A 5-hectare shrimp farm in Ecuador lost 40 tons of Litopenaeus vannamei in 2023 because of overdosed TCCA — the operator added 500g per m3 when 5g per m3 was the intent. This guide gives you the safe, scientifically validated dosing for TCCA in aquaculture.
1. When and Why to Use TCCA in Aquaculture
- Pre-stocking pond preparation: kill pathogens, wild fish, larvae
- Emergency treatment: Vibrio outbreak, EMS, AHPND, white spot
- Water disinfection: incoming pond water before stocking
- Equipment sanitation: nets, boots, buckets between ponds
2. Safe Dosage Chart by Application
| Application | TCCA Dose | Contact Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty pond disinfection | 30-50 g/m3 | 3-5 days, then dechlorinate | NO fish present |
| Pond water pre-stock treatment | 10-15 g/m3 | 72 hours, dechlorinate | NO fish present |
| Emergency shrimp EMS treatment | 0.3-0.5 g/m3 | Continuous, monitor | Reduce feed 50% |
| Routine biosecurity (nursery) | 0.5 g/m3 | Weekly | Test residual daily |
| Net/equipment sanitation | 200 g/m3 | 15 min soak, then rinse | PPE required |
3. Species-Specific Sensitivity
| Species | LC50 (Cl mg/L) | Safe Max Cl residual |
|---|---|---|
| Tilapia | 1.5-2.0 | 0.05 mg/L |
| Carp | 1.0-1.5 | 0.03 mg/L |
| Litopenaeus vannamei (shrimp) | 0.5-0.8 | 0.02 mg/L |
| Trout / Salmon | 0.3-0.5 | 0.01 mg/L |
| Eel | 0.4-0.7 | 0.02 mg/L |
4. Critical Rule: Dechlorination Before Restocking
After empty-pond disinfection with 30-50 g/m3 TCCA:
- Wait minimum 5 days (7 days recommended)
- Test free chlorine at pond outlet (should be < 0.01 mg/L)
- If Cl still present, add sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3·5H2O) at 3× the residual Cl mg/L
- Retest after 30 minutes
- Restock only when residual Cl is truly zero
5. Case Study: Vietnam Shrimp Farm Recovery
A 20-ha farm near Ca Mau, Vietnam, suffered white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in 2022, losing 60% of stock. Recovery protocol:
- Drained ponds, sun-dried bottom for 15 days
- Applied TCCA at 40 g/m3, held 5 days
- Dechlorinated with sodium thiosulfate
- Refilled with filtered seawater
- Applied probiotics (Bacillus subtilis) 48h before restocking
- Restocked at reduced density (60/m2 vs previous 100/m2)
Result: subsequent harvest cycle 100% pathogen-free, harvest weight 15% above baseline.
6. Common Mistakes
- Dosing TCCA when fish are present at pond-disinfection rate (10-50 g/m3) → mass mortality
- Skipping dechlorination step and restocking too early
- Not accounting for pH — TCCA at pH < 6.0 releases free chlorine 3× faster
- Confusing SDIC and TCCA doses (SDIC is 60%, TCCA is 90% — very different)
- Using tablet form in shallow ponds → uneven concentration, dead zones
7. FAQ
Q: Can I use TCCA in freshwater tilapia ponds?
A: Only during empty-pond preparation. Never with fish present unless at emergency micro-doses of 0.1-0.3 g/m3 under expert supervision.
Q: Is TCCA safe for organic certified aquaculture?
A: Most organic certifications (Naturland, BioSuisse) allow TCCA for pre-stocking preparation but not with live fish present.
Q: How much TCCA per hectare of shrimp pond?
A: For 1 hectare × 1.2m depth = 12,000 m3. Empty-pond disinfection: 360-600 kg TCCA (30-50 g/m3).
Volume TCCA for Aquaculture Farms
Shilan Chemical supplies aquaculture farms across Vietnam, Ecuador, India, Thailand. Special aquaculture-grade TCCA with low residual heavy metals. Request aquaculture quote →