How Many Shrimp Can You Farm in a 10,000 Litre Biofloc Tank? A Detailed Guide

Biofloc technology is gaining popularity as a sustainable aquaculture technique that can increase productivity while maintaining water quality. This method recycles waste nutrients to grow heterotrophic bacteria which shrimp can consume as a supplementary food source. But how many shrimp can realistically be farmed in a biofloc system? This comprehensive guide examines key factors in determining shrimp stocking density for a 10000 litre biofloc tank.

Overview of Biofloc Shrimp Farming

Biofloc shrimp farming relies on maintaining a high carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio to proliferate heterotrophic bacteria. These bacteria assimilate toxic ammonia and provide a nutritious protein source for shrimp. A carbohydrate source like molasses is added to stimulate bacteria growth.

Key advantages of biofloc systems

• Improves water quality by removing nitrogenous waste
• Reduces need for water exchange
• Provides supplemental nutrition to reduce feed costs
• High biosecurity with minimal pathogen introduction

Shrimp are typically stocked at densities from 250-500/m2 in biofloc systems with production around 3-7 kg/m2. Feed conversion ratios range from 1.2:1 to 1.6:1.

Factors Impacting Shrimp Stocking Density

When determining how many shrimp to stock in a 10,000 litre biofloc tank, several factors need consideration:

1. Shrimp Species

Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) are most commonly used in biofloc systems as they tolerate crowding and fluctuating conditions. Other species like giant tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) can also thrive but have lower optimal densities.

2. Tank Dimensions

A 10,000 litre tank may have different dimensions impacting usable surface area for stocking. Rectangular tanks allow more shrimp than circular ones of equal volume.

3. Water Quality Maintenance

Biofloc provides water treatment but density must stay within system capacity to maintain quality Excess feeding/metabolites can deteriorate conditions

4. Production Goals

Higher densities produce more shrimp but may have lower individual growth rates and survival. Lower densities offer faster growth per shrimp.

5. Supplemental Aeration

Added aeration at higher densities supplies oxygen and keeps biofloc suspended for consumption.

6. Biofloc Management

Careful monitoring of C:N ratio, solids levels, oxygen is needed to balance optimal biofloc production with shrimp density.

Stocking Density Recommendations

Taking these factors into account, here are suggested shrimp stocking densities for a 10,000 litre biofloc tank:

• Rectangular tank (2m x 5m x 1m) – 7,500-10,000 shrimp
• Circular tank (5m diameter x 1m depth) – 5,000-7,500 shrimp

These ranges allow for good water quality control and moderate production levels. Higher densities up to 15,000 shrimp in a rectangular design are possible but require meticulous system management.

For context, typical shrimp densities in clear-water ponds are lower at 2,000-5,000 shrimp for the same tank size. Biofloc allows for greater capacity through improved nutrition and waste processing.

Optimizing Shrimp Growth and Survival

To make the most of stocking capacity in a 10,000 litre biofloc tank, certain best practices should be followed:

• Monitor and maintain 25-30 ppm dissolved oxygen levels
• Test and adjust C:N ratio daily by carbohydrate additions
• Check total suspended solids stay under 400 ppm
• Increase aeration gradually with biomass
• Reduce feed protein level over growth cycle
• Use automated belt feeders to distribute feed evenly
• Transition feed pellet size progressively 1.5mm up to 2.5mm

Projected Production Levels

Based on suggested stocking densities, estimated production outputs for a 10,000 litre biofloc system are:

• 7,500 shrimp stocked: ~900-1,100 kg harvest
• 10,000 shrimp stocked: ~1,200-1,500 kg harvest

Harvest sizes of 16-18 grams each are typical for Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp in 2-3 month growout cycles in biofloc. With good survival rates over 90%, production levels between 9-15 kg/m3 can be sustained.

Biofloc technology allows for high-density shrimp aquaculture by recycling waste and generating microbial protein. Careful system management is needed to balance water quality and stocking levels. In a 10,000 litre tank, around 7,500-10,000 L. vannamei shrimp is recommended, with potential harvests over 1,000 kg in a single production cycle. Following best practices can optimize shrimp growth, FCR, and survival for profitable biofloc farming.