DEVELOPMENT OF FISH POND MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM

Abstract

ABSTRACT Automated system of fish farming has become inevitable due to the immense importance of fisheries aquaculture. The efficiency of any fish rearing system depends on monitoring and control of pond water quality parameters as well as adequate feeding and a reliable power source. This work presents a fish pond monitoring and control system that improves on the efficiency of fish rearing. A sensor network consisting of temperature, pH, turbidity and water level sensors was used to measure water quality parameters and then relay the readings to the pond manager through a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) module. Automatic feeding system controlled by servo motor and a real time clock (RTC) for adequate feeding of the fishes was also developed. The turbidity sensor was used to prevent feed wastage (and hence water pollution). Readings obtained from the sensors were displayed on liquid crystal display (LCD). An automatic water circulation system controlled by pumping machine and filters for pond water purification was also developed. The water level sensor ensured that the fish pond is filled with water only to the optimum level. Microcontrollers (Arduino Uno and Arduino mega) programmed using C++ language were used to effect the monitoring and control of the system. Each sensor was interfaced with the microcontrollers through analog to digital converters (ADC). A prototype fish pond was constructed to demonstrate the workability of this system and several tests were carried out on this prototype to verify the efficiency of the designed system. A total number of ten (10) catfish fingerlings were reared for a period of six (6) weeks within which water quality parameters, weight gain, and feed consumed were measured. Readings obtained were analyzed using Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), which is measured as a ratio of the ratio of the total amount of feeds given to the total gain in weight by the fishes, and Feeding Efficiency (FE), measured as the inverse of the FCR expressed as a percentage. Similar amount of fishes were reared using a manually operated fish pond and the readings obtained were analyzed using the same parameters and then compared with the results from the designed automated system. The test results showed that the FCR for the fishes reared using the developed prototype was 1.18, which is smaller than that of the manually operated system which was 1.82. This indicated that fewer amounts of feeds were used in the developed system to achieve a higher productivity as compared to the manual system. Also, the FE of the fishes reared using the developed system was 84.7% which indicated a higher feeding efficiency as compared to 54.9% obtained in the manually operated system. Furthermore, the average gain in weight per fish for fishes in the automated system for the six weeks experimental period was 28.95g as compared to 18.45g of those in the manually operated system. These results also indicated a higher level of efficiency as compared to many existing automated fish ponds especially in the area of feeding efficiency. These results further showed the robustness and efficiency of the developed system over the conventional manual system of fish rearing.