Hatchery performance of the pacific white shrimp in biofloc system using different stocking densities

Abstract Higher rates of production per unit area, avoiding or minimizing significant environmental damages, is a challenge for aquaculture to contribute with an ascendant demand for food due to the increase in world population. The present study assessed the hatchery performance of Litopenaeus vannamei between the mysis 1 and postlarva 5 stages, in a zero-exchange biofloc system under 12.5:1 fixed C:N ratio with dextrose in four stocking densities: 200, 250, 300 and 350 larvae per liter (D200, D250, D300, D350 respectively). Water quality and performance parameters were compared among treatments. The mean values of the evaluated water quality parameters were appropriate for this production stage in all treatments. Fertilization with dextrose efficiently controlled ammonia levels not reaching the average concentrations considered toxic for the specie. Lower values of pH and higher values of volatile solids were finding in D350. There was no difference between groups in means of survival and dry weight of postlarva 5. Therefore, the use of biofloc systems without water exchange with dextrose as a carbon source in 12.5:1C:N ratio resulting in adequate production indexes and water quality during the mysis 1 to postlarva 5 hatchery phase of L. vannamei . Based in these results the density limit to a viable BFT hatchery was not reached.