Reservoirs in Shrimp Ponds: Functions and How to Manage Them

A reservoir is a place used to store clean water supplies. Not only in shrimp ponds, reservoirs are also in almost every house in Indonesia. It's just that the usual reservoirs in homes differ in form and function from those in ponds.

The shape of the reservoir in shrimp ponds usually resembles a pond with a larger size. Shrimp pond reservoirs are generally equipped with pumps and pipes which are later used to distribute water throughout the pond.

Want to know more about the reservoirs in shrimp ponds? Check out this article, come on!

What is Tandon?

The health and superiority of the shrimp produced in a pond cannot be separated from the quality of the water because water is the main source of life in the pond. Cleanliness and sterility of water must really be considered to prevent shrimp from various disease attacks that can be deadly. One way that you can do to maintain pond water quality is to use a reservoir.

In shrimp ponds, reservoirs or reservoir plots are places used to provide healthy water during shrimp rearing. To be able to do this task, the reservoir must be overgrown with aquatic plants such as algae/macroalgae, seaweed or moss. Even though you have to prepare extra land for its manufacture, reservoirs can be used to save water use, you know.

Reservoir Function for Shrimp Ponds

After knowing what a reservoir is and what it looks like, let's find out the benefits and functions of a shrimp pond reservoir!

One of the main functions of the reservoir is as a place to improve and improve the quality of water sourced from the sea or river before entering the pond. This is to anticipate contamination from the water source.

Inside the reservoir, water will be given a disinfectant to kill pathogenic pests that cause disease. In this way, the reservoir will distribute good and safe water into the cultivation pond.

After administering the disinfectant, the water in the reservoir will enter the physical, chemical and biological check stages. Checking water quality is useful to ensure that the distributed water is of good quality and free from harmful viruses, bacteria and pathogens.

In addition, the reservoir can also be used to plant plankton and phytoplankton which are needed by pond water. This reservoir function is very useful during the rainy season because it is difficult for plankton to grow without sunlight.

Another advantage of using a water reservoir is that it maintains the fertility of the water in the pond. Over time, the bio-filter in the reservoir will produce water biota with quite high economic value.

How to Manage Shrimp Pond Reservoirs

The most important thing to consider in managing shrimp pond reservoirs is growing and caring for aquatic plants. These plants include algae/macroalgae, seaweed, and mosses. If cared for properly, these aquatic plants will maximally absorb the nutrients resulting from the breakdown of organic matter.

With these water plants, the content of organic matter derived from bacteria in water can drop to 70 ppm from 150 ppm in just 8 days. In addition, aquatic plants can also bind dissolved mud particles so that the water looks clearer.

To care for these aquatic plants, you can spread herbivorous fish in the reservoir. The type of herbivorous fish stocked must also match the type of plant. To treat algae/macroalgae, you can spread tilapia.

Meanwhile, to care for moss, you can spread milkfish. The reservoir plots also need to be filled with small predatory fish such as crabs, snappers, tinheads, and other fish to prey on wild shrimp that can transmit disease. Keep in mind, the number of fish stocked must be adjusted to the population of aquatic plants so that the aquatic plants are not eaten up by fish.

Apart from that, you also need to pay attention to the cleanliness of the reservoir by removing dead aquatic plants. This must be done in order to avoid rotting in the reservoir plots. If the aquatic plants are dead, the color will turn dull and yellowish.

Finally, you must also pay attention to the location of the reservoir. As a water reservoir, the location of the reservoir must be close to a water source so that its distribution is easier.

Reservoirs can be said to be in optimal conditions for recycling water if they contain organic matter < 60 ppm, ammonia < 1 ppm, and nitrite 0.1 ppm with a water pH of 7.5-8. How are you, sir/madam? Caring for tandon is not too difficult, right?

Consult Reservoir Use in the Cultivation Consultation Feature!