Effect of freeze-dried biofloc as A Dietary Supplement on Water Quality and Growth Performance of red Tilapia (Hybrid)

Abstract

Abstract To investigate the effect of supplementation of dried biofloc produced by freeze-drying method on water quality and growth performance of red hybrid tilapia, two experimental diets (T0 treatment: 0 % biofloc; and T1 treatment: 4 % freeze-dried biofloc) were examined during 57 days of feeding trial. Diet T0 resulted in higher feed intake than T1 treatment (P < 0.05), while no significant differences were found between the two treatments in terms of weight gain, SGR, and FCR (P > 0.05). For water quality parameters, values of temperature, EC, TDS, ammonia and nitrate were significantly higher for T1 treatment (P < 0.05). While dissolved oxygen level was significantly lower for T1 treatment compared to T0 treatment (P < 0.05). Moreover, no significant differences were found for pH and salinity (P > 0.05). However, the two treatments showed water quality parameters levels within the range of standard levels of water quality for tilapia culture. In addition, proximate composition of experimental diets showed significantly higher lipid content for T0 treatment than T1 treatment (P < 0.05). While no significant differences were found between means of treatments for organic matter, protein, fiber, ash and energy contents (P > 0.05). Based on these results, a 4 % supplementation of freeze-dried biofloc can be successively included in formulated diets for red hybrid tilapia without any effects on growth in terms of weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and survival, and can result in acceptable water quality levels for red hybrid tilapia.