The effects of feeding rate on water quality, Biofloc Consumption and growth performance of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) reared under a biofloc system

Biofloc provide two services, treating wastes from feeding and providing nutrtion from biofloc consumption. Information of biofloc nutrtion were very rare. . The present study aimed to analyze the effects of feeding rate on water quality and growth performance of African catfish reared under a biofloc system. The experiment a completely randomized design, which 4 treatments, namely biofloc with 5% feeding rate (B5), biofloc with 4% feeding rate (B4), biofloc with 3% feeding rate (B3), and non-biofloc with 5% feeding rate (N5) as a control. All treatments were triplicated. The results showed that dissolved oxygen and nitrite levels between groups differed significantly, but this did not occur for total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), Temperature and pH. Biofloc consumption B5, B4, B3 were higher than N5. Compared to N5, specific growth rate, final weight, and weight gain were significantly different and higher in B5, different and lower in B3, but not significantly different in B4. Feed convertion ratio (FCR) in B5 and B4 have lower than N5. Based on the results, the feeding rate in a biofloc system is concluded to be reduced by 20% compared to non-biofloc.