Water quality and bacteriology in an aquaculture facility equipped with a new aeration system

The HOBAS aeration system was tested to compare changes in environmental and bacteriological parameters in ponds growing Penaeus monodon during a single production cycle. The stocking density in the aerated pond was doubled to 12 post-larvae (PL) m ⁻ ² in contrast to the non-aerated pond with 6 (PL) m ⁻ ². Microbial abundance in the ponds ranged between 10⁵ ⁻ ⁶ cells ml ⁻ ¹. Among the physiological groups of bacteria enumerated, the heterotrophs dominated with an abundance of 10⁴ CFU ml ⁻ ¹. Of the nitrogen and sulfur cycle bacteria, the nitrifiers flourished in the aerated pond and could maintain ammonia-N concentration within permissible levels. Bacterial activity also maintained sulfide concentrations at