoor ponds. In most cases,
degree, determine the composition of flocs produced, mainly prevailing climatic conditions determine the operational
the type and amount of energy storage polymers (Hollender temperature.
et al. 2002, Oehmen et al. 2004). Considerations for carbon
source selection include local availability, cost, biodegradability Ecofriendly Approach of BFT
and efficiency of bacteria assimilation. The cost of different in Limited Water Aquaculture
organic carbon sources will be the main determining factor in Biofloc technology is step towards a more environmentally
making a choice (Salehizadeh and Van Loosdrecht 2004). With friendly aquaculture production system. The technology was
BFT systems, it is best to use organic carbon sources that are developed to create economic and environmental benefits by
considered low-value by-products, such as glycerol, which is a reducing water use, effluent discharges, artificial feed supply

60 D E C E M B E R 2 012 • W O R L D AQ UACU LT U R E • W W W.WA S .O R G

and improved biosecurity. Biofloc technology systems have high
efficiency, productivity, sustainability and lower FCR. By using
this novel technology, the blue revolution in aquatic systems
can be achieved in a sustainable manner. Biofloc technology
increases pond productivity. A global effort is needed to
optimize, integrate and disseminate this appropriate, emerging
technology.
Notes
1
Ph.D. Scholars, Central Institute of Fisheries Education,
Mumbai- 400 061.
* Corresponding Author: vikas.phulia@gmail.com
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