Alkalinity in shrimp ponds is the capacity of pond water to neutralize acid, which is measured based on its constituent components in the form of bicarbonate ions (HCO3-), carbonate (CO32-), and hydroxide (OH-). Alkalinity is an important parameter of water quality and influences the success of cultivation.
Alkalinity is also a buffer or water pH buffer. Stable water pH is crucial for shrimp growth because any fluctuation outside the optimum limit can cause stress, decreased growth rate, susceptibility to disease, and even death.
Water in an aquaculture system can come from direct watershed runoff, rivers, lakes, estuaries, seas, or wells with varying alkalinity values. If the alkalinity is low, liming is usually done to increase it.
Also Read: These are 7 Tips for Successful and Profitable Vannamei Shrimp Harvest
What Is Alkalinity in Shrimp Pond?
Alkalinity is the ability of water to buffer pH by neutralizing hydrogen cations using water anion components which include bicarbonate ions (HCO3-), carbonate (CO32-), and hydroxide (OH-). Therefore, alkalinity is an important water quality parameter in shrimp ponds.
Maintaining optimal alkalinity in shrimp ponds is critical to stabilizing pH levels, which can affect shrimp health and growth. Optimal alkalinity in shrimp ponds ranges from 130-180 ppm.
Alkalinity below the optimum range in shrimp ponds can cause pH fluctuations. This can cause stress to the shrimp and increase the risk of disease outbreaks. Agricultural lime is usually added gradually to overcome this until it reaches the optimum alkalinity range.
Factors Affecting Changes in Alkalinity
The alkalinity may remain constant, increase, or decrease during the shrimp culture period. Occasionally, the reduction may be so drastic as to require additional liming to keep the alkalinity within the optimal range.
1. Adding Water to the Pond
Adding water to pond ponds can often cause the alkalinity to change. For example, the alkalinity will decrease when a pond gets additional healthy water. To overcome this, farmers need to add limestone, which will dissolve and increase the alkalinity of the water.
2. High Rainfall
In addition, high rainfall can also affect changes in pond alkalinity. Significantly when water evaporation exceeds precipitation, which causes alkalinity to increase. On the other hand, if the precipitation is higher, the alkalinity will decrease because rainwater usually does not contain measurable alkalinity.
3. Denitrification Process
Denitrification, or the process of reducing nitrate to nitrogen gas by bacteria that occurs in ponds, can also increase the alkalinity of the water. This is because denitrification releases one hydroxide ion for every nitrate ion converted into nitrogen gas. While the nitrification process releases two nitrogen ions for every ammonium ion converted to nitrate.
Also Read: 4 Types of Vannamei Shrimp Farms You Have to Know
Tips to Increase Alkalinity Value in Shrimp Ponds
1. Increase Alkalinity in Shrimp Ponds with Addition of Dolomite (Calcium Magnesium Carbonate)
Dolomite is widely used to increase alkalinity values. This is because dolomite is also rich in calcium, magnesium and carbonate. With the addition of dolomite lime, the alkalinity of the water can be appropriately maintained.
2. Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate)
Soda sodium carbonate can also be used to increase the alkalinity of water. However, its use is better done by adding it little by little in one day to hold pH variations properly.
3. Increase Alkalinity in Shrimp Ponds with Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
Lastly, baking soda can also be used to increase the alkalinity value of water. Applying sodium bicarbonate is also the same: mixing it gradually into the pond water.
Also Read: Partial Harvest of Vannamei Shrimp and Its Benefits to Increase Profits
Record and Monitor Alkalinity in Your Shrimp Pond with AquaHero!
Alkalinity in vannamei shrimp farming is essential for developing and maintaining shrimp health. Therefore, farmers must constantly monitor the alkalinity value and keep it in the optimal range.
To make it easier for you to monitor the alkalinity of vannamei shrimp ponds and other water quality parameters, you can use AquaHero!
AquaHero is a shrimp pond management application that offers the convenience of monitoring pond conditions based on uploaded and personalized data.
AquaHero also makes it easy for you to monitor the condition of your shrimp pond anytime and anywhere, every day, in real-time.
To use AquaHero, you can contact the DELOS Team via contact@delosaqua.com or submit via our website’s contact column at www.delosaqua.com. Monitor your pond water quality in real time with AquaHero!
