1. Why NO₂ is the silent killer in shrimp ponds
In the nitrogen cycle, NH₃ oxidizes into NO₂ then NO₃. If nitrifying bacteria are insufficient, residual NO₂ enters shrimp blood, binds hemocyanin, and impairs oxygen transport — shrimp suffocate even at normal DO. Symptoms: surface gasping, stunted growth, poor moulting, rising FCR.
MAX 4000 NEW directly supplies Bacillus subtilis and Pediococcus acidilactici — strains that metabolize nitrogen compounds and decompose organics — cutting NH₃ at the source and accelerating NO₂ removal.
2. Dosage — by culture stage
Mix with clean water or culture biomass before broadcasting:
- Before stocking: 1 sachet/1,000 – 2,000 m³, 2 – 3 days prior.
- Nursery phase: 1 sachet/1,500 – 2,000 m³, daily.
- Grow-out: 1 sachet/1,500 – 2,000 m³ every 3 – 5 days.
- Heavy pollution: use pellet form directly on black-bottom zones.
- Alternate with SOILMAX or BACWAT for double effect.
3. Two ways to apply
Choose either method based on farm setup:
- Method 1 — biomass culture: soak the sachet with molasses/sugar in 20 L water, aerate 2 – 4 h before broadcasting. Highest efficacy.
- Method 2 — direct mix: dissolve in 30 L water, broadcast pond-wide. Convenient for fast response.
4. Optimal application timing
Microbes need oxygen and light. Standard schedule:
- 10 – 11 AM: water treatment & gas removal — peak effect.
- 9 – 10 PM: cut blue-green / green / red algae.
- Run all aerators when broadcasting so microbes spread and get oxygen.
5. Combinations & cautions
MAX 4000 NEW does not replace water exchange, bottom siphoning, or aeration. It's the biological piece of the water-treatment puzzle:
- + SOILMAX: clean bottom slime, reduce accumulated organics.
- + OZYME: enzyme blend for algae cutting and liner slime.
- + Run aerators + frequent siphoning in late culture.
- Note: adjust dose to actual conditions. Reseal bag tightly after use.
Verbatim from the MAX 4000 (227 g) label — synced with the product page to avoid drift.
Before stocking: 1 pack/1,000 – 2,000 m³, 2 – 3 days before stocking. Nursery stage: 1 pack/1,500 – 2,000 m³, daily. During culture: 1 pack/1,500 – 2,000 m³, every 3 – 5 days. How to use: aerate the pack with microbial biomass nutrient, sugar or molasses in about 20 L of water for 2 – 4 hours before use; or dilute in 30 L of water and spread directly into the pond. Best at 10 – 11 am; to control green, blue-green or red algae apply at 9 – 10 pm with all paddlewheels running. Can be alternated with SOILMAX or BACWAT. Adjust the dose to the pond's condition. Seal and zip the bag after use.
- Supplementing beneficial microorganisms into the pond environment to participate in decomposing accumulated organic matter and sediment, contributing to reducing the formation and accumulation of toxic gases such as NH₃, NO₂, H₂S in the water and pond bottom mud.
- Support the metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds, contributing to water quality stabilization under intensive and high-density farming conditions.
- Stabilize the environmental microbial ecosystem, limit toxic gas generation from excess feed and organic waste.
- Contribute to improving water quality and pond bottom sediment, creating a favorable environment for farmed animals to grow and develop.
NO₂ over limit, shrimp gasping, stunted growth?
Call Than Vuong technicians at 0867 957 568 for a same-day MAX 4000 dosing plan based on your water test results.