The land-based floating shrimp farming model, also known as the circular pond system, is a new trend in shrimp farming. This model offers numerous advantages for farmers, including moderate technical requirements, investment capital savings, and reduced farming costs. Additionally, it provides a safe and sustainable environment for ponds, leading to higher economic benefits. The land-based, ultra-intensive farming of Litopenaeus vannamei (South American white shrimp) is quickly gaining popularity due to its high control and operational efficiency.
1. What Does the Circular Pond Farming System Offer to the Shrimp Farming Industry?
For years, shrimp farmers have faced challenges due to the prevalence of diseases. It has been found that pathogens, such as those originating from the soil, water sources, and intermediate hosts like crabs and snails, contribute to these problems. To mitigate the risk of disease, the best solution is “isolation” of pathogens, which ultimately led to the development of the land-based pond model.
Unlike traditional shrimp farming that spreads across vast areas of ponds, modern shrimp farms now employ smaller, circular ponds with stainless steel frames and waterproof HDPE tarpaulin coverings. These ponds are designed with funnel-shaped bottom drainage holes located centrally, offering several benefits.
The pond system is equipped with essential systems such as aerators, bottom aeration systems, fans, and automatic feeders. Additionally, water treatment facilities and solid waste separation technologies are incorporated. These systems allow water reuse, significantly reducing investment costs while minimizing environmental pollution.
2. Galvanized Steel Circular Fish Pond: The Ideal Solution for Shrimp Farming
A key component of the modern land-based shrimp farming system is the Galvanized Steel Circular Fish Pond. Constructed from durable galvanized steel plates and composite materials, these ponds offer outstanding resistance to wear, rust, and weather conditions. The design allows for easy assembly and disassembly, making them highly adaptable to various farm sizes and terrains.
The Galvanized Steel Circular Fish Pond features:
- Low Cost & Durability: The galvanized steel structure resists corrosion and rust, ensuring long-term usage with minimal maintenance.
- Ease of Installation: No digging or complex construction is needed, reducing setup time and labor costs.
- Long Lifespan: Resists exposure to sun, water, and rust, and is easy to clean.
- Flexible Size & Design: The ponds can be customized to fit specific requirements, ranging from small to large capacities, and they can adapt to different farm environments and conditions.
These advantages make Galvanized Steel Circular Fish Ponds ideal for shrimp farming, offering both high efficiency and low operational costs. Whether you are starting a new shrimp farm or upgrading an existing facility, these ponds provide the perfect balance of performance and value.
3. The Shrimp Farming Process in Land-Based Circular Ponds
The farming process is divided into two stages:
- Stage 1: The shrimp larvae are initially stocked in a land-based circular pond for approximately 30 days at a density of about 3000 shrimp per square meter.
- Stage 2: After 30 days, the shrimp are transferred to another circular pond for commercial shrimp farming at a lower density of around 300 shrimp per square meter. Over the next 90 to 100 days, the shrimp grow to about 20 shrimp per pound (roughly 12-15 grams per shrimp), and are then harvested.
Throughout the farming process, it is crucial to filter and regularly collect solid waste from the pond, which is one of the key factors in ensuring long-term success. The pond water is pumped into a solid waste separation system where shrimp shells, dead shrimp bodies, and excess feed are collected in a filtration bag. The waste is diluted with fresh water and treated with probiotics, which can then be used as fertilizer for crops.
For shrimp excrement and dead algae that pass through the filtration system, they are pumped into a sedimentation tank where they are treated with chemicals and probiotics for reuse. To further minimize disease risks, farmers are required to disinfect their boots and hands with potassium permanganate solution and 70-degree alcohol before entering the pond.
4. The Advantages of Land-Based Circular Ponds
The land-based circular pond shrimp farming model is easy to manage and can quickly adapt to changes in water quality, providing strong control over the farming environment.
One of the main advantages of this model is that it doesn’t require thousands of square meters of pond area. Each circular pond has an area of 500-700 square meters and is constructed with a stainless steel frame and tarpaulin bottom, placed directly on flat ground, sand, or even within old ponds. The construction cost is only about one-third of that of traditional ponds. Due to the smaller pond area, farmers can more easily manage and respond to water quality changes in real-time.
The circular shape of the pond helps accumulate solid waste such as dead shrimp, shrimp shells, leftover feed, and shrimp feces at the bottom of the pond, making it easier to concentrate and process waste, ensuring the water remains clear. By utilizing aerators, water flow is fixed in one direction, creating a vortex in the center of the pond that facilitates the removal of pollutants. This keeps the pond bottom clean and reduces the accumulation of harmful bacteria and toxic gases.
Additionally, the land-based pond system contributes to environmental protection and reduces resource waste. It allows the reuse of old or inefficient ponds, but still maintains complete separation from the environment, preventing intermediate hosts that may carry pathogens (such as crabs and snails) from entering the pond.
To successfully farm shrimp in a land-based pond, strict adherence to water treatment procedures—such as sedimentation tanks, treatment ponds, and water storage systems—is essential. Moreover, choosing clean, high-quality shrimp larvae is a crucial step for ensuring optimal farming results.
5. Conclusion
The land-based circular pond system presents a revolutionary solution to traditional shrimp farming by offering high control over water quality, disease prevention, and operational efficiency. This farming method allows shrimp farmers to achieve higher success rates while reducing costs and environmental impact. With moderate technical investment and simpler management, it is an ideal option for modern shrimp farming operations.
For those looking to maximize efficiency, reduce disease risks, and lower farming costs, adopting the Round Canvas Water Tank could be the next step toward a more sustainable and profitable shrimp farming business.
