Comparison of Automated versus Manual Monitoring of Levels of Dissolved Oxygen in Aquaculture Ponds

Automated water quality monitoring systems can be used to help maintain optimal levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) in aquaculture systems by continuously monitoring oxygen concentrations and immediately turning on aerators to supplement oxygen if a critical limit is reached. This study compares differences in water quality maintenance under operation schemes using manual and automated water quality monitoring of DO concentrations. A commercial automated monitoring system will be used to monitor the DO concentrations in the aquaculture ponds on the Mississippi State University campus. Data collected by this system will be used to document the amount of time that DO concentrations would have fallen below threshold levels under a manual monitoring operation scheme. Mississippi State University aquaculture facility employees will be interviewed to determine how often DO measurements are needed and how often they can be collected from the entire 75 pond complex. Data collected by the automated monitors will be used to simulate manual data collection by using the automated measurements and the sampling timeline for manual collection. Using this information will determine the amount of time that DO concentrations in the pond would have been below acceptable levels without automated monitoring. Automated monitoring systems should detect low DO concentrations more quickly than manual monitoring which will promote fish growth and facilitate the management and planning of aquaculture operations, and therefore increase overall production for catfish farms and other aquaculture industries across the country.