Use of Open Versus Closed Systems in Caribbean Prawn Hatcheries

The culture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the giant Malaysian prawn, has led to Caribbean culturists starting hatcheries to produce postlarvae as stock. Two systems are primarily employed: open, which utilize continuous or batch exchange of water, and closed, which recirculate the water. Open systems are generally safer since water exchanges can be made as needed. A disadvantage of open systems is that the hatchery must be located sufficiently near a sourer of saline water. Closed system hatcheries can be situated far from the coast, since the addition of both fresh and saline water is minimal. Disadvantages of closed systems arc the higher initial costs and difficulty in eliminating contaminated waters. ----- El cultivo de Macrobrachium rosenbergii, el camaron gigante de Malasia, ha obligado a los cultivadores del Caribe a empczar sus propios criaderos para la production de postlarvas para la cria. Los sistemas abiertos y cerrados son los dos ptincipales metodos usados. Los sistemas abiertos utilizan flujo continuo del agua o cambios frccuenres de esta. La vencaja de esce sistema esta en el poder eliminar aguas contaminadas en un momento determinado. Los sistemas cerrados recirculan el agua. Los criaderos dc sistema cerrado pucdcn set instalados lejos de la costa, ya que el uso de agua dulce y salada es minimo. Las desventajas de este sistema se deben al incremento del costo initial y al problema de deshacerse del agua dc cultivo cuando sutgen problemas. Los sistemas abiertos utilizan cambios continuous dc agua o en poca cantidad.