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Aquaculture Real-time Water Monitoring Project involving Campbell Scientific and Pacific Reef Fisheries. Purpose of the Initiative.
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Aquaculture Real-time Water Monitoring Project involving Campbell Scientific and Pacific Reef Fisheries
Purpose of the Initiative • The overall aim of this project was to assess potential benefits of technology providing real-time monitoring and recording of pond water pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen for potential future uptake by other industry operators to drive productivity and profitability.
Proposed Outcomes • The ultimate outcome of this project was that it would lead to the uptake of cost-effective water monitoring and communications technologies that would drive improved productivity for the Queensland aquaculture industry over the next 2-5 years. • Other outcomes that were anticipated from this Aquaculture project, were: • Aquaculture industry farm operators would have a better understanding of real-time water quality monitoring and recording of pond water pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels. • A packaged solution involving expertise and equipment would be made accessible to aquaculture operators to assist them with real-time water quality monitoring and recording of pond water pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels. • Aquaculture industry operators would understand the benefits such as productivity and improved profitability that could be gained if they implemented real-time water quality monitoring, recording and control of pond water pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels.
Campbell Scientific has been designing and manufacturing innovative measurement instrumentation since 1974. Their products are very versatile and are used in a wide variety of applications from agriculture, weather and climate, aquaculture and mining just to name a few.
Pacific Reef Fisheries Site • Two sites were chosen to have the instrumentation installed – a production pond and its final discharge point (W1). • The PRF laboratory was used as its telecommunications base. • Distance • Lab to W1 = ~1.7kms • Lab to Production Pond = ~1km
The Instrumentation • Sensors • CS511 DO sensor • a rugged, low-maintenance sensor • consists of a self polarizing galvanic cell that generates a millivolt signal proportional to the amount of oxygen present in the water • Oxygen diffuses through the membrane onto a cathode that produces a chemical reaction. An electrical current is produced by this reaction, which is converted from microamps to millivolts by an inline resistor. An in-line thermistor provides automatic temperature compensation. • 109SS Temperature Probe • encased in a rugged 316L stainless-steel sheath protecting the thermistor and allowing it to be buried or submerged in harsh, corrosive environments. • This probe also has a fast time response.
The Instrumentation • Sensors cont. • CS526 Isolated ISFET pH Probe • makes reliable, more accurate pH measurements in extreme pH conditions • The probe uses SENTRON’s high-tech, Ion Sensitive Field Effect Transistor (ISFET) semi-conductor as its pH-sensitive element, and includes a silver/silver chloride - potassium chloride reference system. • This technology allows the CS526 to monitor pH in liquids containing high solids, aggressive chemicals, or biological materials that would clog or contaminate the junction of the traditional glass bulb pH probes. • Its rugged design makes it suitable for just about any liquid pH-monitoring application, from laboratory to harsh field applications. • Elimination of the glass-bulb removes the possibility of broken glass, making the CS526 more rugged and safer to use and allows for longer deployment in the field. • Easily cleaned
The Instrumentation • Data loggers • The CR200 and CR800 data loggers used are both small lost cost devices capable for measuring one to two sensors. • CR200 – Location = W1 • CR800 – Location = Production Pond • The CR800 is able to be used with telecommunication devices such as the cellular telephone, UHF/VHF RF modems and satellite transceivers.
The Instrumentation • Software • LoggerNet 4 Data Logger Support Software • allows you to: • configure the server to communicate with multiple data loggers via a variety of communications hardware • connect to a data logger to send programs, or perform other administrative functions • program the data loggers, • collect and process data files, • monitor and troubleshoot the network, • create graphical data displays that update when data is collected, • create automated tasks. • the LoggerNet server stores the data in a cache and writes data to a variety of formats, including CSV and XML that can be imported into third-party analysis packages. • PC Operating System – Windows 7, Vista or XP
Real-time Water Monitoring Project • The Initial installation of this equipment was carried out on 6th December 2011. • Initially communication between the sites and the software was an issue, however once some slight aerial adjustments and reconfiguration of the software the remote sensing begun. • After some support and guidance from Campbell Scientific staff, using the LoggerNet program was quite easy, however the utilization of the program was not used to its potential. • real time displays, allowed you to monitor the WQ in either location whilst sitting at your computer in the laboratory. • Once fully operational, water quality measurements from both sites were at times unreliable and inaccurate, mainly attributed to heavy bio-fouling. • Barnacles coupled with organic matter were so aggressive that they completely covered the sensors within two weeks. • Regular weekly cleaning was essential to keep these probes free from fouling organisms and to allow the probes to measure the water as accurately as possible. • Within 5-7 days from cleaning, WQ readings started to fluctuate and fall out of accuracy, initiating the software to send false alarms on a regular basis. • On the 19th April Campbell Scientific revisited the site to reinstall the pH probe at the production pond and remove the pH probe from location W1. This probe was damaged by the heavy fouling and was not replaced.
Conclusion • All CS probes followed similar trends to PRF instrumentation, however in terms of accuracy the CS probes were subject to error. • PRF will continue working with Campbell Scientific to trial this WQ system and hope to rectify the ongoing issues in order to obtain a reliable dataset. • In terms of increasing production and profitability using this Real time monitoring system, if you operate in a controlled environment free from bio-fouling such as a hatchery or in an intensive recirculating system then this may be the answer. • Personally I would prefer to physically measure each pond twice a day knowing I have my sight, smell and hearing to help me with my water quality management than to spend once a week cleaning over 80 sites worth of water quality instrumentation. Till we solve the ever pressing fouling issue, innovation and new technology can not be utilized.
Customer Support • Contact Campbell Scientific • Website • http://www.campbellsci.com.au • Email • info@campbellsci.com.au • Phone • +61 (0)7 4401 7700 • Fax • +61 (0)7 4755 0355 • Address • Campbell Scientific Australia411 Bayswater RoadGarbutt, QLD 4814
