Nitrogen budget for a low-salinity, zero-water exchange culture system: II. Evaluation of isonitrogenous feeding of various dietary protein levels to Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone)

This study evaluated the effects of isonitrogenous feeding (60 g dietary protein per kilogram of body weight per day) using experimental feeds with 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% protein on the nitrogen budget, ammonia efflux rate, growth and survival of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei raised in a low-salinity (4 g L⁻¹) zero-water exchange culture system for 4 weeks. No significant differences in weight gain or instantaneous growth rate were observed between the dietary treatments with 35% and 40% protein after 3 weeks of study, or between treatments with 25% and 30% protein after 4 weeks of study. High mortality rates were observed for the 35% and 40% protein treatments, probably associated with high nitrite levels (4.80 and 7.36 mg NO₂-NL⁻¹ respectively) in water. Among the various dietary treatments, 39–46.3% of feed nitrogen was converted to shrimp biomass, 32.8–38.0% and 14.4–39.9% remained within the system as organic and inorganic nitrogen, respectively, and 32.5–39.3% was unaccounted for. The results of the present study showed high nitrogen utilization efficiencies. However, as the nitrogen loading of the zero-water exchange system increased, so did the nitrogen excretion of shrimp, causing a deteriorated general condition of the shrimp, demonstrated by the low ammonia efflux rates recorded at the end of the trial. This study confirms that low-salinity closed systems are particularly susceptible to nitrogen loading. Thus, in these culture systems, low-protein feeds may perform better as they provide more carbon for heterotrophic bacteria and less nitrogen to be degraded and transformed into nitrogenous wastes.     

Effect of salinity on natural community and production of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone), within experimental zero-water exchange culture systems

Recent efforts have been made to culture marine shrimp in systems operating under low or zero‐water exchange and with decreased water salinity. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of various salinity levels on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the natural community and, more particularly, ciliated protozoa, and compare this information with shrimp growth and survival. Tanks with 9‰ salinity were characterized by a higher pH, but also by a significantly higher concentration of chlorophyll a (Chl a) per weight of suspended matter (1.93 ± 0.72 µg Chl a/mg TSS) than tanks with 18‰ (1.29 ± 0.68 µg Chl a/mg TSS) or 36‰ (1.37 ± 0.61 µg Chl a/mg TSS) salinity. Concentrations of ciliates (max 6000 cells mL^?1) showed considerable fluctuations over the sampling period, reflecting the impact of water salinity, dynamic interactions between ciliates and their diverse roles within the shrimp production system. There was no significant difference between survival rates of shrimp reared at 9‰, 18‰ or 36‰, but decreasing salinity from 36‰ to 9‰ led to a significant decrease in final shrimp body weight (from 13.40 ± 0.26 g to 10.23 ± 2.72 g). Future work should address the potential of ciliates as an indicator of aquaculture water quality, as is currently being done in the wastewater industry, and the contribution of ciliates as food sources.     

Effect of dietary protein level on growth, survival and ammonia efflux rate of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) raised in a zero water exchange culture system

Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae (1.96±0.07 g) were reared in a zero water exchange system for 25 days at 28°C. They were fed four commercial diets containing 25%, 30%, 35% or 40% crude protein in three replicate aquaria per dietary treatment. Total ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH were monitored weekly and total ammonia levels were additionally measured every 3 days using the flow injection analysis method. Total ammonia efflux rates were measured at days 0, 14 and 21, and survival and growth rates were recorded at the end of the experiment. No significant differences between water quality parameters such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH were found. Nitrite concentration remained low in all dietary treatments up to the second week increasing considerably from day 14 onwards suggesting the initiation of the nitrification process. Water total ammonia of all experimental groups exhibited a gradual increase up to day 13; however, following this time ammonia levels of all experimental groups decreased, probably due to either the action of bacterial nitrification or ammonia‐N uptake by the animals. High ammonia efflux rates were recorded at day 14, especially after the first hour of immersion in the 25% protein group, but no significant changes occurred in any experimental group after 3 h. No significant differences in weight gain, final weight or survival of shrimp were observed under these experimental conditions. The importance of zero water exchange systems and their effects on the nitrogen metabolism of crustaceans are discussed.     

Effect of low salinity on microbial floc composition and performance of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) juveniles reared in a zero‐water‐exchange super‐intensive system

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low salinity on the water quality, microbial flocs composition and performance of Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles reared over 40 days in a zero‐water‐exchange super‐intensive system at 0, 2, 4 and 25 g L^?1. At 0 g L^?1, the mortality was total at the 26th day, and consequently, these salinity data were not included in the statistical analysis. Among the water quality parameters, only pH and the total suspended solids concentration were significantly influenced by salinity. However, a trend towards intensification of the nitrification processes was observed as the salinity increased, with the lowest ammonia and the highest nitrite and nitrate concentrations found at 25 g L^?1. The concentrations of ciliates and flagellates diminished and increased, respectively, with the increase in salinity. Diatoms predominated at 25 g L^?1, whereas at 2 and 4 g L^?1, chlorophytes were more abundant. Microbial floc crude protein content was reduced with the increase in salinity, whereas ash content demonstrated the inverse trend. The best overall growth performance and survival were observed at 25 g L^?1. However, satisfactory productivity was also found at 4 g L^?1, suggesting the viability of rearing L. vannamei at low salinity under zero‐water‐exchange conditions.     

Effects of frequency and amplitude of salinity fluctuation on the growth and energy budget of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone)

The effects of salinity fluctuation on the growth, intermoult period and energy budget of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei were investigated. Salinity fluctuation regimes were set in different frequencies of 2, 4 and 8 days and different amplitudes of ±2, ±5 and ±10 g L^?1 from a control salinity of 20 g L^?1. After a 48‐day feeding trial, the intermoult period of shrimp became shorter with increasing amplitude and frequency of salinity fluctuation (P<0.05). Both the frequency and the amplitude of salinity fluctuation had a significant effect on the growth rate of L. vannamei juveniles (P<0.05). At the frequency of 4 days, the highest growth rates occurred at amplitudes of 5–10 g L^?1, whereas the growth rate was the lowest at 10 g L^?1 when the frequency was reduced to 2 days. Feed intake (FI) and assimilation efficiency (AE) of shrimp were also significantly affected by the salinity fluctuation (P<0.05) and matched the growth rate response. The energy expenditures for growth (G), respiration (R), excretion (U) and exuviae (E) to the energy consumed as food (C) were not affected by salinity fluctuation. However, salinity fluctuation significantly affected the percentage of C as faeces (F), with the lowest value occurring at salinity amplitudes of 5–10 g L^?1 and frequencies of 4–8 days. Therefore, salinity fluctuations (every 4 days by ±5–10 g L^?1) result in higher growth rates than constant salinity conditions (20 g L^?1) through greater FI, enhanced feed assimilation and reduced faecal energy loss.     

The effects of variation in feed protein level on the culture of white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in low-water exchange experimental ponds

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying dietary protein level on pond water quality and production parameters of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone). Experimental units consisted of nine 400‐m² earthen ponds with a low water exchange. Two treatments were tested: treatment HP consisted of shrimp fed a high‐protein diet (40%) during the whole grow‐out, and treatment LP consisted of the use of a low‐protein diet for the complete farming period. No differences on any of the water quality parameters were observed among treatments. Excellent survival (over 85%) and feed conversion ratios (around 1.6), and acceptable growth (over 12 g) and biomass (from 1721 to 1793 kg ha^?1) were recorded in all experimental ponds. No significant differences in any of the production parameters were found among treatment groups.     

Effect of culture system on the nutrition and growth performance of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) fed different diets

Two 8-week feeding trials were conducted with juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) to compare the growth and performance of animals fed a series of experimental and commercial pelleted shrimp and fish feeds and dietary feeding regimes within an indoor running-water culture system and an outdoor zero-water-exchange culture system. The best overall shrimp growth performance was observed for animals fed the experimental shrimp diet and all-day feeding regime under outdoor zero-water-exchange culture conditions. Final body weight and average weekly growth rate under these conditions were 2.8 and 3.4 times greater, respectively, than animals of similar size fed with the same diet under indoor running-water culture conditions. Although direct comparison between indoor and outdoor culture systems is difficult because of the lower indoor water temperatures, and consequently lower mean daily feed intake of animals, it is believed that the higher growth and feed performance of animals reared under outdoor `green-water' culture conditions was primarily due to their ability to obtain additional nutrients from food organisms endogenously produced within the zero-water-exchange culture system. The most promising features of zero-water-exchange culture systems are that they offer increased biosecurity, reduced feed costs and water use for the farmer, and by doing so provide a potential avenue of moving the shrimp culture industry along a path of greater sustainability and environmental compatibility.     

Quantitative dietary leucine requirement of juvenile Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) reared in low‐salinity water

The experiment was conducted to determine the leucine requirement of juvenile Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in low‐salinity water (0.50–1.20 g L^?1). Six diets were formulated to contain 410 g kg^?1 crude protein with fish meal, peanut meal and precoated crystalline amino acids with different concentration of l ‐leucine (16.72, 19.60, 22.06, 24.79, 27.28 and 30.16 g kg^?1 dry diet). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 30 shrimps (0.38 ± 0.002 g), and the feed trial lasted for 8 weeks. The results indicated that the maximum weight gain was observed at 24.95 g kg^?1 dietary leucine group, whereas the diets containing higher leucine concentration conversely reduced the growth performance (P < 0.05). Moreover, the highest body protein content and body protein deposition and the lowest haemolymph AST and ALT activities were also found at 24.95 g kg^?1 dietary leucine group. With the increase in leucine in diets, a dose‐dependent increase was found in body lipid content and haemolymph urea concentration. The polynomial regression calculated using weight gain, feed efficiency and body protein deposition indicated that the optimal dietary leucine requirement for L. vannamei reared in low‐salinity water was 23.73 g kg^?1 leucine of dry diet, correspondingly 57.88 g kg^?1 of dietary protein.     

Supplementation of potassium, magnesium and sodium chloride in practical diets for the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, reared in low salinity waters

The culture of Litopenaeus vannamei in inland low salinity waters is currently being practiced in various countries around the world. These environments are often deficient in key ions essential for normal physiological function, including potassium (K⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺). Farmers have sometimes been able to counteract ionic deficiencies in the water profile by adding mineral salts containing sources of K⁺ and Mg²⁺. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of correcting deficiencies of K⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the water profile with dietary supplementation of these minerals. Two separate 7‐week experiments were conducted in 4.0 g⁻¹ artificial low salinity water to evaluate the effects of mineral supplements (K⁺, Mg²⁺ and NaCl) to diets of L. vannamei reared in low salinity waters. In trial 1 seven diets were formulated (10 g NaCl kg⁻¹, 20 g NaCl kg⁻¹, 150 mg kg⁻¹ Mg²⁺, 300 mg kg⁻¹ Mg²⁺, 5 g K⁺ kg⁻¹, 10 g K⁺ kg⁻¹, and a basal diet to serve as a control). Minerals were added in the form of purified potassium chloride (KCl), magnesium chloride (MgCl₂·6H₂O) and NaCl. Trial 2 evaluated the use of a coating agent for the Mg²⁺ and NaCl treatments, while a K⁺ amino acid complex was utilized in the K⁺ treatments to reduce mineral leaching. Trial 2 was performed using similar treatment levels as trial 1. Shrimp survival and growth were assessed in both experiments. Results from trial 1 indicated no significant differences in survival, growth or percent weight gain. Results from trial 2 revealed no significant differences in survival and growth in the NaCl and Mg²⁺ treatments. However, significant differences in growth (P < 0.05) were observed when using the 10 g K⁺ kg⁻¹ treatment, suggesting that dietary supplementation of a K⁺ amino acid complex may help improve growth of the species in low salinity waters.     

Quantitative dietary threonine requirement of juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) reared in low-salinity water

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the threonine requirement of juvenile Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in low-salinity water (0.50–1.50 g L⁻¹). Diets 1–6 were formulated to contain 360 g kg⁻¹ crude protein with fish meal, wheat gluten and pre-coated crystalline amino acids with six graded levels of l -threonine (9.9–19.0 g kg⁻¹ dry diet). Diet 7, which was served as a reference, contained only intact proteins (fish meal and wheat gluten). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 30 shrimps (0.48±0.01 g), each four times daily. Shrimps fed the reference diet had similar growth performance and feed utilization efficiency compared with shrimps fed the diets containing 13.3 g kg⁻¹ or higher threonine. Maximum specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio were obtained at 14.6 g kg⁻¹ dietary threonine, and increasing threonine beyond this level did not result in a better performance. Body compositions, triacyglycerol and total protein concentrations in haemolymph were significantly affected by the threonine level; however, the threonine contents in muscle, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities in haemolymph were not influenced by the dietary threonine levels. Broken-line regression analysis on SGR indicated that optimal dietary threonine requirement for L. vannamei was 13.6 g kg⁻¹ dry diet (37.8 g kg⁻¹ dietary protein).     

Dietary protein level and C/N ratio manipulation in zero‐exchange culture of Litopenaeus vannamei: Evaluation of inorganic nitrogen control,biofloc composition and shrimp performance

A 30‐day experiment was conducted to evaluate inorganic nitrogen control, biofloc composition and shrimp performance in zero‐exchange culture tanks for juvenile L. vannamei offered a 35% (P35) or 25% (P25) crude protein feed, each feed supplemented with additional carbohydrate to increase the C/N ratio to 20:1 (CN20) or 15:1 (CN15). Sucrose was used as a carbohydrate to manipulate the two C/N ratios based on the carbon and nitrogen content of both the feeds and sucrose. The four treatments were referred to as: P35 + CN20, P35 + CN15, P25 + CN20 and P25 + CN15. Each treatment consisted of four replicate tanks (125 L), each stocked with 28 shrimp (equivalent to 224 shrimp m^?3). Bioflocs formed and developed based on initial inoculation in all four treatments; and monitored water quality parameters were maintained within acceptable ranges for shrimp culture throughout the experiment. No significant effects (P > 0.05) of dietary protein level, C/N ratio or their interaction were observed on biofloc development (BFV, TSS and BFVI) and inorganic nitrogen (TAN, NO₂^?‐N and NO₃^?‐N) concentrations. At the end of the experiment, proximate analysis of the bioflocs collected from the four treatments showed crude protein levels of 21.3% ~ 32.1%, crude lipid levels of 1.6% ~ 2.8% and ash levels of 43.4% ~ 61.4%. Extracellular protease and amylase activities of the bioflocs were 9.9 ~ 14.4 U g^?1 TSS and 293.5 ~ 403.8 U g^?1 TSS respectively. Biofloc composition and enzyme activity were both affected by dietary protein level (P < 0.01) and C/N ratio (P < 0.05). Survival, per cent weight gain and protein efficiency ratio of shrimp were not affected (P > 0.05) by dietary protein level, C/N ratio or their interaction; however, the feed conversion ratios were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in treatments with high dietary protein (P35) compared with those in treatments with low dietary protein (P25). The results from this study demonstrate that dietary protein level and C/N ratio manipulation can have important implications for water quality, biofloc composition and shrimp performance in intensive, zero‐exchange biofloc‐based culture systems.     

Effects of dietary administration of Macsumsuk® on growth and stress to low salinity and low dissolved oxygen in whiteleg shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) juveniles

An 8‐week study was conducted to explore the results of Macsumsuk^® as a feed additive on the stress tolerance and growth of Litopenaeus vannamei in 15 culture tanks of 36 L each. Three hundred shrimp averaging 0.1 ± 0.01 g were fed with five isonitrogenous (48.38 ± 0.38% CP) diets (in triplicate groups) containing kaolinite (Macsumsuk^®) at 0%, 0.3%, 0.6%, 1.2% and 2.4%, namely Mk₀, Mk_0.3, Mk_0.6, Mk_1.2 and Mk_2.4. Specific growth rate (SGR) and weight gain (WG) of shrimp fed diets Mk_1.2 and Mk_2.4 were significantly better than those of shrimp fed diet Mk₀ (p < .05). However, SGR and WG of shrimp fed diets Mk_0.6, Mk_1.2 and Mk_2.4 were not significantly different. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed efficiency (FE) of shrimp fed diets Mk_1.2 and Mk_2.4 were significantly better than those of shrimp fed diets Mk₀, Mk₀.₃ and Mk_0.6. Furthermore, the survival of shrimp fed diet Mk_2.4 was significantly lower than that of shrimp fed diet Mk_0.6 (p < .05). Cumulative mortality of shrimp fed diet Mk_1.2 was significantly lower than that of shrimp fed diet Mk₀ at 1–1.5 hr post‐stress to low dissolved oxygen (from 6.1 mg/L to 2.9 mg/L) and 4–5 hr post‐stress to low salinity (from 32‰ to 1‰) (p < .05). The optimum dietary Macsumsuk^® level for juvenile L. vannamei was determined as 1.97% by the polynomial regression analysis of weight gain.     

Effect of stocking density on soil,water quality and nitrogen budget in Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798) culture under zero water exchange system

Soil and water interactions and their influence on growth and production in different densities (SD8 & SD16) under zero water exchange were studied in two successive crops of Penaeus monodon in Tamil Nadu, India during 2007 and 2008. Scraping and tilling during pond preparation increased the mineralization rate than scraping only. During crop, there was no significant difference in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen between the SDs. However, as the crop progressed, organic carbon and total nitrogen content of the soil showed significant difference under both the SDs. Between the SDs, nitrate and phosphate content in water significantly differed, whereas the progress of the crop significantly increased both available and total nutrients. Mass balance of nitrogen indicated that applied feed contributed to 97.4–98.5% of input nitrogen, of which nitrogen in sediment accounted for 16.5–27.3%, nitrogen recovery in shrimp was 34.2–43.6% and the nitrogen lost through denitrification and volatilization varied from 4.7% to 34.7%. Zero water exchange system is highly efficient as nitrogen recovery is higher in shrimp and lower in discharge water. Lack of significant difference in metabolites between the SDs indicates the role of aeration and probiotics in sustaining SD16 cultures.     

Effect of plant protein concentrates on nutrition physiology of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1883) juveniles

This study was designed to test the effect of soy protein (SPC), wheat gluten (WHG) and potato protein (PPC), in vitro and in vivo digestibility of protein and energy in the juveniles Litopeneaus vannamei. A completely random design was used with nine 400‐L tanks (with three repetitions by treatment). Ten respirometric chambers (500 mL) were used for energy distribution. In vitro digestibility for SPC (8.8%) was higher than for PPC (5.8%) and for WHG (4.3%, P < 0.05). Diets’ degree of hydrolysis ranged between 0.75% and 1.2%, with lowest value in potato protein concentrate diet (0.75 ± 0.09%, P < 0.05). No significant differences were obtained in apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) for protein (63.4–74.1%). ADC for amino acids ranged between 80% and 90%. Daily growth coefficient ranged from 0.86% to 1.1% day⁻¹, being the best in soybean protein concentrate diet (SPCd) (P < 0.05). Significant differences on heat increment were observed (P < 0.05); highest value was in wheat gluten diet (1.0 ± 0.1 kJ shrimp day⁻¹) that coincided with a peak of trypsin specific activity (16.5 ± 3.7 mU mg protein⁻¹). Highest retained energy for growth was observed in shrimp fed SPCd (0.7 ± 0.03 kJ day⁻¹, P < 0.05). Muscle collagen content presented a minimum of bands with SPCd, whereas shrimp post‐mortem collagenase activity was not affected by any of the three diets (P > 0.05).     

Acute toxicity of nitrite on white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) juveniles in low‐salinity water

The nitrite toxicity was estimated in juveniles of L. vannamei. The 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC₅₀ of nitrite‐N on juveniles were 8.1, 7.9, 6.8 and 5.7 mg L^?1 at 0.6 g L^?1; 14.4, 9.6 8.3 and 7.0 mg L^?1 at 1.0 g L^?1; 19.4, 15.4, 13.4 and 12.4 mg L^?1 at 2.0 g L^?1 of salinity respectively. The tolerance of juveniles to nitrite decreased at 96 h of exposure by 18.6% and 54.0%, when salinity declined from 1.0 to 0.6 g L^?1 and from 2.0 to 0.6 g L^?1 respectively. The safe concentrations at salinities of 0.6, 1.0 and 2.0 g L^?1 were 0.28, 0.35 and 0.62 mg L^?1 nitrite‐N respectively. The relationship between LC₅₀ (mg L^?1), salinity (S) (g L^?1) and exposure time (T) (h) was LC₅₀ = 8.4688 + 5.6764S – 0.0762T for salinities from 0.6 to 2.0 g L^?1 and for exposure times from 24 to 96 h; the relationship between survival (%) and nitrite‐N concentration (C) for salinity of 0.6–2.0 g L^?1, nitrite‐N concentrations of 0–40 mg L^?1 and exposure times from 0 to 96 h was as follows: survival (%) = 0.8442 + 0.1909S – 0.0038T – 0.0277C + 0.0008ST + 0.0001CT–0.0029SC, and the tentative equation for predicting the 96‐h LC₅₀ to salinities from 0.6 to 35 g L^?1 in L. vannamei juveniles (3.9–4.4 g) was 96‐h LC₅₀ = 0.2127 S² + 1.558S + 5.9868. For nitrite toxicity, it is shown that a small change in salinity of waters from 2.0 to 0.6 g L^?1 is more critical for L. vannamei than when wider differences in salinity occur in brackish and marine waters (15–35 g L^?1).     

Dietary protein level and natural food management in the culture of blue (Litopenaeus stylirostris) and white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in microcosms

The effect of dietary protein level and natural food management on the production parameters of blue and white shrimp, as well as on water quality, was evaluated in a microcosms system (plastic pools simulating aquaculture ponds). Two experimental trials were carried out in the facilities of DICTUS, University of Sonora, Northwest México. Treatment with low protein diet (LP) consisted of a low protein input (diet with 250 g kg^?1 crude protein) through the culture period; treatment with high protein diet (HP) consisted of a high protein input (diet with 400 g kg^?1 crude protein) through the trial, and finally treatment VP consisted of an adjustment of protein input (diets with 250, 350 or 400 g kg^?1 crude protein), depending on the abundance of biota (zooplankton and benthos) in the system. Each species responded differently to the treatments. For blue shrimp, low protein input resulted in the lowest final body weight (12.9 ± 0.6 g) and biomass (696.0 g pool^?1). Survival and feed conversion ratio were similar in the three treatments. For white shrimp, the best growth, biomass and food conversion ratio were obtained in the low protein input treatment. Water quality parameters such as nitrate, ammonia and organic matter during the two trials, were better for LP and VP treatments. White shrimp seems to have lower protein requirements than blue shrimp. For the blue shrimp culture, adjusting protein input according to natural food abundance (zooplankton and benthos) in the system, seems to be advantageous because of the possibility of getting a production similar to that obtained with a high protein input through the farming period, but at lower feed cost, and with a lower environmental impact. It is concluded that a high protein input through the whole farming period is not the best feeding strategy for any of the two species.     

Soybean molasses as an organic carbon source in the farming of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) in a biofloc system

Soybean molasses was evaluated as a partial replacement for sugarcane molasses as a carbon source for biofloc development in the superintensive culture of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). A 50‐day study was conducted with juvenile (3.2 g) shrimp stocked in 16 800 L tanks at a stocking density of 250 shrimp m^?3. Control of total ammonia concentration was performed by the addition of combined mixtures of soybean and sugarcane molasses to the culture water. Three different molasses treatments were evaluated using different soybean‐to‐sugarcane molasses ratios: 15–85%, 38–62% and 60–40% respectively. The control group was treated only with sugarcane molasses. Water quality, chlorophyll a concentration, heterotrophic bacterial load, Vibrio spp. concentration and zootechnical indexes were all evaluated. Total ammonia concentration was controlled by heterotrophic and chemotrophic pathways. Biofloc formation, as quantified by measuring the total suspended solids, was not altered. The Vibrio spp. concentration showed a significant reduction in treatments with soybean‐to‐sugarcane molasses ratios of 38–62% and 60–40%. All combined mixtures of soybean and sugarcane molasses could maintain water quality and productivity in the superintensive culture of L. vannamei using the biofloc system. Thus, the potential use of a residue from agroindustry as a carbon source in a biofloc culture is demonstrated.     

Evaluation of an alternative salt mixture to culture Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in inland aquaculture

Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, exhibit a remarkable ability to tolerate low‐salinity environments, facilitating its culture far from coastal areas using various production systems at salinities less than 15 g/L. Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and biofloc systems are usually operated using reconstituted sea salt (RSS), which is a considerable financial burden to commercial producers due to its higher price. Current study was carried out with the objective of testing the efficacy of a low‐cost salt solution to replace expensive RSS to grow shrimp under laboratory conditions. Low‐cost salt mixture (LCSM) was formulated to yield sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium concentrations closely comparable to that of diluted seawater using agriculture grade sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulphate, potassium oxide, calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. Growth trials were conducted at three different salinities of 3, 6 and 15 g/L, incrementally replacing RSS with LCSM (0, 2.5, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) at four replicates per treatment. Twenty juvenile shrimp were reared for 42 days in 150 L polyethylene tanks. Ionic profile of water, ionic profile and osmolality of shrimp haemolymph were determined to justify growth and survival data through analysing ionic variations and osmoregulatory capacity of shrimp. At the conclusion, no significant differences were observed in survival, growth, osmoregulation and levels of cations in shrimp haemolymph between RSS and LCSM treatments at all salinities examined. Results reflect the potential use of LCSM to replace RSS which could be an excellent solution to bring down the cost of production in inland shrimp aquaculture.