Page 1

DETAILED PROJECT REPORT

ON
BIOFLOC FISH FARMING
(75 m Volume -5 Tanks)
3
 Page 2

CONTENTS
Sl Particulars Page No.
.
1 Project Summary 3
2 Background/Introduction 4
3 Benefits & Justification 5
4 Objectives 6
5 Technical Details 5-6
a. Site Details
b. Technical Specifications
6 Project Formulation 6
a. a. Organization and management
b. Mode of beneficiary selection
c. Risk assessment (Bio-security & Environmental Concern)

7 Steps to set up 7

8 Cost Estimates 7
a. Capital Cost
b. Operational Cost 
9 Techno-economic Feasibility 8
10 Expected Outcomes 8
11 Milestones and Timelines (month-wise) 8
12 Design and layout 9
13 Application form 10…..
(with terms and conditions and checklist of details to be
furnished)

1.PROJECT SUMMARY
 Page 3

1. Title Bio-floc Fish farming (for freshwater finfish culture)

2. Implementing Beneficiary through State Fisheries dept.

Agency
3. No. of unit/area 1 unit 75 m (5 tanks)
3

4. Unit Cost (Rs. in A. Capital Cost: Rs. 6.00 

Lakh) B. Input Cost: Rs. 1.5 
C. Total: Rs. 7.5 
5. Total Project Cost 7.5
(Rs. in Lakh)
6. Central Share 36 % (Rs.270000 lakh)

7. State Share 24 % (Rs.180000 lakh)

8. Beneficiary Share 40 % (Rs.300000 lakh)

9. Project Duration No. of Months: 6 months

FY: 2019-20
10 Project Location  
.
(Village, Block, Melavelli Village, Thanjavur Taluk, Thanjavur District
Taluk, District)
11 Name & details of
. beneficiary  Name: UMA RAJAMANOHAR
(Address, Aadhaar
Address: No.1, Sriram Nagar 3rd street, Rettipalayam Road,
& Mobile No)
Medical college Post, Thanjavur, Thanjavur District.
Pincode 613004, Tamilnadu

Aadhaar card No.: 639594095376

Mobile No: 7305761622

BIOFLOC SYSTEM FOR INLAND CULTURE

 Page 4

2. Introduction/Background
The global population is expected to grow by another 2 billion to reach 9.6 billion people by
2050, and the demand for animal protein is increasing and it is a challenge of feeding our planet
by safeguarding its natural resources for future generations. In this context, aquaculture plays a
key role in promoting health by providing animal protein as well as generating jobs and
economic opportunities. According to FAO, the world food fish aquaculture production
expanded at an average annual rate of 6.2% in the period 2000–2012 from 32.4 MMT to 66.6
MMT.
BFT is considered the new “blue revolution” since nutrients can be continuously recycled and
reused in the culture medium, benefited by the minimum or zero-water exchange. Bio-floc
technology (BFT) is as an environmentally friendly aquaculture technique based on in situ
microorganism production. Bio-floc is the suspended growth in ponds which consist of
aggregates of living and dead particulate organic matter, phytoplankton, bacteria and grazers of
the bacteria. It is the utilization of microbial processes within the tank/pond itself to provide food
resources for culture organism while at the same time acts as a water treatment tank. Thus, this
system is also called as active suspension ponds or heterotrophic ponds or even green soup
ponds. 
IMPORTANCE OF BIO-FLOC SYSTEM
Bio-floc system is a wastewater treatment which has gained vital importance as an approach in
aquaculture. The higher C: N is maintained through the addition of carbohydrate source
(molasses) and the water quality is improved through the production of high quality single cell
microbial protein. In such condition, dense microorganisms develop and function both as
bioreactor controlling water quality and protein food source. Immobilization of toxic nitrogen
species occurs more rapidly in bio-flocs because the growth rate and microbial production per
unit substrate of heterotrophs are ten-times greater than that of the autotrophic nitrifying bacteria.
This technology is based on the principle of flocculation within the system.
COMPOSITION AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF BIO-FLOC
Bio-floc is a heterogeneous aggregate of suspended particles and variety of microorganisms
associated with extracellular polymeric substances. It is composed of microorganisms such as
bacteria, algae, fungi, invertebrates and detritus, etc. It is a protein-rich live feed formed as a
result of conversion of unused feed and excreta into a natural food in a culture system on
exposure to sunlight. Each floc is held together in a loose matrix of mucus that is secreted by
bacteria and bound by filamentous microorganisms or electrostatic attraction. Large flocs can be
seen with the naked eye, but most of them are microscopic. Floc size range from 50 – 200
microns.
A good nutritional value is found in bio-floc. The dry weight protein ranges from 25 – 50
percent, fat ranges 0.5 – 15 percent. It is a good source of vitamins and minerals, particularly
phosphorous. It also has an effect similar to probiotics. The dried bio-floc is proposed as an
ingredient to replace the fishmeal or soybean in the feed. 

3. BENEFITS OF BIO-FLOC CULTURE SYSTEM

 Page 5

 Eco-friendly culture system.

 It reduces environmental impact.
 Improves land and water use efficiency
 Limited or zero water exchange
 Higher productivity (It enhances survival rate, growth performance, feed conversion in
the culture systems of fish).
 Higher biosecurity.
 Reduces water pollution and the risk of introduction and spread of pathogens
 Cost-effective feed production.
 It reduces utilization of protein rich feed and cost of standard feed.
 It reduces the pressure on capture fisheries ie., use of cheaper food fish and trash fish for
fish feed formulation.
4. OBJECTIVES: 
 To promote high yielding intensive fish farming in small area using BFT
 To encourage farmers and unemployed youth into income earning through small scale
through BFT
5. TECHNICAL DETAILS
a. Site Details: 
The proposed sites of 413.27 Sq.meter area is located at Melavali Village, Thanjavur Taluk,
Thanjavur District and is free from all encumbrances. The site is suitable for Bio-floc farming
and carrying out culture practice. The water sources Bore well and is free from pollutants. The
site is not flood prone and is easily accessible by road and has regular power supply. The
harvested fish will be marketed to local market/retail market/hotel/restaurants live for better
price.
Technical Specifications- 75 m (5 Tanks)
3

S.N Component Details 

o
1 Area for 5 tanks 150 m 2

2 Bio-floc Tank size 4 metre diameter and 1.5 meter height

3 Water holding 15,000 Litres capacity
capacity of each
tank 
4 Water quality Dissolved oxygen-5mg/l, Temparature-26-34 degrees, PH-7.5 to 8,
parameters  TDS-600ppm, Floc density-25-40 mg/l, Ammonia-0.5 ppm,
Nitrite-0.3 ppm, Nitrate-150 ppm, Alkalinity-120-280 ppm 
5 Tanks Made-up of  Tarpaulin/Fibre 
6 Stocking density  100 nos/m3 (1000 nos per 15,000 litres tank -depending on
species )
7 Name of fish Tilapia , Common carp and  Pangasius
species suitable
8 Bio floc content Raw salt, Dolamite, Molasis, probiotics 
 Page 6

9 Survival (%) 80%

10 Type of feed to be floating feed (28-32% Protein content)

used
11 % of feed  2-3% per Average Body weight
12 Feeding frequency 4 times early stage, later 2 times per day
13 FCR 1:1.2
14 Duration of culture 6 months
15 Size/weight of the 600 gm average weight
species(gm)
16 No.of crops per 2
year
17 Production  3.6 Tonnes per crop (720kg per tank per crop)
18 Farm gate 150/- kg fish
price(Rs)
19 Capital cost 6.00 Lakhs 
20 Input cost 1.5 lakhs per one crop 
21 Total project cost 7.5 lakh

Major cultivable fish species in BFT

A basic factor in designing a bio-floc system is the species to be cultured. Bio-floc systems work
best with species that are able to derive some nutritional benefit from the direct consumption of
floc. Bio-floc systems are also most suitable for species that can tolerate high solids
concentration in water and are generally tolerant of poor water quality. Some of the species that
are suitable for BFT are:
 Air breathing fishes like singhi, magur, padba, anabas, pangasius
 Non air-breathing fishes like common carp, rohu, tilapia, milkfish
 Shellfishes like vannamei and tiger shrimp
6. PROJECT FORMULATION
a. Organization and management: 
 Project will be implemented by the beneficiary under the technical support of Central
Institute of Fisheries Education sub-centre at Motihari Bihar
  Financial assistance in the form of subsidy will be obtained from Govt. (Central and
State) and the remaining amount will be borne by self through Self-finance/bank loan.

b. Mode of beneficiary selection: 

Beneficiary selection is done through recommendation of Department of Fisheries,
Government of Bihar 

c. Risk assessment (Bio-security & Environmental Concern)

The project will create no hazards to both human and environment at any cost.
 Page 7

7. STEPS TO SET UP
 Identification of suitable site and setting up of tanks
 Development of inoculum (Pond soil- 20gm/L, Ammonium Sulphate -10mg/L, Carbon
Source-200mg/L). Development may take 10-30 days to attain 20-25mg/l imhoff reading
 Procure fish fingerlings and Stocking
 Feeding and management
 Periodical addition of carbon supplements (maintained at C:N ratio of 15:1)
 Periodical removal of bottom sludge and refill
8. Cost Estimates:

a. Capital Cost: Rs. 6.00 lakh

b. Operational Cost: Rs. 1.5 lakh
Cost Estimates of Bio-floc Unit:
S.N Component Nos  Cost  Total 
o (Rs)  (Rs in
lakhs)
Capital cost
1 Setup of Tarpaulin/Fibre tanks(10,000 5 35000 1.75
Litres capacity) 
2 Shed material and accessories fixing 150 m 2
120000 1.20
charges 
3 Water supply borewell (3HP)  1 100000 1.00
4 PVC pipe fittings for air, water flow LS 75000 0.75
5 Nets and accessories  5 3000 0.15
6 One Blower (1 HP), Air stones and other 1 30000 0.3
accessories 
7 Electrification  LS 10000 0.1
8 Power generator(2 KVA) 1 45000 0.45
9 Weighing balance 1 5000 0.1
10 Miscellaneous expenses  0.2
Total 6.00
Input cost for one crop
11 Seed cost(including transport cost)  4/- each 7500 0.3
fingerling @1500 per tank
12 Feed (including transport cost) 3500 kg 35/- 1.00
13 Probiotics, molasis and raw salt etc LS per tank 0.1
14 Test kits (water quality and bio-floc LS 10000 0.05
quantity )
15 Power charges( 20 units per 180 LS 15000 0.05
days@4/- per unit)
 Page 8

Total cost per one crop  1.5

Grand Total 7.5

ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY (ONE CROP)

Sl Components Amount (Rs in lakhs)  
1 Capital Cost 6.00
2 Operational Cost 1.5
3 Total project Cost 7.5
4 Gross  income per crop 5.4
5 Gross profit per crop 3.9 lakhs (*after deducting operational cost)
6 Repayment (1/14 of  TPC) 0.6
7 Interest(6%) per crop 0.5
8 Depreciation (5% of capital cost)  0.3
9 Recurring cost for next crop 2.5
1
1.5
0 Net profit per crop
1
3.00
1 Net profit  after two crops
1
2.16:1
2 BC ratio

EXPECTED OUTCOMES
 Employment generation amongst unemployed youths
 Annual income generation of around Rs.10.8 lakh/year/5 tanks and Rs. 0.9 lakh/month
11. MILESTONES AND TIMELINES (month-wise)

Milestone Activity in Month

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 12
1
Identification of suitable site
Setting up of tanks
Development of inoculum
Procure fish fingerlings
Stocking of seed
Culture, feeding and management
Harvest & Marketing
 Page 9

12. LAYOUT AND DESIGNS