Analysis of the efficiency of two dispositions of paddle-wheel aerators in shrimp ponds of Litopenaeus vannamei

Abstract

This work investigated if different arrangements of paddle-wheel aerators in shrimp grow-out ponds have influence in the pond quality, especially that related to the water oxygenation and the horizontal and vertical dissolved oxygen (DO) distribution. Residual dissolved oxygen concentration, water temperature, and salinity in the water surface and bottom were monitored in two rectangular shrimp ponds (250 m x 100 m). Aeration was provided by a total of six 2 HP paddle-wheel machines in each pond. There was one different arrangement of the aerators for each pond, named ‘in Parallel’ and ‘in Diagonal’. Three investigations, each one during three days, were done in the wintertime in the two Litopenaeus vannamei grow-out ponds. In each day, water parameters were determined at the following day times: 6:00, 18:00 and 24:00. The main objective of the work was to search for the best use of the aquaculture paddle wheel aerators utilized in shrimp culture and its capacity of oxygen incorporation in the pond water. The Diagonal arrangement seems to be more effective in the bottom water, with significant higher values of oxygen concentration than the Parallel one (P < 0.05).