The Blueweight expert team is regularly involved in on-site visits with farmers — resolving issues in real time, in the field. One such visit led to a case that perfectly illustrates how fast ammonia can be brought under control when the right product is applied with the right guidance.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao, from Lodidilanka, Krishna District, AP, contacted the Blueweight team reporting abnormal shrimp activity and a few mortalities at DOC 80 — just 10 days from harvest. He was midway through what should have been a strong crop. The sudden changes had increased his anxiety significantly.
The Field Visit & Laboratory Test
Blueweight field technician Mr. Satish Allu visited the pond and collected a water sample. At the Blueweight laboratory in Kalidindi, Krishna District, the sample was tested using an API ammonia test kit. The result was clear — pond total ammonia had risen to 1.5 ppm due to high nitrification at this late stage of the culture cycle.
Although Mr. Srinivasa Rao was familiar with Blueweight, he had not used the specific products available for ammonia control. The high organic load at DOC 80 — decomposing feed residue, fecal matter, and microbial activity — had overwhelmed the natural nitrification capacity of the pond.
The Treatment Protocol
With guidance from Blueweight's Kalidindi depot head Mr. Sreemannarayana, field technician Satish Allu recommended a combination protocol:
Blueweight Protocol — Ammonia Control
Zeoweight
10–20 kg/acre — zeolite-based ammonia adsorber, provides immediate binding of free NH₃
Odosweep
250g/acre — Bacillus-based probiotic that accelerates nitrification, converting NH₃ → NO₂ → NO₃
Reduce feeding by 50%
Until ammonia levels normalise — uneaten feed is the primary ammonia source
The Result — Next Morning
By the very next morning, Mr. Srinivasa Rao contacted the team overwhelmed with surprise. Shrimp activity in the pond had visibly improved. A follow-up water test confirmed a drastic reduction in ammonia — from 1.5 ppm to safe levels within 24 hours. No further mortalities were recorded.
The crop proceeded to full harvest at DOC 90 — biomass intact, harvest weight on target.
“I was planning emergency measures at 2 AM. My Blueweight field agent said to apply the combination first. By the next morning the shrimp were behaving normally. It saved my crop. I will always keep these products on hand from now.”
Key Takeaways for Farmers
- ✦Test ammonia weekly from DOC 60 onwards — organic load peaks in the last 30 days of the crop.
- ✦Act at 0.5 ppm, not 1.5 ppm — earlier intervention is far more effective and less stressful.
- ✦Use zeolite + probiotic together — zeolite adsorbs immediately, probiotics fix the underlying nitrification.
- ✦Always run maximum aeration during an ammonia event — DO supports the nitrifying bacteria that fix the problem.