Full Cycle
Product Application Guidelines: Earth Bottom Ponds
01 — Overview
What this protocol is for
This is the complete product application reference for earthen ponds from preparation through harvest. It includes optional steps for ponds with high organic matter or disease history, incoming water disinfection with AlphaSep, mineral pre-treatment with MinGro, and the full grow-out dosage schedule.
Primary Objective
Provide a complete product application reference for the entire production cycle in earthen ponds.
02 — Indications
When to use this protocol
Earthen ponds, all species, standard and post-disease production cycles.
Important Notes
- !
Do not use lime, dolomite, or zeolite with Blue Aqua system.
- !
No antibiotics, disinfectants during culture, pesticides, or herbicides.
- !
No water exchange. Top up with treated water only.
- !
The high-organic-matter pre-treatment (Step 2) and post-disease chlorination (Step 3) are optional steps applied only under the specific conditions described.
03 — Procedure
Step-by-step instructions
- 1
Drain and dry
Drain the pond. Remove all sludge and debris. Sun dry for 7 to 10 days until surface cracks appear.
- 2
Optional: high organic matter or low ORP pre-treatment
If pond has high organic matter or low ORP: apply SoilGro 2 kg per hectare with sugar or molasses. Aerate. Leave 4 days. Discharge. Repeat for a total of 8 days.
- 3
Optional: post-disease chlorination
If pond had a disease event in the previous cycle: fill to maximum level. Wait 2 or more days for pathogen spores or eggs to hatch. Apply 10 ppm free chlorine (bacterial) or 30 ppm (viral). Leave 3 days. Aerate on Day 4 to evaporate chlorine.
- 4
Incoming water disinfection
Disinfect incoming water with AlphaSep 1 to 2 ppm (10 to 20 kg per hectare). Leave for 1 day.
- 5
Mineral pre-treatment
Apply MinGro 10 kg per hectare (1 ppm) for 2 to 3 days with aerators running.
- 6
Phytoplankton check before stocking
Confirm Secchi disk reads 50 cm. Phytoplankton bloom must be established before stocking.
- 7
Day 1: Artemia supplement
Apply Artemia at 1 can per 200,000 PLs.
- 8
- 9
Day 4: SoilGro
Apply SoilGro at recommended dosage. Following day: apply molasses.
- 10
Regular dosage schedule from 1 week post-stocking through harvest
See Parameters table for the full schedule by culture phase. AlphaGuard*L Plus is applied daily via feed throughout.
04 — Parameters
Key parameters to monitor
Parameter
Target / Range
MinGro: Days 1 to 15
10 kg per hectare weekly
MinGro: Days 15 to 30
10 kg per hectare weekly
MinGro: Days 30 to 60
6 kg per hectare twice weekly
MinGro: Days 60 to 90
8 kg per hectare twice weekly
MinGro: Days 90 to harvest
10 kg per hectare twice weekly
SoilGro: all phases
250 g per hectare weekly
Molasses: all phases
10 to 15 percent of daily total feed (day after SoilGro)
AlphaGuard*L Plus: all phases
3 to 5 mL per kg of feed daily
Chlorination: post disease (bacterial)
10 ppm free chlorine, 3 days
Chlorination: post disease (viral)
30 ppm free chlorine, 3 days
Secchi disk at stocking
50 cm
DO (pond bottom)
at least 3 to 4 ppm
05 — Products
Products used in this protocol
Each product name links to its Blue Aqua product page for specifications and purchasing.