This study aimed to evaluate the productive performance of juvenile Nile tilapia ( O. niloticus ) in an experimental biofloc system (BFT).
Four stocking densities (0.4; 0.6; 0.8; and 1 fish/Liter ) were tested in twenty -four 50-liter tanks , with an initial average fish weight of 1.79 g. For this experiment , weight gain , feed conversion ratio , survival rate, and productivity were evaluated . The trial lasted 63 days.
Feeding was provided twice daily , in accordance with the development of total biomass throughout the experiment . Collected data were analyzed using analysis of variance . Table 1 presents the average values for productivity , individual weight , feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate, and daily weight gain (DWG).
The results demonstrate that the increase in stocking density was associated with significant gains in biomass and productivit.
The relationship between stocking density and productivity revealed that increasing density leads to a higher final biomass , which can potentially maximize profits . Likewise , feed conversion efficiency is greater at moderate densities , as competition for resources such as food and oxygen is not excessive.
The results indicate that high stocking densities can optimize the production of juvenile tilapia in BFT systems. However , this practice is associated with a reduction in the average fish weight and decreased feed efficiency . Therefore , the adoption of intermediate densities—ranging from 600 to 800 fish/m³—is recommended , as these promote healthy fish growth and efficient utilization of system resources.