Monitoring Your Aquaponics
System – Options
(From an Engineering Perspective!)
James M. Ebeling, Ph.D.
Environmental Engineer
Aquaculture Systems Technologies, LLC
New Orleans, LA
Fundamental Design Strategies
Routine Monitoring of
Important Water Quality
Parameters
The most sophisticated
monitoring and alarm system is
an attentive human operator!
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Fundamental Design Strategies
If Anything can go wrong, IT WILL!
• Imagine the WORST!!
• Then Prepare for it!
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Potential Emergencies
Type / System
Causes
Beyond your control
Flood, tornadoes, wind, snow, ice, storms
electrical outages, vandalism/theft
Staff errors
Operator "errors", overlooked maintenance causing
failure of back-up systems or systems components,
alarms deactivated.
Drain valve opened, standpipe fallen or removed, leak in
system, overflowing tank.
Tank water level
Water flow
Valve shut or opened too far, pump failure, loss of
suction head, intake screen plugged, pipe plugged.
Water quality
Low dissolved oxygen, high CO2, supersaturated water
supply, high or low temperature, high ammonia, nitrite,
or nitrate, low alkalinity.
Filters
Channeling/plugged filters, excessive head loss
Aeration system
Blower motor overheating because of excessive backpressure, drive belt loose or broken, diffusers plugged
or disconnected, leaks in supply lines.
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
What Processes Do I Have In Place to
Respond to Emergencies
• Ready Phone List
•
•
•
•
Plumbers
Electricians
Staff
Fire/Emergency
• Trained Staff
•
•
•
•
Logical Troubleshooting Procedures
Triage
Call for addition HELP!
Safety
• System Designed to Fail Reliably
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Response Times
High (fast response time – minutes)
• electrical power
• water level in tank
• dissolved oxygen –aeration system/ oxygen system
Medium (moderate response time – hours)
• temperature
• carbon dioxide
Low (normally slowly changing – days)
• pH
• alkalinity
• ammonia-nitrogen
• nitrite-nitrogen
• nitrate-nitrogen
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Design Strategies
• Basic System - Digital (On/Off)
• Analog Sensors
• Temperature
• Conductivity
• Dissolved Oxygen
• pH
• ORP
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
‘Basic’ System - Critical Parameters
• Basic Parameters – Digital (On/Off)
• Electric Power
• Tank water level
• Sump water level
• Water flow through pumps
• Air pressure
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Basic System - Sensors
• Basic Parameters – (On/Off)
• Electric Power
• Tank water level
• Sump water level
• Water flow through pumps
• Air pressure
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Electric Power
System Designed
to Fail Reliably
Power goes out, these normally open
solenoid values open and oxygen is
sparged into the production tanks
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Basic System - Sensors
• Basic Parameters – (On/Off)
• Electric Power
• Tank water level
• Sump water level
• Water flow through pumps
• Air pressure
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Water Level – Float Switches
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Water Level – Float Switches
High Water Level
Low Water Level
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Water Level – Float Switches
Sump Level Alarm
Inexpensive Reservoir Alarm
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Basic System - Sensors
• Basic Parameters – (On/Off)
• Electric Power
• Tank water level
• Sump water level
• Water flow through pumps
• Air pressure
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Water Flow – Flow Switches
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Basic System - Sensors
• Basic Parameters – (On/Off)
• Electric Power
• Tank water level
• Sump water level
• Water flow through pumps
• Air pressure
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Air Pressure – Pressure Switches
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Physical Plant Security
Intrusion alarms,
smoke, and fire
alarms!
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
‘Basic’ System – Sensaphone Model 400
• Monitors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Power Failure
One Temperature
Four Digital alert inputs - switch open/closed
Built-in Output Relay – control temperature/oxygen
High sound level
Battery condition
• Alarm Response
• Announces the alarm condition locally
• Telephones four numbers with a customized alarm message
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
The ‘Basic’ System
The 2.8K Weatherproof
Remote
Temperature sensor
The Sensaphone zone
water detector
is for detecting the
presence of water
on a floor
The FGD-0222 float
switch is a plastic
side mounted float
switch
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
The ‘Basic’ System

Basic Systems Disadvantage

Limited Expansion

Difficult to Disable Alarm Inputs

Difficult to Check Alarm and System Status
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Web-Based System – WEB600
• Spec’s
•
•
•
•
•
•
Six External Sensors – temperature, 4-20 mA, contact switch
Data Logging
Ethernet 10/1000Base-T
Built-in Output Relay – control temperature/oxygen
Local Alarm and Power Status LEDs
120 VAC, optional battery backup
• Alarm Response
• E-mail, Text Messages, Web Page
• Eight Progammable User Profiles
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Web-Based System – Web600
1) 5V DC Power Jack
2) Battery Backup Connector
3) Ethernet Jack
4) Relay Output
5) Sensor Input Terminal Strip
6) Status LEDs
2.8K Weatherproof Temperature Sensor
10K Weatherproof Temperature Sensor
10K Immersion Temperature Sensor
J Type Thermocouple/4-20mA
Carbon Monoxide Sensor
Air Quality Sensor
Humidity 4-20mA Transmitter
Zone Water Detector
Magnetic Reed Switch
Infa-Red Motion Detector
Smoke Detector
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
The ‘Advanced” Systems
Live status and history is only a webpage away. The
Web600 built in web server provides quick and easy
information about your monitored conditions.
Built in web server for easy
access to programming and status
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
The ‘Advanced” Systems
The Sensaphone Carbon Dioxide
sensor will allow you to monitor levels
of Carbon Dioxide from 0-2,000ppm
The Panasonic BLC111A network
camera camera features a 10x digital
zoom function in addition
to remote pan and tilt controls.
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
AquaController Apex Jr System
Built-in Ethernet
Integrated Ethernet port
Most advanced web server available
Interactive graphing application in the web server
Interfaces with AquaNotes iPhone application
Compatible with all Major web
Neptune Systems
6280 San Ignacio Ave. #E
San Jose
California
United States
95119
Very simple menu driven configuration
Menus to easily setup pumps, lights, heater, chiller, co2, etc
No programming required for configuration
Outlets can be renamed for easier use
Monitor/Control –
Probe modules available for additional Temperature,
pH, ORP, Conductivity/Salinity, and dissolved oxygen
probes
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
HD Wireless N Cube Network Camera
HD Wireless N Cube Network Camera
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Design Strategies
• Basic System - Digital (On/Off)
• Analog Sensors
• Temperature
• Conductivity
• Dissolved Oxygen
• pH
• ORP
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Analog Sensors - Temperature
Parameters - Analog (mV)
• Temperature
• high/low temperature alarm relays
• set point control relays
• data display
• data transmission
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Analog Sensors - Conductivity
Parameters - Analog (mV)
Conductivity
Control Dosing for Conductivity Control
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Analog Sensors
Parameters - Analog (mV)
• Dissolved Oxygen
• high/low DO alarm relays
• low DO control relays
• data display
• data transmission
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Analog Sensors - Dissolved Oxygen
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Analog Sensors - pH
Parameters - Analog (mV)
pH
Atlas-Scientific pH Module
for Arduino MIcrocomputer
Control Dosing for pH Control
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Analog Sensors - Sensors
Parameters - Analog (mV)
• Other Water Quality Parameters
•
•
•
•
•
Ammonia Nitrogen
Nitrate Nitrogen
Carbon Dioxide
Alkalinity
Others
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Intermediate System- Laboratory
A water quality lab doesn’t
have to be large,
but it should be dedicated
only to that task.
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
DIY System
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
DIY Systems
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
System Design
• choose sensors carefully, use the fewest possible,
label everything and include expansion capability in
all components.
• aquaculture facilities are now included under the
National Electric Code, it may not be of concern to
you, but it is to your insurance agent.
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
System Design
• mount sensors and equipment where they are visible and
easily accessible for service and calibration.
• remember that water and electricity make for a fatal
combination, so use low signal voltages (5 VDC, 12 VDC or
24 VDC or AC) to protect you and the fish.
• clearly label the sensor's armed and unarmed modes
preferably with LED's at each station to show sensor status.
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
System Maintenance
• Have a well prepared maintenance
manual accessible to the staff.
• Maintain a weekly/monthly/yearly
maintenance scheduling plan and
files of major service records and
equipment manuals.
• Maintain daily/weekly/monthly
instrument check lists.
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
System Maintenance
• Perform regular (and some unannounced) system checks,
including triggering of each sensor and checking operation
of the automatic backup systems and phone dialer.
• Provide staff training to handle routine alarms.
• Ensure staff familiarization with the complete operating
system, including water supply, aeration and emergency
backup systems.
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Safety!
• Electricity and water make a fatal combination!
• National Electric Codes
• Low voltage - 24 VAC or 12 or 24 VDC
• Maintenance schedule & regular system checks
• Staff training
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference
Questions?
2012 Aquaponics Association Conference