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Haematological response and growth performance over 150 days, and resistance to a low‐temperature stress of Nile tilapia fed diets with increasing folic acid (FA) levels were evaluated. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with eight FA levels (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 mg kg−1 feed) supplemented in purified diets (32.0% CP and 13 398 kj DE kg−1). One hundred and ninety‐two fingerlings were randomly assigned to 32 net cages distributed in eight 1000 L aquaria with a physical and biological filter and a temperature control system (26.0 ± 1.0 °C). For cold‐induced stress, fish were transferred to 24 30 L‐aquaria with individual biofilters and aeration. The water temperature was gradually reduced until it reached 13 °C. Haematological parameters evaluated before and after cold stress were total erythrocytes and leucocytes count, differential leucocyte, haemoglobin, haematocrit, total plasmatic protein and haematometric indices. Growth performance parameters were mean weight gain, feed conversion ratio and survival. Dietary FA supplementation did not influence erythropoiesis under normal temperature conditions; cold stress impaired erythropoiesis, causing hypochromic microcytic anaemia and leucopoiesis, and also neutrophilia. Growth performance is influenced by folate and supplementation between 0.5 and 1.0 mg FA kg−1 diet, which makes up for nutritional demands, guaranteeing production and health under appropriate temperature conditions.

Abstract.— Water temperature alterations can determine harmful physiological modifications in fish, which should be prepared to cope with this, and nutrition strategies seem to be essential. This study evaluated the effects of different levels of vitamin C and lipids on physiological responses of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, submitted to temperature stress. There were two phases: Phase I – preparing fish to store vitamin C and lipid at appropriate temperature, and Phase II – evaluating the contributions these reserves make to fish physiology under low‐temperature stress. The experiment used a 3 × 2 factorial design with three vitamin C levels (300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg diet) and two lipid levels (8.0 and 12.0%), plus absence of nutrient test and a diet of 6.0% lipids and 125.0 mg/kg vitamin C. In Phase I, 192 fish were kept at 26.0 ± 1.0 C for 112 d, and in Phase II, 48 fish were kept at 18.0 ± 0.5 C for 32 d and at 15.0 ± 0.5 C for 11 d. Fish fed C0L0 diet showed lower erythrocytes values in both phases; higher vitamin C supplement determined higher red blood cell (RBC) number and higher hematocrit (Htc) (Phase II); Htc was significantly lower in Phase II; after temperature stress, fish fed C0L0 diet had higher mean corpuscular volume, lower hemoglobin corpuscular concentration, and significantly lower vitamin C concentration in the liver; and higher supplementation determined a higher concentration in the liver (Phases I and II). Higher plasmatic cortisol concentration was seen in fish fed C0L0 diet. In conclusion, our results show that the absence of vitamin C in diets impairs RBC formation and does not enable fish to cope with stress; excess vitamin C is efficient in mitigating stress and 600 mg/kg diet is economic and physiologically sufficient to prepare fish for coping with low‐temperature stress. Lipid supplementation does not determine alterations in stress biochemical parameters.

-The use of biofloc technology (BFT) can improve fish production in regions with low water availability. Therefore, information on dynamics of water quality is essential for success in fish rearing. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the water quality for Nile tilapia farming in a system without water exchange, during the fingerling stage, using different sources of carbon and C:N ratios. A completely randomized experimental design was used in a 2x3 factorial arrangement, with two carbon (C) to nitrogen (N) ratios (10:1 and 20:1) and three carbon sources (sugar, molasses and cassava starch). The C:N ratio and carbon source affected the variables alkalinity, settleable solids (SS), turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS), showing significantly higher values at C:N ratio of 20:1 (P < 0.05). The best carbon source for microbial floc formation were the molasses and sugar, under C:N ratios of 10:1 and 20:1. The stability of the monitored water quality parameters occurred from 6 to 7 weeks of rearing. The growth performance of Nile tilapia in BFT system fertilized with different organic carbon sources was not significantly different (P < 0.05) between treatments. The use of molasses to fertilize BFT systems can reduce costs of production in regions where this product is available. RESUMO -O uso da tecnologia de biofloco (BFT) pode contribuir para a produção de peixes em regiões com reduzida água. Portanto, compreender a dinâmica da qualidade da água é essencial para o sucesso do cultivo de peixes. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a qualidade da água no cultivo de tilápia do Nilo em sistema sem troca de água, durante a fase de alevinagem, utilizando diferentes fontes de carbono e relações C:N. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o arranjo fatorial 2x3, contendo duas relações carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) (10:1 e 20:1) e três fontes de carbono (açúcar, melaço e amido de mandioca). Ambas as relações C:N e fontes de carbono influenciaram as variáveis alcalinidade, sólidos sedimentáveis (SS), turbidez e sólidos suspensos totais (SST) demonstrando valores significativamente mais elevados na relação C:N 20:1 (P < 0,05). As melhores fontes de carbono para a formação de flocos microbianos foram observados na utilização do melaço e açúcar na relação C:N de 10:1 e 20:1. A estabilidade dos parâmetros de qualidade de água monitorados ocorreu entre a 6 e 7 semanas de cultivo. O desempenho de tilapia do Nilo em sistema BFT fertilizado com diferentes fontes de carbono orgânico não foi significativamente diferente (P < 0,05) entre os tratamentos. A escolha de melaço para a fertilização do sistema BFT também pode ajudar a reduzir o custo de produção em regiões onde há disponibilidade deste produto. Palavras-chave:Oreochromis niloticus. Piscicultura. Flocos microbianos. Alevinagem.