Proximate composition of a powdered green biofloc from giant freshwater prawn culture (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) as a potential aquaculture nutrition source

Green biofloc aggregates were filtered from two indoor tanks housing adult Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The bioflocs were generated through the supplementation of molasses as a carbon source at 48-hour intervals and continuous exposure to ambient sunlight. The biofloc mass was harvested using the membrane filtration technique. This filtered wet aggregation was then oven-dried and prepared into biofloc powder (<100 μm). Proximate analysis was carried out on this powder to determine its composition for comparison to commercial fish meal. It was found that the crude protein content of the biofloc powder was 27.53% and crude lipid was 5.28% which was lower than commercial fish meal (crude protein: 60.53% and crude lipid: 8.71%). However the low cost involved in producing the biofloc powder does not preclude it from being a possible candidate for consideration for total and partial replacement of fishmeal in formulated aqua feeds.