A new video material on feasibility of co-culture of shrimp and algae in RAS system (AquaVIP lab-scale experiments, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk) presents Paneus vannamei (whiteleg shrimp) RAS aquaculture in laboratory conditions and experiments demonstrating algae potential in RAS aquaculture as biofilters to purify the culture water of P. vannamei („Algae scrubber” experiment and Native filamentous green algae Chaetomorpha sp. experiment), showing immediate observations and conclusions on the effects of algae on water quality and shrimps P. vannamei, as well as system maintenance.
The shrimp breeding experiment tested, among others, the effects of different size feeds and water turbidity on shrimp abundance and condition. Additionally, the introduction of native Baltic micro- and macro-algae was tested in RAS systems with shrimps. Through the experiments we examined not only the effectiveness of Baltic microalgae (mainly diatoms and cyanobacteria) and macroalgae (green algae of the genus Chaetomorpha) in purifying shrimp culture waters from excess nutrients, but also their effect on the animals condition. In addition, the possibility of microalgal biofilm formation on canvas and its functioning was tested.
At the end of the experiments, the animals were measured, weighted, documented in pictures and preserved for future analyses, i.e. sex determination, bacterial infections and parasites. The biomass of micro- and macroalgae was frozen to determine the biochemical composition. In addition, microalgae were transplanted into suitable media to isolate strains that can be used for future aquaculture experiments.