Reference Delivery
Whiteleg shrimp biofloc feeding — Ecuador
Illustrative scenario: intensifying a coastal whiteleg shrimp farm with acoustic-triggered automatic pond feeders, sinking crumble-to-pellet ladder feed and biofloc management, targeting a 25% harvest uplift per hectare.
- Ecuador
- Country
- Aquaculture (Litopenaeus vannamei)
- Category
- 3,000 t/year · 40 intensive ponds · auto feeders
- Scale
- 3
- Reference outcomes
Load requirements
Design loads used to size housing, utilities and equipment.
Feed ladder
0.4 · 0.8 · 1.5 · 2.4 mm sinking, 32–38% CP
Daily feed
14 t/day peak
Cycles / year
2.4 cycles at 105–115 day grow-out
Stocking density
180 PL/m²
Aeration installed
22 HP/ha (paddlewheel + injectors)
Feeding cadence
On-demand (acoustic click detection)
System design choices
Why each subsystem was specified the way it was.
| Area | Choice | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Feed delivery | 4 acoustic auto-feeders per pond, on-demand dosing | Shrimp click-feeding response drives dose only when animals eat — cuts overfeed 20–30%. |
| Biofloc management | Molasses C:N dosing + probiotic programme | Recycled N as microbial protein lowers effective FCR and reduces water exchange. |
| Aeration | Paddlewheel + submerged injector on downstream corner | Maintains ≥4 mg/L DO under 15 t/ha standing biomass and prevents feed-driven crashes. |
| Ration control | Weekly sampling + acoustic feed-response curve | Combines biomass estimate with real-time appetite signal — the gold standard for FCR. |
| Effluent | Sedimentation pond + constructed wetland | Meets Ecuador environmental licence and enables ASC-certified export markets. |
Results
Representative KPIs achieved on projects of this scope.
Yield / ha / cycle
12.6 t
FCR
1.28
Survival
82.7%
Harvest size
18 g at 108 days
Feed cost / kg shrimp
$1.42 (was $1.71)
Representative outcomes
- Typical scope: 40 × 1 ha ponds, 4 acoustic feeders/pond
- Typical outcome: yield 9.8 → 12.6 t/ha/cycle
- Typical outcome: FCR 1.55 → 1.28
Note: This case study is an anonymized reference scenario. Specific client identities, contract values and commercial terms are withheld under NDA. Figures reflect typical outcomes for projects of this scope and are not a guarantee for your project.