One of the things that shrimp farmers should understand during or before starting cultivation is how to make their pond water brownish green. This is because the color of shrimp pond water is one of the water quality parameters that must be monitored regularly. Unlike other parameters, the color of shrimp pond water can be monitored directly without using any tools.
According to Pramono, et al. (2005) in Dede, et al. (2013), the color of pond water that is good for vannamei shrimp is brownish green, green, or brown. This color indicates that the pond water quality is ideal for shrimp growth.
There are many groups of plankton in a brownish green pond, including Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, and Phaeophyceae with almost the same percentage. This shows that the levels of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the pond are balanced.
The presence of these plankton in ideal percentages tends to be advantageous. Shrimp need plankton as natural feed to meet their nutritional needs. Additionally, phytoplankton serve as a buffer against the intensity of sunlight.
Furthermore, how do you make pond water brownish green? Check out the tips below.
How to Make Pond Water Brownish Green
There are several ways for achieving the desired brownish green color of pond water for vannamei shrimp. However, please note that the methods below are only suggestions. The results of the treatment may be different in each pond because each pond has its own characteristics.
Here’s the further explanation:
Observe changes in the color of the pond water
Identifying changes in color can be the first step in learning how to make pond water brownish green.
If the pond water is not green, brown, or brownish green and is starting to get thick, you should immediately take action or give treatment.
The following list of water colors can be found in the pond:
Dark green
Toxic phytoplankton may be present in pond water that has a dark green, slimy appearance. It is advisable to change the water by filling the pond with water in the afternoon and discard the water in the morning as well as apply captan in the morning.
Greenish yellow
Pond water that has a greenish yellow color suggests that the phytoplankton level is still unstable. Add TSP/urea fertilizer or apply dolomite in the morning while checking the water color changes.
Bluish green
The bluish green color indicates the emergence of blue green algae and porous shrimp. Change the water by discarding the water in the morning and refilling the pond with water in the afternoon, apply 10 ppm of captan in the morning, and apply Bacillus bacteria culture in the morning.
Dark brown
Dark brown water indicates a deficiency of phytoplankton. Apply urea fertilizer in the morning, apply 5 ppm of dolomite in the morning, and change water by filling the pond with water in the morning and discard it in the afternoon. Land reclamation is also possible.
Reddish brown
Reddish brown water indicates the presence of toxic phytoplankton and high levels of sulfuric acid. Apply 10 ppm of dolomite in the morning, change the water by filling the pond with water in the morning and discard it in the afternoon, and apply lactobacillus culture in the afternoon.
Blackish
Blackish pond water indicates that phytoplankton is not growing and organic matter is decaying. The solution is to siphon the bottom of the pond, apply 10 ppm of rice bran fermentation, and apply 10 ppm of dolomite in the morning.
Control plankton density
Changes in water color are usually caused by a shift in plankton dominance. An overly high plankton density will have an effect on fluctuations in dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH. You can change the water regularly, remove dead plankton, give feed in the right amount, and optimize aeration.
Plankton density also has a significant role in affecting water brightness, along with suspended particles in the water (Supono, 2018). An ideal water brightness level for shrimp growth is 30-50 cm.
Maintain other water quality parameters
Maintaining other water quality parameters, such as pH and alkalinity, within optimal ranges is equally vital as observing changes in pond color and controlling plankton density. All three are still related to changes in the color of shrimp ponds.
In the shrimp growing pond, the pH should be kept in the range of 7.5 to 8.5. If the pH is too low, apply 50-100 kg/ha of lime before it rains. If the water color is normal, apply 180-300 kg/ha of dolomite lime during the day every 2-3 days. On the other hand, if the pH is too high, add 10-30 kg/ha of sugar or molasses in the morning. You can also use probiotics to stimulate the development of compositional bacteria.
Then, as a water buffer against the increase of acids or bases, alkalinity should be kept at 100-150 ppm. If it is too high, apply dolomite regularly by considering the stability of the plankton.
Conclusion
The following are some ways to make pond water brownish green. Please note that the results of the treatment may be different in each pond due to the characteristics of each pond.
- Observe changes in the color of the pond and immediately do the following tips if the pond does not appear brownish green:
- Dark green → Fill the pond with water in the afternoon and discard the water in the morning as well as apply captan in the morning.
- Greenish yellow → Add TSP/urea fertilizer or apply dolomite in the morning while checking the water color changes.
- Bluish green → Discard the water in the morning and refill the pond with water in the afternoon, apply 10 ppm of captan in the morning, and apply Bacillus bacteria culture in the morning.
- Dark brown → Apply urea fertilizer in the morning, apply 5 ppm of dolomite in the morning, and fill the pond with water in the morning and discard it in the afternoon. Land reclamation is also possible.
- Reddish brown → Apply 10 ppm of dolomite in the morning, fill the pond with water in the morning and discard it in the afternoon, and apply lactobacillus culture in the afternoon.
- Blackish → Siphon the bottom of the pond, apply 10 ppm of rice bran fermentation, and apply 10 ppm of dolomite in the morning.
- Control plankton density
- Maintain other water quality parameters
Other water quality parameters should be maintained by being measured regularly, then recorded and monitored every day. You can do this in a convenient way on JALA App, a shrimp farm management app that is #HeretoHelp. Let's cultivate more productively and efficiently with JALA App!
References
Ketahui Arti Warna Air Tambak Udang yang Berbeda | Tambak Milenial
Pramono, G.H., dkk. (2005). Prosedur dan Spesifikasi Teknis Analisis Kesesuaian Budidaya Tambak Udang. Bakosurtanal, Jakarta: 21 - 25 dalam Dede, H., Aryawati, R., Diansyah, G. (2013). Evaluasi Tingkat Kesesuaian Kualitas Air Tambak Udang Berdasarkan Produktivitas Primer PT. Tirta Bumi Nirbaya Teluk Hurun Lampung Selatan (Studi Kasus). Maspari Journal, 6 (1), 32-38. https://media.neliti.com/media/publications/150265-ID-evaluasi-tingkat-kesesuaian-kualitas-air.pdf
Supono. (2018). Manajemen Kualitas Air untuk Budidaya Udang. AURA.
