Alireza Mohammadi

Biofoc technology (BFT) has been identifed as an efective and sustainable aquaculture method, particularly benefcial for warm-water species in tropical areas. This technology is widely used in intensive aquaculture for several aquatic species due to its capacity to signifcantly reduce water exchange rates, benefting both production systems and the environment. The efcacy of BFT in farming operations is directly related to a proper management of water quality parameters within the optimal range of the target species, as these parameters directly impact the yield of production units. Essentially, BFT functions as a water quality management system, converting harmful nitrogenous waste such as ammonia and nitrite into less harmful forms such as nitrates through microbial activity, ensuring the health of aquatic organisms. Key environmental factors such as temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, salinity, alkalinity, TAN, nitrite, nitrate, settleable solids (SS), and total suspended solids (TSS) can afect the growth of aquatic species and the functionality of the microbial community. This review brings (i) a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on biofoc and water quality, (ii) highlights optimal ranges, and (iii) key observations of several water parameters including temperature, salinity, nitrogenous compounds, SS, TSS, DO, phosphate, pH, and alkalinity in BFT rearing conditions for key aquatic species. Elements such as countries, thematic and keywords, and authors were explored, correlated, and discussed. In addition, this manuscript also (iv) discusses the presence of heavy metals and microplastics (MPs) in BFT culture water. A dedicated review on water quality in biofoc technology will contribute to future research and development (R&D) in this topic, support decision-making to improve farming operations, and can help further expansion of BFTbased aquaculture