--- title: "Aquaculture with Biofloc technology" date: 2021-02-08 author: "Pawan Khatri" url: https://oceangeosynthetics.com/aquaculture-with-biofloc-technology/ --- February 8, 2021 | [Insights](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/insights/) # Aquaculture with Biofloc technology ## What is aquaculture? Aquaculture, or aquafarming, is the farming of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and algae under controlled conditions, as opposed to commercial fishing, which harvests wild stock. Fish is a staple food in many parts of the world, and a growing share of it is farmed. FAO figures put global fish production at 177.8 million metric tons in 2019, up from 148.1 million metric tons in 2010. The growth of fish farming, sometimes called the blue revolution, has reshaped the world seafood market, which Statista forecast would reach 155.32 billion dollars by 2023. Asia, led by China and India, produces most of the world’s farmed fish. **Aquaculture and its challenges:** According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), farmed food fish production has expanded worldwide and created substantial employment. But aquaculture is also criticised for degrading and polluting the environment, mainly through the nutrient-rich effluent that ponds discharge. Farmers also deal with feed ingredient shortages, price volatility, yields that vary with climate, and the spread of parasites and disease. **Biofloc Technology (BFT):** Biofloc technology was developed to grow more fish with less water and land. First developed in the early 1970s, it relies on flocs: aggregates of bacteria, protozoa and algae held together with particulate organic matter. The flocs break down fish waste in the tank, which keeps water quality up, treats the waste in place and helps prevent disease. [Biofloc technology](/products/biofloc-tank/) has spread because set-up costs are modest and yields are good. The essentials are a lined tank or pond, continuous aeration, a carbohydrate source (such as molasses or jaggery) to feed the bacteria, and sunlight or light for the algae. **BFT in Aquaculture:** BFT controls water quality by balancing carbon and nitrogen: added carbohydrate lets bacteria take up the ammonia from fish waste and turn it into microbial protein, which the fish then eat as extra feed. Because water is rarely exchanged, the tank or pond must hold water reliably, so most systems use HDPE (high-density polyethylene) geomembrane liners. A typical biofloc set-up combines high stocking density, heavy aeration and HDPE-lined tanks or ponds. UV-stabilised [HDPE geomembranes](/products/ocean-geomembrane/) are chemically inert, so they do not react with the culture water, and they last for years in sunlight. They come in rolls and are straightforward to install. Ocean’s [aquaculture lining case study](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/hdpe-geomembrane-lining-for-sustainable-aquaculture-infrastructure/) shows HDPE geomembrane used on a fish farming project. **Steps in setting up a Biofloc include:** - Pond set-up - Aeration - Pre-seeding beneficial microbes - Species selection and stocking densities - Balancing the carbon source input - Biofloc growth - Monitoring and control of the Biofloc - Monitoring and controlling water parameters - Harvest, and finally - Clean-up. The main advantages of the biofloc system are water conservation, less fertiliser, year-round production, faster growth and better yields, lower disease susceptibility, more efficient use of feed protein and lower feed requirements, and a small footprint with better biosecurity. The trade-offs are constant aeration (and so a reliable power supply) and daily monitoring of floc and water parameters. ***Ocean Global supplies [geosynthetic products and materials](/our-products/) for aquaculture, including HDPE geomembranes for biofloc tanks and ponds.*** Get Ocean Geosynthetics in your Google feed[![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/google-g-logo.svg)Add us as a preferred source on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://oceangeosynthetics.com/) [![Gravel-filled HDPE geocell beside flat biaxial geogrid on a road formation](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ocean-geocells-vs-geogrids-photo-300x225.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/geocells-and-geogrids-performance-and-comparison/) [Geocell](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/geocell/), [Insights](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/insights/) [Geocells and Geogrids, Performance and Comparison](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/geocells-and-geogrids-performance-and-comparison/) The role of geosynthetics in the field of civil engineering is very vast and increasing by the day. The ease of use and installation combined… [See More](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/geocells-and-geogrids-performance-and-comparison/) [![The Light House Project: Enhancing Stability and Sustainability with Ocean HDPE Perforated Geocell](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Light-House-Project-Enhancing-Stability-and-Sustainability-with-Ocean-HDPE-Perforated-Geocell-300x157.png)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/the-light-house-project-enhancing-stability-and-sustainability-with-ocean-hdpe-perforated-geocell/) [Case Studies](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/case-studies/) [The Light House Project: Enhancing Stability and Sustainability with Ocean HDPE Perforated Geocell](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/the-light-house-project-enhancing-stability-and-sustainability-with-ocean-hdpe-perforated-geocell/) Introduction Ocean Non Wovens supplied 9985 Sqm of Ocean HDPE Perforated Geocell for the Light House Project in Agartala, Tripura. The geocell was used to… [See More](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/the-light-house-project-enhancing-stability-and-sustainability-with-ocean-hdpe-perforated-geocell/) [![picture showing drainage fabric](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Geotextiles-3_Wmark-300x205.jpg)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/does-water-go-through-geotextile-fabric/) [Geotextile](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/geotextile/), [Insights](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/insights/) [Does Water Go Through Geotextile Fabric? How Drainage Fabric Works](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/does-water-go-through-geotextile-fabric/) Yes. 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