Shrimp Pond Preparation Before Stocking: Complete Guide

Why Is Pond Preparation Important in Vannamei Farming

The pond is the shrimp's complete environment. Unlike a tank where conditions can be controlled more easily, a shrimp pond contains soil, water, microorganisms, organic matter, plankton and other organisms that interact continuously.

The main objectives of pond preparation are to:

Remove remaining shrimp, fish and other unwanted organisms.

Remove excess organic matter from the pond bottom.

Oxidize accumulated organic waste.

Correct unsuitable soil conditions.

Reduce potential disease risks.

Prevent entry of unwanted organisms through incoming water.

Establish suitable water quality.

Develop a stable plankton community before stocking.

Plan the Next Crop Before Preparing the Pond

Your preparation plan should include:

Pond preparation date → water filling → water conditioning → seed booking → stocking date

Also estimate:

>Required PL quantity

>Stocking density

>Feed requirement

>Aeration requirement

>Power requirement

>Water requirement

>Labor requirement

>Expected harvest period

Completely Harvest the Previous Crop

After harvesting, remove as much remaining water as practical.

Complete draining helps remove:

>Unwanted fish

>Crabs

>Remaining shrimp

>Other crustaceans

>Organic waste

>Residues from the previous crop

Inspect the Pond Bottom

First inspect the pond bottom carefully.

Look for:

>Black soil

>Black sludge

>Bad smell

>Heavy organic accumulation

>Uneaten-feed areas

>Accumulation around pond corners

>Accumulation around aerator circulation zones

>Benthic algae

**Important

Do not simply cover bad black soil with lime and consider the pond prepared.**

Where possible, physically remove excessive accumulated organic matter first.

Remove Sludge and Organic Waste

Sludge commonly accumulates in:

Feeding areas

Pond corners

Central accumulation zones

Areas influenced by aerator circulation

Remove excessive sludge from the pond rather than allowing it to remain and decompose in the next crop.

Dry the Pond Bottom

Where the pond design and local conditions allow, dry the pond bottom thoroughly.

Proper drying can help:

>Oxidize organic matter

>Reduce accumulated waste

>Eliminate unwanted organisms and their eggs

>Improve soil condition

>Reduce problems carried over from the previous crop

However, drying time should be adapted to soil type, weather, pond construction and local conditions.

Plough the Pond Bottom

MPEDA recommends ploughing the pond 2–3 times, with approximately 2–3 days between ploughing operations, under its better management practices

Repair Pond Bunds and Structures

Inspect the entire pond before filling.

Check:

Pond bunds

Look for:

Rat holes

Crab holes

Erosion

Cracks

Low sections

Seepage

Inlet

Check:

Pipe condition

Valves

Filter fittings

Mesh

Connections

Outlet

Check:

Drainage channel

Screens

Gates

Emergency drainage arrangements

Electrical system

Inspect:

Aerators

Motors

Cables

Control panels

Pumps

Generators or backup power

It is much easier to repair these facilities while the pond is empty.

Test the Pond Soil

Testing should preferably include:

Soil pH

Organic matter/organic carbon

Relevant mineral parameters

Salinity/EC where appropriate

Other parameters identified by a qualified laboratory

Apply Lime Based on Soil Test Results

Do not use the same lime quantity for every pond.

Soil pH Burnt lime (CaO) kg/ha Agricultural lime (CaCO₃) kg/ha

5.0 200 400

5.5 150 300

6.0 100 200

6.5 50 100

Above 7 No lime required according to MPEDA guidance

Prepare the Reservoir

A reservoir is an important component of better pond management.

It allows incoming water to be:

>Screened

>Settled

>Conditioned

>Managed separately from grow-out ponds

MPEDA recommends using a reservoir and gives a 3:1 pond-area-to-reservoir-area ratio as a recommendation in its guidance

Install Proper Water Screening

Pre-filling checklist

☐ Inlet mesh intact

☐ Screen properly secured

☐ No gaps around pipes

☐ Reservoir ready

☐ Outlet screen installed

☐ No fish entry possible

☐ Crab control measures in place

Strengthen Farm Biosecurity

Biosecurity should be established before water enters the production pond.

Your farm biosecurity checklist

☐ Farm entrance controlled

☐ Bird control measures installed

☐ Crab control measures installed

☐ Inlet water screened

☐ Pond equipment cleaned

☐ Disinfection area prepared

☐ Separate sampling equipment available

☐ Unnecessary pond entry restricted

☐ Staff hygiene procedures established

Clean and Disinfect Equipment

Clean everything that will come into contact with the pond.

This includes:

>Nets

>Buckets

>Water-testing equipment

>Feed trays

>Pumps

>Pipes

>Sampling containers

>Boots

>Other pond implements

Check Water Quality Before Stocking

MPEDA's current farmer guidance lists these reference ranges:

Parameter MPEDA reference range

Dissolved oxygen 4–6 ppm

Temperature 28-32°C

pH 7.5–8.3

Salinity 10–25 ppt

Total alkalinity 100–200 ppm

Total ammonia 0.5 ppm

Transparence 30–40 cm

Water color Green or brown

Before stocking, check at minimum:

DO → Temperature → pH → Salinity → Alkalinity → Ammonia → Nitrite → Transparency

Prepare Aerators Before Stocking

Aerators should be fully operational before the shrimp arrive.

Check:

☐ Motor condition

☐ Paddlewheel condition

☐ Bearings

☐ Electrical connections

☐ Floaters

☐ Wiring

☐ Emergency backup

☐ Generator/fuel availability

Confirm Good-Quality Vannamei Seed

Before stocking, verify:

☐ Hatchery source

☐ Certification/testing information

☐ PL age and size

☐ Batch information

☐ Transport condition

☐ Seed activity and appearance

☐ Required health testing

Final Pond Inspection Before Stocking

This is the final checkpoint.

Walk around the entire farm and confirm:

Pond

☐ No excessive black sludge

☐ No dead animals

☐ No unwanted fish/crabs

☐ Water level suitable

☐ Water colour acceptable

☐ Plankton stable

Water quality

☐ DO checked

☐ Temperature checked

☐ pH checked

☐ Salinity checked

☐ Alkalinity checked

☐ Ammonia checked

☐ Nitrite checked where appropriate

Infrastructure

☐ Aerators operational

☐ Pumps operational

☐ Generator ready

☐ Inlet screens secure

☐ Outlet screens secure

Biosecurity

☐ Farm entrance controlled

☐ Disinfection station ready

☐ Equipment disinfected

☐ Bird/crab barriers checked

☐ Staff briefed

Seed

☐ Hatchery confirmed

☐ Seed quantity confirmed

☐ Transport planned

☐ Acclimation equipment ready

Only after this final inspection should stocking proceed.

Shrimp Pond Preparation Timeline

A practical preparation calendar can look like this:

Day 1–3

Complete harvest and drainage.

Day 2–7

Remove sludge, dead organisms and organic waste. Repair bunds, inlets and outlets.

Day 5–30

Dry and plough the pond according to soil, weather and farm conditions. MPEDA's BMP guidance describes approximately 20–30 days of sun drying under suitable conditions.

After drying

Test soil and apply appropriate lime based on the soil condition.

Before water filling

Complete biosecurity, water-screening and equipment preparation.

Water-filling stage

Fill with screened water and establish suitable pond conditions.

Pre-stocking period

Monitor water quality and stabilize the plankton bloom.

Stocking day

Confirm water quality, prepare seed acclimation and stock healthy certified PL according to the approved farm plan.

Common Mistakes Farmers Should Avoid

1. Stocking immediately after filling

A full pond is not necessarily a ready pond. Water quality and plankton stability should be checked first.

1. Ignoring black sludge

Covering organic waste without addressing the underlying problem can leave the pond bottom in poor condition.

1. Applying lime without testing

Lime requirements vary with soil condition. Test first.

1. Poor water screening

Unfiltered source water can introduce unwanted organisms and potential disease vectors.

1. Neglecting aerators

A broken aerator on stocking day is much easier to prevent than an oxygen emergency later.

1. Weak biosecurity

A clean pond can still be exposed to risks through people, equipment, birds, crabs or incoming water.

1. Over-fertilizing

Excessive plankton can create nighttime oxygen problems. MPEDA specifically warns against heavily fertilizing to produce dark-green water.

1. Using unapproved chemicals

Avoid using pesticides or other products outside approved and technically justified applications. Follow CAA and applicable regulatory requirements.

1. Buying seed only because it is cheaper

Seed health and source verification are critical.

1. No written checklist

A written pre-stocking checklist prevents small tasks from being forgotten.

Printable Vannamei Pond Preparation Checklist

Pond Bottom

☐ Harvest completed

☐ Pond drained

☐ Dead organisms removed

☐ Sludge removed

☐ Black soil removed/managed

☐ Pond dried

☐ Pond ploughed

☐ Pond bottom prepared

Soil

☐ Soil pH tested

☐ Soil condition evaluated

☐ Lime requirement calculated

☐ Lime applied where required

Water System

☐ Reservoir prepared

☐ Inlet checked

☐ Inlet screening installed

☐ Outlet checked

☐ Water source evaluated

☐ Pump tested

Biosecurity

☐ Farm entrance controlled

☐ Crab barriers checked

☐ Bird-control measures ready

☐ Equipment disinfected

☐ Separate sampling equipment available

☐ Worker hygiene system ready

Water Preparation

☐ Pond filled with screened water

☐ DO checked

☐ pH checked

☐ Temperature checked

☐ Salinity checked

☐ Alkalinity checked

☐ Ammonia checked

☐ Nitrite checked

☐ Transparency checked

☐ Plankton bloom established

Equipment

☐ Aerators serviced

☐ Pumps serviced

☐ Generator ready

☐ Electrical system checked

☐ Nets and buckets ready

☐ Feed storage ready

Seed

☐ Authorized hatchery confirmed

☐ Seed certification/testing verified

☐ PL quantity confirmed

☐ Transportation arranged

☐ Acclimation equipment ready

Final Approval

☐ Pond inspected

☐ Water quality acceptable

☐ Plankton stable

☐ Biosecurity complete

☐ Aeration ready

☐ Seed ready

☐ Stocking plan confirmed

Conclusion

Good vannamei shrimp farming starts before stocking.

A properly prepared pond gives the farmer a stronger foundation for managing water quality, feed, shrimp health and biomass throughout the crop.

The key sequence is:

Harvest → Drain → Remove sludge → Dry → Plough → Test soil → Lime where required → Repair pond → Prepare reservoir → Screen water → Strengthen biosecurity → Fill pond → Stabilize water and plankton → Check equipment → Verify seed → Acclimatize → Stock.