Studies on Production of Singhi (Heteropneustes fossilis) in Fresh Water Biofloc Aquaculture System

Biofloc technology (BFT) is one of the innovative methodologies for waste management and nutrient retention that offers a solution to solve environmental problems in aquaculture, because it doesn’t use water exchange to solve nitrogen compound elimination, but it utilizes microbial assimilation, stimulated for addition of material rich in carbon, to transform those compounds. However, two trials of ten months period each (2021-2023) were performed to investigate the growth and production of Singhi in fresh water Biofloc System at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, IGKV, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. Three circular and rectangular cemented tanks (10,000 liter capacity each) were used in each trial under this purpose. Probiotic was used for developing beneficial bacterial colonies and controlling ammonia in confined water system. Healthy advanced fry of Singhi (Avg weight 1.3 g) were stocked @ 1500 nos/tank with treatment of potassium permanganate. Floating feed with 40-45% protein level was fed in twice in a day by following standard feeding chart. Molasses was applied for proper microbial growth and maintained C:N ratio. Physico-chemical parameters were studied weekly and maintained properly during whole period. Floc volume range was recorded between 13-33 ml/liter water sample, FCO was periodically applied for bacterial growth. The average yield was recorded 212.50 kg/tank after a period of 11 months from stocking, average growth was 154 g and FCR was found to be 1.3. Experiments were conducted during 2021-2023, so the variation of temperature was very high. The other important parameters recorded were- average pH value 7.6, dissolved oxygen 5.7 ppm, TDS 684 ppm and C:N ratio 12:1. Probocare & Medifish unique were applied weekly @ 75 ml/tank for maintaining floc and water parameters as well. Unique growth was applied @ 100 g/tank as growth promoter in fortnight interval. The results obtained in this experiment suggest that the biofloc system in fresh water aquaculture improves growth performances of Singhi in almost zero-water exchange system.