Mobile shrimp pond model helps reduce costs and improve farming efficiency

Scientists from Hanoi University of Civil Engineering have developed a mobile shrimp pond model assembled from lightweight fiberglass reinforced concrete, allowing people to easily install it in many different terrains, reducing pond digging costs, facilitating water treatment and protecting the environment.

New solutions from lightweight, durable and easy-to-construct materials

According to the research team at Vietnam FRP Polymer Fiber Joint Stock Company (a startup of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering), the mobile shrimp pond model is assembled from Nucewall lightweight concrete panels with FRP fiberglass reinforced polymer core. Each panel weighs less than 50 kg, can be disassembled and transported easily, suitable for river conditions or areas with complex terrain.

"These panels are light, durable and have good load-bearing capacity. People can assemble them quickly like Lego pieces, making them convenient when moving or changing shrimp farming locations," said MSc. Nguyen Van Khanh, Lecturer at the Faculty of Civil and Industrial Construction, Director of FRP Vietnam Company.

At the FRP plant in Hanoi, glass fiber reinforced polymer bars are produced at a rate of 1 km/day, then shipped to the Nucewall plant in Hung Yen to be cast into lightweight concrete panels. The entire structure is stored in warehouses ready for transport and installation at the farms.

Farmers proactively apply the model

In Ha Tinh , Mr. Giang, a shrimp farmer, said that he has installed three floating circular ponds since 2020, each pond is 10-15 m in diameter and 1.2 m high. One pond is used for settling water, one for shrimp farming and one for wastewater treatment combined with tilapia farming. Thanks to the circular design and funnel-shaped bottom, collecting waste, bottom sludge and water treatment becomes easier.

"Raising shrimp in floating ponds helps control water quality more easily, especially during heavy rains or floods. Water can be circulated and reused, significantly reducing costs," Giang shared.

According to him, the cost of installing a mobile floating pond 10 meters in diameter and 1.5 meters high is only about 35 million VND, half the cost of digging a new pond.

According to MSc. Nguyen Van Khanh, the floating circular pond model made of lightweight concrete helps save land, is suitable for small-scale farming households and can be expanded to 40 m in diameter depending on demand. For large ponds, only 3 stirring blades are needed to maintain the dissolved oxygen level.

Materials researched by FRP Vietnam have high corrosion resistance, can withstand saltwater, acid and alkaline environments, so they can be flexibly applied to both aquaculture and dry season freshwater storage in drought, saltwater intrusion or island areas.

Currently, the floating circular pond model has been widely applied in Indonesia and is gradually becoming popular in Vietnam. Many localities have encouraged people to experiment with this model to increase productivity, reduce environmental risks and save on initial investment costs.

"We hope to cooperate with programs of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as private partners to replicate this assembled shrimp pond model to more farming households," said MSc. Khanh.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/mo-hinh-ao-tom-di-dong-giup-giam-chi-phi-nang-cao-hieu-qua-nuoi-trong-197251011204315386.htm