Real Time Water Quality Monitoring for a Coastal Fish Farming Application
Supporting Aquaculture Through Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring
Maintaining stable water conditions is one of the most important operational requirements within fish farming. Changes in dissolved oxygen and water temperature can affect fish health, feeding behaviour and overall farm performance, particularly in coastal environments where conditions may change rapidly.
Supmea instrumentation was selected for a seawater monitoring project serving fish farming locations in Wando, South Korea. The system was designed to provide continuous information on water conditions and help operators identify the development of low-oxygen, or hypoxic, conditions.
As Supmea’s official partner for the UK and Scandinavia, Total Pressure Solutions can support fish farms, aquaculture technology providers and system integrators with water quality instrumentation for both new and existing monitoring systems.
The Challenge of Managing Hypoxic Conditions in Fish Farms
Dissolved oxygen is a critical parameter in aquaculture. When oxygen concentrations fall, fish may experience stress, reduced appetite and impaired growth. Prolonged or severe oxygen depletion can present a significant risk to stock.
Water temperature also requires close monitoring because it can influence fish metabolism and the amount of oxygen that water can retain. Understanding changes in both parameters gives operators a clearer view of developing water quality conditions.
For this coastal installation, the monitoring system needed to:
- Measure dissolved oxygen and water temperature at multiple locations.
- Collect information continuously to help identify trends.
- Operate at remote seawater monitoring sites.
- Communicate readings back to a central system.
- Provide remote access to current water condition data.
- Support earlier identification of potentially harmful hypoxic conditions.
The Supmea Monitoring Solution for Aquaculture
The project incorporated dissolved oxygen sensors and temperature sensors alongside datalogging, communications and display equipment.
The installed system included:
- Five temperature sensors
- Four 13-channel dataloggers
- Four solar powered control and communication platforms
- Four electronic display boards
Equipment was installed across four separate monitoring locations in the Wando area. Solar powered control systems supported operation at remote coastal sites, while the dataloggers collected measurements from the field instrumentation.
The monitoring information was then made available through an online platform, allowing current water conditions to be checked through remote monitoring systems.
Continuous Remote Monitoring for Faster Decision Making
Continuous measurement provides a much clearer understanding of water conditions than occasional manual sampling alone. It allows operators to observe changes over time and identify trends that may require further investigation.
In a fish farming environment, access to timely dissolved oxygen and water temperature information can support decisions relating to:
- Aeration and oxygenation
- Feeding schedules
- Stock management
- Water circulation
- Pumping and filtration
- Environmental risk management
- Maintenance and operational planning
Remote monitoring systems can be especially valuable for geographically dispersed farms and offshore or coastal installations where regular manual measurements may be difficult.
Relevant Water Analysis Technology for Scandinavian Aquaculture
Scandinavia is home to some of the world’s most advanced aquaculture operations. Fish farms, recirculating aquaculture systems, hatcheries and smolt facilities all depend on reliable information about the conditions in which fish are raised.
Although every installation is different, the principles demonstrated by the Korean project are directly relevant to Nordic aquaculture applications.
Supmea instrumentation is available for measuring key water and process parameters, including:
- Conductivity and salinity-related changes
- Turbidity
Multi-parameter water quality systems can combine several measurements within one monitoring arrangement, giving operators a broader view of water conditions. Depending on the engineered system, measurements can include pH, conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, temperature and ORP.
Supmea optical dissolved oxygen technology is also available specifically for aquaculture applications. Digital RS-485 Modbus communication enables integration with online controllers, automation equipment and remote monitoring systems.
Supporting New and Existing Aquaculture Systems
Total Pressure Solutions works with customers to identify instrumentation suited to their application, installation environment and control requirements.
Support can include:
- Product and sensor selection
- Water quality monitoring packages
- Flow, level, pressure and temperature measurement
- Instrumentation for seawater and freshwater systems
- Integration with dataloggers, PLCs and control systems
- Replacement or modernisation of existing instruments
- Technical and commercial support
- Complete instrumentation packages for system builders
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Solutions can be considered for open water fish farms, land based aquaculture facilities, hatcheries, recirculating aquaculture systems and associated water treatment processes.
Talk to Total Pressure Solutions for Aquaculture Instrumentation
Reliable water quality information gives aquaculture operators greater visibility of changing conditions and supports faster, better-informed operational decisions.
Total Pressure Solutions is the official Supmea partner for the UK and Scandinavia, providing access to a comprehensive range of water-analysis and process instrumentation supported by experienced technical specialists.
Contact Total Pressure Solutions to discuss dissolved oxygen monitoring, multi-parameter water analysis or instrumentation for your aquaculture application
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