Biofloc technology (BFT) has gained popularity in aquaculture, but one of its major challenges is the accumulation of sludge at the bottom of tanks due to the settling of floc, uneaten feed, and fecal matter, which can create anaerobic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Airlift Biofloc Aquaculture System in preventing sludge formation compared to the conventional biofloc system. A completely randomized design was used for the experiment, with three groups: a control (six diffusion air stones), treatment 1 (T1, six airlift pumps), and treatment 2 (T2, two diffusion air stones and four airlift pumps), each with three replicates. The results showed that both T1 and T2 improved water quality and growth parameters compared to the control. The airlift biofloc system successfully reduced sludge formation. Total biomass production was highest in T1 (10.5 kg m-3), followed by T2 (9.7 kg m-3), and the control (8.3 kg m-3). The feed conversion ratio was lower in T1 (0.85) and T2 (0.899) compared to the control (1.07). The specific growth rate was also higher in T1 (2.73% day-1), followed by T2 (2.65% day-1) and control (2.5% day-1). Percentage weight gain was better in T1 (1076%) and T2 (971%) than in the control (845%). Hematological analyses indicated better fish health in the airlift biofloc systems (T1 and T2) compared to the control. Additionally, antioxidant enzyme levels of SOD and Catalase were lower in T1 and T2 than in the control. This study highlights the benefits of the Airlift Biofloc Aquaculture System, showing enhanced growth performance, reduced sludge accumulation, and improved fish health compared to the conventional diffusion-based biofloc system. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing biofloc aquaculture practices leading to commercialization of the technology.
Key words: Airlift Biofloc, Sludge Management, GIFT