Why use sodium bicarbonate in shrimp culture?
Aquaculture allows the breeding of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs to meet market demands, complementing traditional fishing. Shrimp and prawn farming is widespread. It is a profitable activity that is carried out at sea, particularly along tropical coastlines or in artificial farms, inside large saltwater tanks, using technology that aids reproduction and water treatment that allows the nutritional qualities of the product to be maintained.
Fundamental to guaranteeing the quality of the final product is the treatment of the water, which must be filtered through purpose-built plants and monitored to maintain the right degree of alkalinity.
For more than 40 years, we are working hand in hand with independent experts including veterinarians, zootechnics consultants, universities and researchers. With them, we continually conduct studies and trials to ensure the effectiveness of BicarⓇZ for the well-being and performance of your animals.
Discover Bicar®Z, the sodium bicarbonate supplement for aquaculture.
Monitoring the alkalinity of the water is necessary to prevent diseases
The acidity of the water depends on several factors, such as the soil type of the breeding ponds or the presence of algae and microorganisms in the water. Many algae cause the acidity to fluctuate significantly during the day. When the algae die, the pH values in the ponds decrease. In shrimp farming areas where salinity is low, or during the rainy season, algae often increase. The balance between algae and microorganisms must be maintained to stabilize pH levels.
The alkalinity of the water, i.e. its ability to neutralize acids, is very important for shrimp growth. High alkalinity can occur when there is a high density of phytoplankton. When water becomes very alkaline with a pH value higher than 8.3, shrimps stop molting due to an excessive loss of salt.
Low alkalinity can result from the influx of fresh water with low alkalinity or from the presence of molluscs, such as mussels that absorb carbonaceous salts and filter phytoplankton. If the water has low alkalinity and a ph value under 7, shrimp mortality increases sharply.
Bicar®Z for shrimps helps to regulate the pH in pond water
Sodium bicarbonate is widely used in aquaculture. It is essential in recirculating aquaculture systems, where it is added periodically to replenish the alkalinity destroyed by the acid produced in nitrification. Without the routine addition of bicarbonate in aquaculture, the pH of the system eventually drops to lethal levels.
Sodium bicarbonate is also a key component in shrimp transport. When shrimps are transported in confined spaces, the addition of sodium bicarbonate to the water allows them to maintain internal salt balance and helps buffer the pH of the transport water.
Sodium bicarbonate uses in aquaculture
In shrimp culture, the rapid photosynthesis of phytoplankton or submerged plants removes carbon dioxide from the water and causes a rise in pH. On warm, sunny days in ponds with rapidly growing plants or algae, the pH can rise to very high levels, which can be stressful for aquatic animals.
When it is not possible to wait for pH values to stabilize naturally, it is important to add sodium bicarbonate for shrimps. Treatment with sodium bicarbonate reduces high pH values and the results are almost immediate.
