"Controlled testing"? It's all "controlled testing", whether it's one tank or several. And the cost could be distributed among several smaller tanks, using a single EC unit.
SHMP appears to literally have put all their shrimp in one basket. The result? An undefined timeline for completing their evaluation. Worse yet...the apparent failure to anticipate all reasonably possible outcomes.
I'm reminded of what was attributed to Thomas Edison when asked about all his failures (paraphrasing): I know 1000 ways NOT to make a lot bulb. What do you know?
I wish them the best. But I don't believe they know exactly what they're doing, after $35M.