--- title: "Biofloc Fish Tank System" date: 2022-10-31 author: "Sales Team" url: https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/biofloc-tank/ --- # Biofloc Fish Tank System ![Picture of Biofloc Fish Tank System](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Biofloc-Tank-For-Fish-Farminga.webp) ## Biofloc fish tank system Ocean Geosynthetics manufactures biofloc tanks and PVC fish farming tanks for biofloc aquaculture in India. The tanks are made from non-migratory PVC polymer, are UV stabilised, and are light enough to move and set up without heavy equipment. Biofloc farming lets you raise fish or shrimp at high density in tanks with little or no water exchange, on a small plot of land, which is why it has spread quickly under the “blue revolution” push in Indian fisheries. ## Table of Contents ## What is a biofloc fish tank system? Fish is a protein- and nutrient-rich staple in many parts of India, and India is one of the world’s large aquaculture producers. Fish farmers have to manage feed prices, [water pollution](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/water/) and disease, often on limited land and water. A biofloc fish tank system tackles these together: a circular tank, strong aeration, and a managed population of microbes that cleans the water and turns waste into extra feed. The method was developed to give farmers more control over the culture environment. Feed is commonly estimated at around 60% of total production cost in aquaculture, and water and land are the main limits. High stocking density normally means treating or exchanging large volumes of water. In a biofloc tank, the microbes do that treatment in the tank itself. ## How biofloc farming works In a conventional pond, fish eat only part of the feed. Uneaten feed and fish waste break down into ammonia and other toxic compounds that pollute the water and smell. Since feed is expensive, every gram wasted is a loss. In a biofloc system the farmer keeps a high carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio in the water by adding a carbohydrate source, usually molasses. Heterotrophic bacteria use that carbon to take up the ammonia from waste and build it into their own cells. Because heterotrophic bacteria grow about ten times faster, and produce about ten times more biomass per unit of substrate, than the autotrophic nitrifying bacteria that clean water in a normal biofilter, toxic nitrogen is locked up quickly. The bacteria clump with algae and other organisms into flocs, and the fish or shrimp eat the flocs as a protein-rich supplement to pellet feed. The result is a tank that works as its own bioreactor: it controls water quality and produces single-cell microbial protein. Water exchange is limited or zero, and the farmer buys less feed per kilo of fish. ## What biofloc is made of [Biofloc](https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/fisheries/fish-production/culture-fisheries/types-of-aquaculture/biofloc) is a loose aggregate of suspended particles and microorganisms (bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa and other invertebrates) and detritus, bound together by extracellular polymeric material. Each floc is held together by a mucus matrix produced by the bacteria, by filamentous microorganisms, or by electrostatic attraction. Large flocs are visible to the eye, but most are small: flocs range from about 50 to 200 microns. ## Biofloc tank construction and sizes A typical biofloc tank is circular, which keeps the water and flocs in suspension and sweeps waste towards a central drain. It is built as a frame (usually galvanised steel wire mesh) lined with a waterproof PVC tank liner, with a centre drain and outlet pipe, and aeration through air stones or diffusers fed by an air blower. The most common size in India is 4 m in diameter and about 1.2–1.5 m high. This is also the size used in the small biofloc unit under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): seven tanks of 4 m diameter and 1.5 m height. Smaller tanks suit trials and hatcheries; larger ones reduce cost per litre. Tell us the diameter and height you need and we will quote for the tank. ## Setting up a biofloc tank 1. Level and compact the ground; a concrete or sand base protects the liner from punctures. 2. Erect the frame and fit the PVC liner and centre drain. 3. Install aeration. Aeration must run continuously; a power cut can kill a dense stock within hours, so a backup generator or inverter is standard. 4. Fill with water, add a carbon source and a starter (probiotic or water from a mature tank), and let the floc develop before stocking. 5. Shade the tank or cover it if it is exposed to strong sun or heavy rain, which can upset water temperature and floc balance. 6. Monitor dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia and floc volume (with an Imhoff cone) daily, and adjust carbon dosing and feeding. ## Species suited to biofloc Biofloc works best with species that tolerate high suspended solids and can eat the floc. It was first commercialised for shrimp and tilapia, and studies have recorded better breeding performance and larval development in shrimp raised in biofloc than in conventional culture. In India, biofloc tanks are commonly used for tilapia, pangasius, singhi and vannamei shrimp. Check your state fisheries department’s rules on which species you may farm. ## Salient features - Durable, with a long service life - Easy to handle and install - Cost-efficient - UV stabilised and inert to most chemicals - Lightweight, so transport is easy - Weather-proof - Limited or zero water exchange - Higher productivity and better biosecurity - Less water pollution and lower risk from pathogens ## Applications Sector: aquaculture. - Biofloc fish farming - Shrimp farming - Fish seed rearing and hatcheries - Rainwater collection and water storage - Irrigation water storage - Low-cost feed production, since the floc itself is a feed For larger ponds, see our [pond liners](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/pond-liner-manufacturers/) and [HDPE sheets](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/ocean-geomembrane/high-density-polyethylene-sheets-hdpe/). ## Benefits of a biofloc fish tank system - Smaller environmental footprint than open pond culture - Better use of land and water: high production from a small area - Limited or no water exchange, and less polluted discharge - Better survival, growth and feed conversion in the culture - Better biosecurity, with less chance of pathogens entering and spreading - Lower feed cost, because the floc adds protein to the diet - Less dependence on fishmeal in feed, which reduces pressure on capture fisheries ## Frequently asked questions ### What size biofloc tank should I buy? Most Indian farms start with 4 m diameter tanks about 1.2–1.5 m high. Starting with several tanks rather than one lets you separate sizes and limits losses if one tank has a problem. ### What is a biofloc tank made of? Usually a steel wire-mesh frame lined with a PVC tank liner. Ocean makes the tanks from non-migratory, UV-stabilised PVC. ### Is there a government subsidy for biofloc tanks? Yes. PMMSY supports small biofloc units of seven 4 m tanks, with a unit cost ceiling of ₹7.50 lakh and a subsidy of 40% for general category and 60% for SC, ST and women beneficiaries. Rules and application windows vary by state, so check with your district fisheries office. ### How often is water changed in a biofloc tank? Very little. Water exchange is limited or zero; farmers top up evaporation losses and remove excess sludge when floc volume gets too high. ### Can I use a biofloc tank for water storage? Yes. The same PVC tank can be used for rainwater collection, water storage and irrigation. [Contact us](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/contact/) for biofloc tank sizes, prices and delivery across India. - [![biofloc tank design](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/biofoc-tank.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/biofoc-tank.webp) - [![biofloc tank price](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/download-1.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/download-1.webp) - [![biofloc setup](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/download-2.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/download-2.webp) - [![biofloc tank system](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/download-18.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/download-18.webp) - [![biofloc water tank](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/H7f777210569d4206bc42449adea66f9a6.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/H7f777210569d4206bc42449adea66f9a6.webp) - [![fish biofloc tank](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/images-7.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/images-7.webp) - [![mini biofloc tank](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/images-9.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/images-9.webp) - [![biofloc plastic tank](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/images-1.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/images-1.webp) Suitable For - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/agriculture.svg.svg)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/agricultures/) [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/landscape-and-sports.svg.svg)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/landscaping-and-sports-infrastructure/) [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/railways.svg.svg)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/railways/) [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/water.svg.svg)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/water/) [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/waste-management.svg-2.svg)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/waste-management/) ## Related Case Studies ![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/tom-barrett-OQL4DLy3Nys-unsplash-1.webp) ## Need More Information? 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