Using alternative low-cost artificial sea salt mixtures for intensive, indoor shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) production

Abstract

Inland marine shrimp production is increasing in popularity as recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) can provide a fresh, high-value product year-round to nearby consumer markets. However, artificial sea salt mixtures are required for inland production, which can be a substantial portion of the production costs. The purpose of this experiment was to compare marine shrimp (L. vannamei) production and water quality dynamics in culture systems with various mixtures of a least cost salt (LCS) formulation and a commercial, complete sea salt (CSS) formulation. Previous research using this same LCS mixture found decreased shrimp production using 100% LCS compared to ratios with 25% CSS inclusion and higher. To further investigate the decreased shrimp performance in 100% LCS, this experiment used six salt different ratios of LCS and CSS between 100% LCS and 75% LCS:25% CSS. The treatments used in this study were 100% LCS, 97.5% LCS, 95% LCS, 90% LCS, 80% LCS, and 75% LCS. The results showed that use of the LCS formulation significantly lowered the cost of salt kg-1 shrimp produced. The LCS formulation cost $8.83 USD to make 1 m3 of water at 15 salinity, compared to $12.89 using the 75%/25% LCS/CSS mixture. Salt mixtures had a significant impact on DO, pH, salinity, and turbidity; however, these differences did not seem to impact shrimp performance, as no significant differences were found in shrimp average weight, biomass, survival, FCR, or growth rate. The results from this study indicate that using the LCS formulation reduces artificial sea salt cost significantly while having no significant impacts on shrimp production.

Keywords

• Shrimp
• RAS
• Sustainable aquaculture
• Artificial sea salt
• Minerals