The performance of waste water treatment of super intensive Lithopenaeus vannamei shrimp aquaculture

High stocking density applied in super intensive Lithopenaeus vannamei shrimp aquaculture has an inevitable impact to surrounding areas. Stocking density of 500 to 1250 ind/m² released TN and TP, originally from shrimp feed, as much as 47.9±5.4 kg N/ton shrimp and 15.5±1.2 kg P/tonnes shrimp, respectively; and 2.0±0.3 kg dry weight sediment/kg harvested shrimp. Thus, application of waste water treatments plant in a super intensive shrimp pond aquaculture should be an obligation. This study was aimed to evaluate the performance of waste water treatments plant in reducing nutrient loads released by super intensive shrimp ponds.

The plant was designed based on characteristics of effluent, the amount of operated ponds, the estimated volume discharged effluent every day and three days residence time. The waste water treatments plant consists a series of sedimentation ponds, two aeration ponds and equalization pond (Figure 1). The aeration ponds are facilitated with 5 aeration which are two paddle wheels and water jet; whereas a single paddle wheel is applied in equalization pond. Long-line cultivation of Glacillaria sp. and Tilapia sp. culture were taken place in the equalization pond.

The plant reduced 53.1 to 99.4% of effluent (Table 1). However, there is a need in increasing the ability of the plant in reducing concentrations of TOM which only 53.1%, considered as moderate, whereas nitrate is effectively reduced by the plant. The highly efficient was found in reducing concentrations of TSS, TAN, nitrite, TN and phosphate, which are 99.4, 92.7, 91.6, 96.8 and 95.2%, respectively.