If you regularly raise shrimp or fish, you are surely no stranger to the practice of coloring pond water. This is an important step that helps farmers achieve the highest harvest yields. In reality, coloring pond water is not always beneficial. If farmers apply the wrong technique, it can lead to significant losses. Therefore, Đức Bình Microbial Products would like to suggest the correct technique for coloring pond water with rice bran and molasses for shrimp and fish, to increase productivity and efficiency.
1. Why You Need to Color the Water in Shrimp and Fish Ponds
It can be said that when farming aquatic species, farmers cannot avoid coloring the pond water. This is because water color has a major impact on the growth and development of shrimp and fish. It is often described as the “key” that determines success or failure for aquaculture farmers.
Coloring the water helps shrimp and fish grow well
According to research, if the water color changes in a way that is incompatible with the living conditions of shrimp and fish, it will make them struggle to grow. It can even cause related diseases that kill shrimp and fish in large numbers, damaging the entire crop. Or it can simply cause shrimp and fish to go into shock.
Conversely, if the water color in the shrimp and fish pond is suitable, it will create many advantages for farmers. These include:
- Maximizing the dissolved oxygen content in the water
- The growth of plankton in the water provides a basic food source for shrimp and fish.
- If natural food increases during the early farming stage, it benefits shrimp and fish: reducing the amount of organic feed needed and reducing the outbreak of disease during farming.
- Water color can also help block light and suppress the growth of algae at the bottom of the pond. Toxic algae at the pond bottom are extremely dangerous for farmed shrimp and fish, etc.
2. Conditions for Coloring Water in Shrimp and Fish Ponds
Coloring the water in shrimp and fish ponds is an important technique in aquaculture. Therefore, farmers must carry it out correctly and follow the proper technique. The conditions for successfully coloring the water are:
- Algae species that help color the water and balance the pond’s ecosystem, such as green algae and diatoms, only grow and develop well in an environment with temperatures between 27°C and 31°C, a pH of 7.5 to 8.5, alkalinity of 80mg/l, an N/P ratio of 15/1 for diatoms, and 7 to 14/1 for green algae
- Use the correct materials and coloring products. Products should be sourced from reputable suppliers that farmers have trusted over the years.
- Farmers must have a certain level of knowledge and experience in aquaculture. When coloring the water in a shrimp and fish pond, it is essential to follow the recommended ratios.
- Avoid using resistance-boosting agents or supportive medications during the coloring process, as they can reduce effectiveness and affect the resistance of the livestock.
3. How to Color Pond Water Using Rice Bran and Molasses for Shrimp and Fish Farming
Coloring the water creates favorable conditions for shrimp and fish to grow quickly. However, coloring the water with rice bran and molasses has proven effective and cost-efficient. Therefore, farmers can apply the following 3 methods:
Technique for coloring pond water using rice bran
Method 1: Using Rice Bran + Fish Meal + Soybean Meal
The first water-coloring method farmers can apply is using a mixture of rice bran powder, fish meal, and soybean meal. The mixing ratio to follow is 2:1:2, meaning 2kg of rice bran combined with 1kg of fish meal and 2kg of soybean meal.
Once prepared, put the mixture into a large pot. Then, cook the mixture on the stove, let it cool gradually, and then seal it for fermentation. The fermentation period should last about 2 to 3 days.
With this coloring method, farmers should pay attention to the dosage. The appropriate dose is 3 to 4 kg per 1,000m3 of water. Apply it continuously for about 3 days. Continue applying until the pond water reaches the required clarity (note: water visibility of around 30cm to 40cm). About 7 days later, apply an additional dose to the pond, reducing the amount to half of the original dose. Farmers should adjust the amount based on the water color.
Method 2: Molasses + Rice Bran + Soybean Meal
This formula needs to follow a ratio of 3:1:3. It is simpler than Method 1 because there is no need to cook it — you only need to seal it for fermentation.
Coloring pond water with molasses, rice bran, and soybean meal
Specifically, we mix the 3 ingredients according to the suggested ratio. When mixing the ingredients, do it thoroughly to achieve a perfect blend. Then you seal the entire mixture for 12 hours. After that, it is ready to be applied.
Use the fermented bran mixture at a dose of 2 to 3kg per 1,000 m3 of water. We will apply it continuously for 3 days, then adjust once the water level of 30cm – 40cm reaches the required clarity. Continue supplementing over the following 7 days. At this point, reduce the dosage to half of the original amount.
Method 3: How to Ferment EM Stock Solution with Rice Bran + Molasses
Fermenting EM stock solution with rice bran and molasses has shown outstanding results. The addition of EM product stock solution helps the formula achieve maximum effectiveness. The specific process is as follows:
Prepare the Necessary Materials
To color the water for shrimp and fish farming using Method 3, farmers first need to prepare the materials, including:
Coloring pond water with rice bran and molasses fermented with EM stock solution is highly effective
- Microbial molasses: 2 liters
- 2kg rice bran
- 1 liter of EM stock solution for aquaculture or 1 pack of EMZEO TS biological product, 250g size
- 46 liters of sterilized clean water
- 50L plastic container
The above materials are easy to find, and the fermentation process is simple and quick, so anyone can do it. The important thing is to ensure the best fermentation quality.
EMZEO TS product has many benefits in aquaculture, especially for coloring pond water
How to Proceed
Once you have prepared all the necessary tools and materials, begin the process.
- First, we need to clean the container
- Next, pour the sterilized clean water into the container. If possible, boil the water and let it cool to increase effectiveness.
- Then, add the rice bran and molasses into the water container, and stir the mixture thoroughly.
- After that, add table salt to the container, and stir until the salt is completely dissolved.
- Finally, add the EM stock solution into the container, stir thoroughly, and seal the container tightly.
With that, the process of preparing the water-coloring product for shrimp and fish farming is complete. Now you just need to let the container ferment for 5 – 7 days and it’s ready.
Farmers should use a reasonable dosage of the fermented water-coloring product
Note that mixing the ingredients according to Formula 3 may change depending on the volume of the container. Therefore, we need to calculate and adjust the materials accordingly. You can use the mixing ratio for a 50L container as a base to scale up or down depending on the specific case.
How to Use
Fermenting EM stock solution with rice bran to color the water is fairly easy. Once you’ve finished preparing the water-coloring product, you can apply it right away. The recommended dosage is 50 liters per 1,000m3 of water.
Notably, the frequency of applying the water-coloring product should be adjusted according to how long the shrimp or fish have been farmed. During the first month, apply it every 5 – 7 days. Starting from the second month, we will shorten the interval — ideally around 3 – 5 days per application. From the third month onward, apply it every 2 – 3 days.
In addition, you can use the product you just created to treat the pond bottom. Note that when treating the pond bottom, the dosage must be reduced: instead of 50 liters, use only 10 liters per 1,000m3.
Using EM stock solution (EM1) is currently the most effective way to color pond water
4. Criteria for Evaluating Good Water Color Quality in Shrimp and Fish Ponds
How can you determine whether coloring the pond water has been successful? According to experts, farmers can check this through:
- For freshwater ponds: When green algae grow and develop well, the water takes on a light banana-leaf green color. If you see this color in the water, it means the coloring process was successful, and you should maintain it for a long period to create the best conditions for shrimp and fish growth.
- For brackish and saltwater ponds: This is a suitable environment for diatoms to develop. Therefore, tea-brown colored water is the quality standard.
5. Important Notes When Coloring Pond Water
To increase the success rate when coloring the water in shrimp and fish ponds, farmers should pay attention to the following points:
- The principle of coloring water is that doing it during the day achieves maximum effectiveness, because algae cells are most active at this time, especially in sunny weather.
- Before coloring the water, you need to check the environmental conditions. Specifically, consider the light, temperature, pH, nutrient levels, and N:P ratio. If these factors are not maintained at suitable levels, the coloring process will fail.
- If there is too much residual disinfectant chemical or antibiotic in the pond, it will also be difficult to successfully color the water.
- When the weather changes unpredictably, especially right after heavy rain, the rain will lower the salinity in the pond. With fluctuations in pH and light levels, coloring the water becomes more difficult.
- Ponds with many zooplankton that feed on algae, or a lot of moss and algae growth, will inhibit the reproduction and development of single-celled algae.
- Never use chicken manure or livestock manure to color pond water, as these types of manure often contain pathogens that are harmful to shrimp and fish.
6. Conclusion
The correct technique for fermenting microbes with molasses and rice bran for shrimp and fish farming has been revealed above. In practice, this technique of coloring water with rice bran has proven to be extremely important and necessary for the growth and development of shrimp and fish. For in-depth consultation and to learn more safe aquaculture tips, please visit: chephamvisinh.vn.
Contact Information
Đức Bình Microbial Products – Research and Application Center for Biological Products specializes in researching, manufacturing, and applying product lines such as: microbial enzymes, septic tank enzymes, wastewater treatment enzymes, aquaculture enzymes, biological products…
Address : 1B Ngõ 774 Kim Giang, Thanh Liệt, Hà Nội
Phone: 0934.214.579
Hotline: 024.66.55.46.86
Email: chephamvisinhungdung@gmail.com
Website: https://chephamvisinh.vn
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