The impact of indoor biofloc-based system on water quality, growth, and disease resistance of black tiger shrimp

Summary

The present study investigates the efficiency of an indoor biofloc-based system for the intensive culture of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Water quality, growth performance, and disease resistance of black tiger shrimp (0.35 ± 0.07 g) were evaluated after 90 days of rearing in a zero-water exchange system. Shrimp were stocked at 180 individuals/m3 in nine 5-ton concrete tanks under three treatments: biofloc with molasses (M), biofloc with wheat flour (WF), and a control group reared in a conventional clear water (CW) flow-through system. The WF treatment resulted in significantly higher final weight and improved FCR compared to CW (p < 0.05). Survival was also significantly higher in both biofloc-based treatments despite elevated concentrations of total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen, and nitrate-nitrogen levels in the WF group (p < 0.05). Additionally, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated that shrimp reared and challenged in the biofloc system exhibited better resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VPAHPND1212), as evidenced by higher survival rates. Although total hemocyte count, prophenoloxidase, and respiratory burst activities were not significantly different from the control group (p > 0.05), they were consistently elevated in the biofloc-based treatments. Overall, biofloc-based treatments, specifically WF, proved effective in biofloc formation, contributing to improved water quality, enhanced immune response and disease resistance, and superior growth performance in P. monodon. This study highlights the potential of indoor biofloc systems as a sustainable strategy for intensive P. monodon culture in indoor biofloc tanks.