Comparative assessment of nutrient cycling and larval whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) performance in batch and recirculating hatchery systems
Semmouri, I.; Nachtergale, F.; Vermeylen, V.; Asselman, J.; Declercq, A.M.; Janssen, C.R. (2026). Comparative assessment of nutrient cycling and larval whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) performance in batch and recirculating hatchery systems. Aquacult. Eng. 113: 102700. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2026.102700
In: Aquacultural engineering. Elsevier: London. ISSN 0144-8609; e-ISSN 1873-5614, more
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| Author keywords |
Nutrient retention; Whiteleg shrimp; Kjeldahl nitrogen; Dissolved organic carbon; Mass balance; Survival rate; aquaculture systems; nitrogen; boone; phosphorus; survival; growth; culture; removal; ras; efficient |
| Authors | | Top |
- Semmouri, I., more
- Nachtergale, F.
- Vermeylen, V., more
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- Asselman, J.
- Declercq, A.M., more
- Janssen, C.R., more
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| Abstract |
Nutrient dynamics are essential to larval shrimp recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) as they determine water quality, microbial balance, and overall system functionality. Yet, empirical data on nutrient dynamics in larval shrimp RAS remain limited, particularly regarding nutrient retention and loss pathways during early larval stages. This study aimed to evaluate larval shrimp performance and quantify nitrogen and phosphorus mass balances in RAS to identify unexplained nutrient losses. Therefore, a 21-day experimental trial was conducted to compare nutrient cycling, retention and shrimp performance between a traditional batch system, and a hatcheryscale RAS. In four tanks per system, Litopenaeus vannamei were reared from nauplius to postlarval (PL10) stage. Shrimp performance was comparable between systems, with no significant difference in both survival and growth. Shrimp assimilated only a limited portion of the nutrients provided in the feed, especially under RAS conditions. In contrast, RAS demonstrated superior water quality, maintaining substantially lower concentrations of ammonia and phosphate as a result of continuous filtration and biofiltration. Ammonia concentrations in the batch system increased until around day 14 of the experiment before nitrate gradually accumulated, reflecting a delayed establishment of ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. The obtained experimental results were used to develop a nitrogen and phosphorus mass balance model for both systems. In the batch system, most nutrients accumulated in the water column (53.8 % of N and 65.0 % of P), whereas in the RAS, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the rearing tanks were lower (22.1 % N; 35.7 % P), with a substantial portion of the nutrient input remaining unaccounted for. Overall, the comparison demonstrates that while RAS effectively maintain superior water quality compared to batch systems, this does not inherently translate into improved nutrient retention during larval rearing. Instead, substantial nitrogen and phosphorus losses highlight feed-related inefficiencies as a key limitation. These findings emphasize that optimizing feeding strategies and nutrient management is essential for improving system efficiency and sustainability in larval shrimp RAS. |
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