White sugar as carbon source for shrimp nursery in a biofloc system

Abstract

The aim was to evaluate the use of white sugar as carbon source for shrimp nursery reared in in a biofloc system. We used Eight tanks of 800 L stoked with 3000 shrimp m-3. Half of the tanks received white sugar as a carbon source and other tanks molasses (control). Water quality parameters remained within the recommended limits for marine shrimp. However, the total ammonia was higher in the treatment with white sugar compared to control. The alkalinity and phosphate were higher in control. The performance (final weight, survival, feed conversion and productivity) were not different between treatments. Nevertheless, the cost of white sugar in kilogram of shrimp produced was 62% lower compared to treatment with molasses. The study showed that white sugar can be used in shrimp nursery fertilization and aids to reduce production costs.