Abstract
Designing good recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) is challenging in shrimp aquaculture. In this study, two sets of RASs were constructed using sea cucumber nursery tanks for rearing Litopenaeus vannamei. Recirculating aquaculture was supported by key technologies such as sewage collection and aeration systems adapted to the rectangular tanks and technologies for the removal of sewage, shrimp shells, and dead individuals. Six-hundred and eighty-five thousand juveniles were selected for rearing in the newly constructed RASs, where the average stocking density was 1013 shrimp/m3. During the recirculating aquaculture period of 53 days, the water temperature of the tanks was 24–31 °C, the salinity was 25–32‰, the pH was 6.4–8.2, the DO was ≥ 4.9 mg/L, the concentration of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) was maintained between 0.17 and 4.9 mg/L, the concentration of nitrite nitrogen (NO2-N) was between 0.12 and 4.7 mg/L, and the total number of Vibrio bacteria remained between 330 and 9700 cfu/mL. At the end of the experiment, the final average weight of individual shrimp was 13.43 g, and the average yield reached 12.92 kg/m3. The great improvement in growth performance marks a breakthrough in RAS technology of shrimp, and it supports the use of an innovative methodology for the retrofitting and utilization of idle sea cucumber nursery tanks.
Highlights
In recent years, a large number of maricultured sea cucumbers died due to high temperatures experienced in northern China during the summer, causing a significant decrease in the cultured production of these species
We addressed the problems of sewage collection and aeration in rectangular sea cucumber nursery tanks [16]
With the support of key technologies for sewage collection, aeration, and variable flow installed in the rectangular aquaculture tanks, two sets of recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) for rearing Litopenaeus vannamei were constructed
Summary
A large number of maricultured sea cucumbers died due to high temperatures experienced in northern China during the summer, causing a significant decrease in the cultured production of these species. China still needs to import nearly one million tons of Litopenaeus vannamei every year from abroad to meet the domestic demand. Such a high demand for whiteleg shrimp offers opportunities to further develop the farming of this species. It was proposed as a solution to the problem of successfully repurposing the sea cucumber tanks: these nursery tanks were retrofitted to RASs for Litopenaeus vannamei farming, re-establishing a rational use of resources and bringing significant economic benefits
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
