Effect of different total suspended solids concentrations on the growth performance of Litopenaeus vannamei in a BFT system

• Previous studies show that suspended solids can interfere in the shrimp growth.
• Litopenaeus vannamei growth at different total suspended solids levels were tried.
• Shrimp performance indices were similar in the different total suspended solids levels.
• Suspended solids did not seem to affect the growth at high dissolved oxygen levels.

Decreased Litopenaeus vannamei performance resulting from excess total suspended solids (TSS) has been highlighted in previous studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different TSS concentrations on the L. vannamei growth performance in a BFT system for 42 days. Five TSS concentrations were used—250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg L−1—in three replicates identified as T250, T500, T1000, T2000, and T4000, respectively, in 200 L-tanks each. Dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) was maintained above 5 mg L−1. Shrimp with an initial average weight of 4.57 ± 1.07 g were stocked at a density of 277 shrimp m−2. The physical and chemical parameters were monitored. Water quality parameters and animal performance were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA − one way). The physical and chemical parameters were within the recommended range for L. vannamei. Weekly weight gain, feed conversion rate, survival, and productivity showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). The high TSS concentrations did not seem to affect the performance of this species when DO concentrations were maintained above 5 mg L−1.