Effect of bacteria probiotics on maintaining water quality in the super alkaline shrimp pond water

This study was aimed at finding out whether bacteria probiotics could work properly in super alkaline pond water. Eight extensive ponds of about 0.5 ha in size located in Lanrisang district of Pinrang regency were used in this experiment. After pond preparation, 20,000 pcs of tiger prawn postlarvae were reared in each pond. Water quality of the pond and the bacterial count (total Vibrio and total bacteria) were monitored every two weeks and analyzed at the Research Institute for Coastal Aquaculture and Fisheries Extension Laboratory in Maros, South Sulawesi. Three bacteria probiotics applied here were Pseudoalteromonas sp Edeep-1 BL542, Brevibacillus laterosporus BT951, and Serratia marcescens MY1112. The powder form (A) and the liquid form (B) of bacteria probiotics were tested with four repetitions in each treatment. After 75 days of culture, both forms of bacteria probiotic had no significant differences on maintaining water quality since pond water pH sometimes increased up to 10.2. Bacteria probiotic could not work properly in super alkaline pond water. Consequently, the production and survival rate of the cultured shrimp were much lower than those of the average South Sulawesi brackishwater ponds.