During 84 days, the effects of density on juvenile sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) (76 +/- 16 g) were studied in an experimental tank-based flow through system. Performance, stress response and resistance to virus infection were analysed under five stabilized rearing densities: 10, 20, 40, 70 and 100 kg m(-3). Water quality parameters (CO2, total ammonia nitrogen and O-2) were measured and maintained close to the recommended values for farmed sea bass by adjusting water renewal exchange. No significant differences were observed between density treatments, neither on stress response (cortisol) nor susceptibility to nodavirus. With regards to biological performances, the daily feed intake and specific growth rate were significantly lower in fish reared at the 100 kg m(-3) density. Results on the effects of density in sea bass reared in flow through (present study) and in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) (Sammouth et al. 2009) were compared as a contribution to the identification of density not affecting health and welfare in farmed sea bass.