Zeolites are minerals that contain hydrated aluminosilicate with alkali and alkaline-earth. Zeolites have so many benefits in many sectors, especially agriculture in general. There are many researchs have found benefit of zeolite in agriculture. They are good for feed additive, soil conditioner, and even for maintaining good quality of water. Anyway, there are so many sectors in Agriculture. But, in this article, we will discuss about how zeolite affect the shrimp aquaculture.
We have already discussed how zeolite effect on aquaculture. There are lot of things that zeolite can do for aquaculture. If you have not read yet, please check our article Benefit of Zeolite in Aquaculture Sector and Good Pond Water Quality with Zeolite. There a lot of information that you need to know about zeolite in aquaculture.
As we know, zeolites have so many benefits because of their properties. There are some unique properties of zeolite, especially their porous structure that able to adsorb water and minerals. With that properties, they have good capability to absorb of harmful material in water. Then, what about using zeolite on shrimp cultivation?
But, first of all, let’s talk about shrimp. We need to know simply how to grow shrimp. Shrimp cultivation technique is influenced by so many factors like climate, location, availability, cost, transportation, labor, export, import, feed, fertilizer, and proximity to existing market. The condition will affect which technique is needed.
On shrimp cultivation, there are two recommended technique : Closed Recirculating System ( CRS ) and Integrated Manure Denitrification System.
A closed recirculation system can be used in existing semi-intensive systems and in super-intensive systems. The cultivation of shrimp in closed recirculation systems involves the installation and operation of a recirculation system for the water being used during the grow-out period. The culture water is continuously re-used and treated in order to regenerate a water quality suitable for the shrimp or fish to grow.
While, integrated manure denitrification system is fed with the concentrated waste flow from shrimp or fish farm system containing dissolved and particulate faecal organic waste, bacterial flocs and inorganic compounds. In the sludge of the bioreactor the faecal particulate carbonaceous waste is digested by the denitrifying bacteria and results in the production of bacterial biomass, reduction of nitrate into nitrogen gas, production carbon dioxide, production of alkalinity, and miniralization and reduction of the sludge. The particulate waste in the sludge bed serves also as media for the denitrifying bacteria to grow. Sludge leaves the bioreactor through a patented filtration unit, and can be discharged from system when needed.
The choise of system depends on the species that is cultured but it may consits out of a hybrid system utilizing a combination of heterotrophic, autotrophic bacterial flocs and clear water supported by probiotics.
Anyway, using zeolite in shrimp cultivation help to generate good water quality for any technique. According to research in 2017, zeolite help to maintain water quality with : (1) removing ammonia from water that will affect the health of shrimp (2) removing heavy metals (still affected by pH , temperature, and contaminants) (3) decrease turbidity (4) improving feed utilization index (5) improve dissolved oxygen in water (6) help the growth of phytoplankton.
So, zeolite can keep the water clean and healthy. Zeolites able to absorb many harmful materials and make a good condition for shrimp to live. Zeolites make a healthy water for shrimp. In shrimp cultivation, healthy water means good for shrimp. Shrimps will grow up in good condition. Using zeolite will increase feed efficiency. It will affect the cost allocated to feed.
Using zeolite on shrimp cultivation could improve the productivity. And, it also cut off cost from feed. Zeolite have many benefit to aquaculture. Not only shrimp, but also fishes. If you’re looking for zeolite ? please have a look at Nusagri website. Nusagri export natural zeolite overseas. There are three type of zeolites : crushed granules, powder, and granular.