How to Calculate MBBR for Fish Farming: Practical Guidelines and Reference Values

How to Calculate MBBR for Fish Farming: Practical Guidelines and Reference Values

When setting up a fish farm, calculating the right amount of MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) is essential for maintaining a healthy environment for the fish. Below are some practical methods and reference values to help you estimate the required MBBR and biofilter volume.

Example 1: 35 KG of Fish per Cubic Meter of Water

If you're raising 35 kg of fish per cubic meter of water, the biofilter (biological treatment tank) should be designed to be 25% of the total volume of the fish tank. The MBBR media should fill 30% of the biofilter volume.

For instance, with a fish pond of 100 cubic meters, where the total fish weight is 3,500 kg when fully grown, you’ll need to construct a biofilter that’s 25% of the pond volume:

Biofilter volume = 100 * 25% = 25 cubic meters

MBBR media required = 25 * 30% = 7.5 cubic meters

Thus, for a 100 cubic meter pond, 7.5 cubic meters of MBBR media will be needed to support optimal biological filtration.

Example 2: 50 KG of Fish per Cubic Meter of Water

For higher-density farming, if you're raising 50 kg of fish per cubic meter of water, the biofilter should be 30% of the fish pond’s volume and the MBBR media should still fill 30% of the biofilter volume.

For a 100 cubic meter pond with 5,000 kg of fish:

Biofilter volume = 100 * 30% = 30 cubic meters

MBBR media required = 30 * 30% = 9 cubic meters

In this case, for 100 cubic meters of water, you’ll need 9 cubic meters of MBBR media.

General MBBR Calculation for Fish Farming

For general fish farming, the typical recommendation is that the biofilter volume should be 50-60% of the total water volume, with a circulation rate of one full cycle per hour. The MBBR media should occupy 30-40% of the biofilter volume.

Let’s break this down with an example:

If your fish pond has a volume of 30 cubic meters, the required biofilter volume would be:

Biofilter volume = 30 * 60% = 18 cubic meters

MBBR media required = 18 * 40% = 7.2 cubic meters

Therefore, for a 30 cubic meter fish pond, you would need to install 7.2 cubic meters of MBBR media in the biofilter.

Conclusion

By following these calculation methods, you can easily estimate the appropriate amount of MBBR media and biofilter volume needed for fish farming. Ensuring the right balance between pond volume, fish density, and biofilter size is crucial for maintaining water quality and promoting healthy fish growth.

For more specific requirements or assistance with your fish farming setup, feel free to reach out to us!