Choosing the right aeration tubing is one of the most important decisions in shrimp farming. The tubing sits at the bottom of the pond and controls how much oxygen reaches the shrimp at the sediment layer — where the risk of hypoxia is highest.
1. Bubble size matters more than you think
Fine-bubble tubing (20–30 µm pores) transfers oxygen far more efficiently than coarse bubbles. Small bubbles have a larger surface area per volume of air, so more oxygen dissolves before the bubble reaches the surface. This is the main reason microporous systems achieve roughly 50% energy savings compared with paddle wheel aerators: the same dissolved oxygen target is reached with less air and less power.
2. Match the air flow to the pond
As a rule of thumb, a 1-acre (about 4,000 m²) shrimp pond at 1.5 m depth needs roughly 0.5–0.75 m³/min of blower air through properly distributed tubing. Ponds with higher stocking density need more. Always oversize the blower by 15–20% to cover tube aging and water temperature effects.
3. Water depth and tube placement
Microporous tubes work well from 0 to 5 m depth. Lay tubing in parallel rows 6–10 m apart, suspended 5–15 cm above the pond bottom. This creates a rolling water movement that carries oxygen through the whole water column, not just near the tubes.
4. Clog resistance
Choose self-sealing tubes: the pores close when the blower stops, keeping silt and biofilm out. Tubes that stay open when idle clog quickly in shrimp ponds, raising back pressure and cutting air output over time.
5. Quick selection table
| Pond size | Recommended blower | Tubing length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 acre (4,000 m²) | 1.5 kW Roots blower | 300–400 m |
| 2 acres (8,000 m²) | 2.2 kW Roots blower | 600–800 m |
| 5 acres (20,000 m²) | 5.5 kW Roots blower | 1,500–2,000 m |
Need help sizing a system for your pond? Our engineers design complete aeration layouts free of charge — send us your pond size and stocking density.