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Effects of different carbon to nitrogen ratios in the biofloc system on water quality, growth, and body composition of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings

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Abstract

Effects of different carbon to nitrogen ratios in the biofloc system with sugarcane molasses as organic carbon source on water quality, growth performance, and body composition of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings were investigated in a 90-day trial. A total of 450 fish (14.17 ± 0.36 g) were fed twice daily with commercial diet at 5% of their body weight under a 12:12 light:dark regime and cultured in 1 control (without extra carbon source) and 4 experimental treatments (C/N: 11:1, 15:1, 19:1, and 23:1) with 3 replicates at a density of 1.06 kg m−3 per tank. Based on the results, the water electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) (measured daily), flocs volume (FV), and total suspended solids (TSS) (measured once a week) were increased from C/N 11:1 to C/N 23:1. The variation patterns of the average levels of total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite, and nitrate (measured once a week) were similar and showed a decreasing trend with an increase in C/N ratio. Total heterotrophic bacteria was also positively affected by increasing C/N to 23:1. The highest fish final weight (59.36 ± 0.24 g), weight gain (45.21 ± 0.47 g), and protein efficiency ratio (PER, 1.77 ± 0.04) were recorded in C/N 19:1. The lowest (1.46 ± 0.03) and highest (1.51 ± 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) and the highest (1.60 ± 0.03%/day) and lowest (1.49 ± 0.01%/day) specific growth rate (SGR) were observed in C/N 19:1 and the control group, respectively (P < 0.05). By increasing the C/N to 23:1, FCR increased and the feed intake, final weight, weight gain, PER, and SGR decreased. The highest crude protein content (77.31 ± 0.43 %DW) and the lowest crude lipid content (12.13 ± 0.32 %DW) of the fish carcass were observed in C/N 19:1 while these values for flocs were not significantly affected by C/N ratio. Overall, the biofloc system with C/N 19:1 improved the water quality and growth performance of common carp while not negatively affecting the carcass proximate analysis.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Azadegan fish farming complex for providing the fish and culture facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran

    Khalil Minabi & Iman Sourinejad

  2. Saline Water Aquatic National Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bafgh, Iran

    Morteza Alizadeh

  3. Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Marine Natural Resources, Khoramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran

    Ebrahim Rajabzadeh Ghatrami

  4. Department of Fisheries Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, Iran

    Mohammad Hossein Khanjani

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  1. Khalil Minabi
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  2. Iman Sourinejad
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  3. Morteza Alizadeh
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  4. Ebrahim Rajabzadeh Ghatrami
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  5. Mohammad Hossein Khanjani
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Contributions

Khalil Minabi performed the experiments. Iman Sourinejad was the supervisor and designed the experiments. Morteza Alizadeh was the adviser and helped the data analysis. Ebrahim Rajabzadeh Ghatrami was the adviser and helped with the field operations. Mohammad Hossein Khanjani contributed to the data analysis and helped with the manuscript preparation.

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Correspondence to Iman Sourinejad.

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The authors confirm the experimental protocols were approved by Iranian Fisheries Research Organization, and that all experiments were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.

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Minabi, K., Sourinejad, I., Alizadeh, M. et al. Effects of different carbon to nitrogen ratios in the biofloc system on water quality, growth, and body composition of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings. Aquacult Int 28, 1883–1898 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-020-00564-7

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