The effect of paddle wheel aeration on shrimp growth and survival were studied at a

commercial farm at Chandipur coast of Orissa, India, at different stocking densities of

Penaeus monodon. Four different aeration patterns were adopted and evaluated. Influence

of individual aeration pattern on average survival rate was not highly significant

(p<0.05) at different stocking densities, while different aeration patterns had significant

influence (p<O.OOl) on survival rate of P. monodon. It was also estimated that 1.77 hp

(aerator) is needed for every 1000 kg shrimp biomass which corresponds to 1 hp/565 kg

biomass of shrimp. Higher growth rate was mostly observed during 63-98 days of culture,

when six 2 hp aerators were in use. Size variation in growth was higher during initial

stage of rearing, while it was reduced to significant level towards the last phase of rearing

as number of aerator and hour of operation increased

Mohanty, R.K.

Aquatic Commons

Bangladesh]. Fish. Res., 5( I), 200 I: 59-65 
Effect of pond aeration on growth and survival of Penaeus 
monodon Fab. 
Rajeeb K. Mohanty 
Water Technology Centre for Eastern region (ICAR) 
Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India 751023 
Abstract 
The effect of paddle wheel aeration on shrimp growth and survival were studied at a 
commercial farm at Chandipur coast of Orissa, India, at different stocking densities of 
Penaeus monodon. Four different aeration patterns were adopted and evaluated. Influence 
of individual aeration pattern on average survival rate was not highly significant 
(p<0.05) at different stocking densities, while different aeration patterns had significant 
influence (p<O.OOl) on survival rate of P. monodon. It was also estimated that 1.77 hp 
(aerator) is needed for every 1000 kg shrimp biomass which corresponds to 1 hp/565 kg 
biomass of shrimp. Higher growth rate was mostly observed during 63-98 days of culture, 
when six 2 hp aerators were in use. Size variation in growth was higher during initial 
stage of rearing, while it was reduced to significant level towards the last phase of rearing 
as number of aerator and hour of operation increased. 
Key words: P. monodon, Semi-intensive, Aeration, Paddle wheel 
Introduction 
Aeration play a key role in semi-intensive shrimp farming and reflect the pond out 
put as it helps in diffusing atmospheric oxygen in to the pond water and maintain 
dissolved oxygen level, keep the feeding zone clean and accumulate sediment at the 
centre, uniform water circulation (Sanares et al. 1986), mobilize nutrients in water 
column, enhancing the growth of phytoplankton and decompose organic matter due to 
highly facilitative aerobic environment (Mohanty 1997). Aeration is required in semi-
intensive ponds when organic loading from feed drives the pond ecosystem from 
autotrophy to heterotrophy, as heterotrophic ponds exhibit negative net oxygen 
production due to excess oxygen consumption. Therefore, aeration serves to counter act 
oxygen depletion and stabilize diurnal dissolved oxygen level. This study however, 
examined the effects of paddle wheel aerator on growth, survival rate and yield of P. 
monodon, examined the effects of paddle wheel aerator on growth, survival rate and yield 
of P. monodon at different stocking density and evaluated optimum aeration 
requirements. 
RJZ. Mohanty 
Materials and methods 
The present study was carried out at "Shrimp Culture Pilot Project" at Chandipur 
coast Orissa, India during 1996-97. Three ponds of 7500m2 each (Pp P2, P3) and three 
ponds of 600m2 each (P4, P 5, P6) were selected for proposed study. Stocking density of P. 
monodon was 35, 25, 15, 30, 20, and 10 PL for pond no. Pp P2, P3 P4, P5, and P6 
respectively, through out the four crop of experimental periods. Artificial high energy 
supplemental feed (NOVO feed, Thailand) was used through out the experimental 
periods, while periodic water exchange (2-30%), liming, fertilization and pond aeration 
using paddle wheel aerator was a regular practice. Four different aeration patterns were 
evaluated (one pattern/crop) to study the utility of aerators, its operation timing and 
effects on growth and survival of P. monodon. 
Physioco-chemical parameters of pond water e.g. dissolved oxygen (DO), 
temperature, pH, turbidity, C02 and salinity were monitored in situ every day between 
0700-0800 hours and 1500-1600 hours. Weekly analysis of other physioco-chemical 
parameters of pond water, discharge water and monthly analysis of pond soil and 
sediment samples were carried out using standard methods (APHA 1989, Biswas 1993, 
Dash and Pattanaik 1994). Field test instruments were in use to analyze water pH 
(Checker 1, HANNA, USA), soil pH (DM 13), water salinity (S 10, AT AGO, Japan) and 
DO (YSI 55, USA). 
Weekly growth study was carried out by sampling prior to feeding, so that complete 
evacuation of gut was ensured. Growth performance and factors affecting growth were 
statistically analyzed. Weekly condition 'factor were analyzed as described by Bal and 
Rao (1990). Weekly average body weight, average daily growth, survival rate, biomass, 
feed requirement, % feed used, amount of check tray feed, feed increment per day and 
FCR was estimated using formulas as described by Mohanty (1997). 
Results and discussion 
During the four crop experimental period the mean maximum and mean minimum 
of various physioco-chemical parameters of pond water were recorded (Table 1). As the 
day of culture increased, increased trend of H 2S, NH3 and BOD, and decreased trend of 
turbidity was observed which may be due to increased feed input (Fugimura 1989), 
metabolic waste, increased biomass and organic load (Mohanty 1997). The average 
values of soil pH, EC, organic carbon, CaC03, available-N and P were gradually 
increased as the days of culture increased. Correlation of shrimp yield with soil pH, soil 
salinity and organic carbon contents was found significant at 5% level, while with 
available-N, it was highly significant (P<0.01). Growth performance, yield and survival 
rate at different stocking density and aeration pattern was recorded (Table 2). The feed 
conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded highest (1.649) in P D crop-II and lowest (1.285) in 
P6, crop-IV. Overall growth performance was good at stocking density of 20-30 pcs/m2, 
while overall yield and survival rate was higher under 3'd pattern of aeration (Table 2). 
60 
Effect of aeration of P. monad on 
Table 1. Crop-wise mean maximum and minimum values of physioco-chemical parameters 
Parameters 1" crop 1996 2"d crop 1996 3'd crop 1997 4'h crop 1997 
Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. 
Temp. (0C) 3.18 23.0 27.7 15.9 32.1 22.6 26.9 15.6 
DO(mg/1) 8.2 4.7 7.1 4.2 .3 3.9 8.8 3.8 
pH 8.3 7.0 8.3 6.6 8.4 6.8 8.4 6.6 
Salinity 28.0 16.0 10.0 3.0 29.0 13.0 17.0 2.0 
(mg/1) 
Turbidity 80.0 18.0 73.0 11.0 84.0 13.0 65.0 9.0 
(em) 
Total 143.0 91.0 143.0 76.0 152.0 86.0 139.0 78.0 
alkalinity 
(mg/1) 
Free co, 3.91 0.8 5.84 1.2 3.12 0.93 2.96 0.89 
(mg/1) 
H2S (mg/1) 0.13 0 0.16 0 0.13 0 0.13 0 
NH3 (mg/1) 0.2 0 0.12 0 0.2 0.002 0.1 0 
P (mg/1) 0.076 0.05 0.11 0.06 0.088 0.062 0.14 0.057 
Table 2. Pond-wise crop result at different aeration pattern 
Pond Crop I Crop I! Crop Ill Crop IV 
no. 
ADG Yield SR ADG Yield SR { ADG Yield SR ADG Yield SR 
(g) (t/ha) ('!c) (g) (tlha) (%) (g) (t/ha) ('!c) (g) (t/ha) ('lc) 
0.24 8.75 70.9 0.2 3 1.22 13.5 0.25 9.0 90.0 I 0.26 5.44 4 7.64 
2 0.24 6.4 83.7 0.23 2.13 32.04 0.25 6.7 4 89.04 0.27 5.07 57.94 
3 0.26 3.72 7 3.24 0.22 1.07 28.3 5 0.27 3.58 7 5.0 I 0.25 3.17 70.31 
4 0.25 7.7 5 70.15 0.22 1.94 27.71 0.24 8.3 93.0 0.27 5.81 56.62 
5 0.25 4.98 85.87 0.22 1.58 32.96 0.26 5.17 77.1 0.26 4.38 59.69 
6 0.25 1.84 70.1 0.21 1.11 48.72 0.2 7 2.83 80.08 0.28 1.84 53.02 
ADG = Average daily growth, SR = Survival rate 
Ponds can be aerated continuously during night time or an emergency basis. Day 
time aeration is generally not necessary and could be counter productive (Sanares et al. 
1986) but heavily fed ponds may require continuous aeration to mix water and to avoid 
anaerobic bottom condition where, aeration hour is generally increased from 12 h/night 
to 24 h/day as the rearing period increases. In some instances, aeration does not result in 
increased production and drive production cost to economic non-viability (Stern et al. 
1991). However, in the present experiment, it was observed that, influence of individual 
aeration pattern on average survival rate of P. monodon was not highly significant at 
different stocking densities (Table 3), while third aeration pattern showed better 
performance over other patterns (Table 4), which was also found economically viable to 
reduce production cost/kg shrimp. 
61 
R.K. Mohanty 
Days of 
culture 
1-15 
16-30 
31-45 
46-60 
60-75 
76-90 
91-110 
111-130 
Above 131 
Sources of 
variation 
Between 
SD 
Between 
aeration 
pattern 
Error 
Table 3. Crop-wise aeration pattern 
Aerators/ha Hours of mechanical aerator operation 
1" crop 2nd crop 3'd crop 
4,2 HP 10 8 9 
4,2HP 12 10 11 
4,2HP 14 12 13 
4, 2HP + 2, 1HP 16 14 15 
6,2HP 17 15 16 
6,2HP 18 16 17 
8,2HP 19 17 18 
8,2HP 22 19 20 
8,2HP 22 19 20 
Results Pattern A Pattern B Pattern C 
Survival rate(%) 70.1-85.8 13.5-48.7 75-93 
Table 4. Influence of different aeration pattern on average survival rate(%) 
of P. manodon at different stocking densities CANOVA) 
Degree Sum of Mean Calculated Tabulated P value 
of squares square F value Fvalue 
freedom 
5 236.79 47.36 0.57 2.9 <0.05 
3 10104.60 3368.20 40.70 9.3 <0.001 
15 1241.24 82.75 
4'h crop 
8 
10 
12 
14 
15 
16 
18 
20 
20 
Pattern D 
47.6-70.3 
Significant 
level 
NS 
* 
CV = 14.68%, Standard error of treatment mean = 5.25, Standard error of differences of two means = 7.43, 
Critical difference value = 15.82 
Aeration requirement in sem1-mtensive shrimp ponds vary depending upon 
stocking density, feeding rate, days of culture and biomass. Fugimura (1989) suggested 
that, supplemental aeration is required only when shrimp biomass exceeds 0.2 kg/m2• 
Sandifer et al. (1988) recommended 0.79 hp (aerator)/1000 kg shrimp while, Wyban and 
Sweeny (1991) recommended 1.33 hp/1000 kg shrimp. However, in the present study 16 
hp/ha were needed to get the maximum production of 9.01 t/ha, which corresponds to 
1.77 hp/1000 kg shrimp or 1 hp/565 kg shrimp, whereas, Aekapan (1995) recommended 1 
hp aerator for every 400 kg of shrimp biomass. Growth performance of P. monodon in 
term of average daily growth and size variation was better under third pattern of aerato 
schedule against that of 1 ", znd and 4'h (Figs. 1 and 2). Different aeration pattern showed 
significant influence (p<0.001) on average survival rate of P. monodon (Table 2) and 
survival rate ranged between 70.1-85.8, 13.5-48.7, 75.0-93.0 and 47.6-70.3 under 1", 2"d, 
62 
Effect of aeration of P. monad on 
yct and 4'h pattern of aeration (Table 3). However, pond-wise and crop-wise culture 
performance indicated better survival and growth in crops-! and III than crops-II and 
IV, probably due to seasonal variation (Imai 1977), low temperature, salinity and pH 
(Law 1988), high turbidity (Mohanty 1996) and poor phytoplankton population (Chien 
1992). Crop-wise weekly mean maximum and minimum DO level in pond water were 
8.2-4.7, 7.1-4.2, 8.3-3.9 and 8.8-3.8 ppm during 1 ", 2nct, 3'd and 4'h crop respectively. 
However, comparative analysis indicated better survival of P. monodon in 3'ct crop at 3'ct 
pattern of aeration (Table 4). Irrespective of stocking density, higher growth rate was 
mostly observed during 63-98 days of culture when 6-2 hp aerators/pond were in use, 
which closely agrees to the findings of Wyban et al. (1989) as overall management 
practice were same for all the ponds. Size variation in growth was higher in initial stages 
of rearing while it was reduced to significant level towards last phase of raring (Figs. 1 
and 2), probably due to increased number of aerator and hour of aeration. 
I 2 J \56 1 t t 10 U TlO Ito t5 "17 lilt W 
week 
P61CROP-IV/199:t 
r 2 J ~ s ~ 1 9 9 ttl n 12 IJ"' n 16 u 111 ·~ 20 
week 
Fig. 1. Growth performance of P. monodon in pond-6, during four crops (SD, 1 Opcs/m2) 
-< 
" Pi /CROP.J/1 •• , P! /CROP-~~97 
!~~ If :!:15 ~ ·~'ro 
~ . P!/CROM//996 . . P!/CROP-IV/!997 
I 2 J ~ 5 I 7 I t t~ D II tl 1~ 15 ~ 11 8 IJ 20 21 I 2 J 4 5 5 7 B 9 10 n 12 IJ I~ 15 16 P 19 tl 20 
week week 
Fig. 2. Growth performance of P. monodon in pond-1, during four crops (SD, 3Spcs/m2) 
63 
R.K. Mohanty 
Continuous aeration is not desirable, when DO level remains above desirable limit, 
especially during day times in the early days of culture and should continue during the 
period of low pH and plankton dei-off (Mohanty 1997). During later stage of culture 
when biomass and organic load in pond increase (Aekapan 1995), oxygen consumption 
rate increases. To supplement the oxygen requirement at this stage, additional use of 
aerator (approximately one 1 hp aerator for every 565 kg increase in biomass) is required. 
However, rational use of aerator and its position (Fig. 3) is of critical importance in 
managing pond bottom condition and reducing operational cost. Keeping the 
experimental results (Table 3) and economics of the culture operation in view, aeration 
hour (without affecting the survival rate of P. monodon) can be restricted to 9 h/day at 1-
15, 11 h/day at 16-30, 13 h/day at 31-45, 15 h/day at 46-60, 16 h/day at 61-75, 17 h/day at 
76-90, 18 h/day at 91-110 days of culture and 20 h/day at 111 to date of harvesting. 
....._, 
fl 
--. 
/J 
...___, 
I Ill Ill ............ ,!! 
s s 
l; 
.--" \ 
R 
\ \t 
./ ___. 
= ooc: 1·<1.5 
= 
ooc.t4.5.ro 
S =SQUARE POND, R =RECTANGULAR POND, /=AERATOR, []SEDIMENT, 
1111~ =OUTLET,.,,_.= INLE_T _ 
Fig. 3. Recommended position of aerators at moderate (20-30 pcsm/m2) stocking density. 
Acknowledgement 
I warmly thank Dr. S.K. Mohamy and Prof. M.C. Dash for reviewing the manuscript and Dr. 
R. Aekapan for his on-field technical suggestion. 
References 
Aekapan, R., 1995. Pond and water management in aquaculture. Aqua. Intemational, May: 26-27. 
APHA, 1989. Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Waste Water, l7'h Edition. 
American Public Health Association, Wasington DC, USA. 
64 
Effect of aeration of P. monodon 
Bal, D.V. and K.V. Rao, 1990. Marine Fisheries oflndia. Tara McGraw-Hill Publishing Company 
Ltd., New Delhi, India. 472 pp. 
Biswas, K.P., 1993. Fisheries Manual. Bhagabat Press and Publishing, Cunack, India. 436 pp. 
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(Manuscript received 8 March 2000) 
65 


Effect of pond aeration on growth and survival of Penaeus

monodon Fab.

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Effect of pond aeration on growth and survival of Penaeus monodon Fab.

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