The vital role of dissolved oxygen sensors in shrimp farming and Aquaculture

In 2018, a tilapia farm in Ghana faced a sudden and massive die-off, forcing it to shut down. The investigation led to the discovery of a specific bacterium, suspected of being related to drastically low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water.

From the above case, you can imagine that the Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is crucial for the aquatic creatures’ survival. And if we talk about shrimp farming, it’s no secret amongst the aquaculture industry that shrimp are one of the most delicate species.

Even though the atmosphere contains about 21% oxygen, it’s a whole different story in the shrimp pond. Underwater, the dissolved oxygen saturation level in water is 25 times lower than in ambient air at the same temperature; therefore, Aquatic animals need more energy to breathe compared to terrestrial animals. The ability of oxygen to dissolve in water depends on factors such as atmospheric pressure, temperature, and water salinity. Oxygen dissolves more in water when temperature and salinity decrease.

Why should we pay attention to maintaining the optimum dissolved oxygen in shrimp farming?

• To ensure the feeding and digestion of the shrimp. Proper oxygen levels aid in digestion and nutrient absorption, helping them grow healthily.

• Your shrimp will be disease-resistant. Adequate oxygen levels boost their immune systems, making them resilient against diseases.

• To improve the survival rates. Higher dissolved oxygen levels, especially in high-density shrimp farming, will enhance survival rates.

• Make your shrimp more toxin-tolerant. Shrimp can cope better with toxins like ammonia, nitrite, and hydrogen sulfide if they’re healthy and always have the optimum dissolved oxygen in the pond.

• To increase its adaptability to environmental change, shrimp are prone to stress easily when their environment changes. Optimum oxygen levels will help them adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions.

• It supports the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Bacillus spp. and Nitrifying Bacteria. These bacteria help maintain good nutrition and remove toxins that accumulate in the shrimp pond.

Why should shrimp farmers adopt the water quality checking technology into their shrimp farming?

Because monitoring dissolved oxygen in shrimp farming is crucial, leaving your shrimp in low-oxygen conditions can cause significant loss; a shrimp farmer could lose all their crops, and that means zero benefit for that cycle. Especially for high-intensity shrimp farming, the more shrimp you stock, the more oxygen will be consumed in the shrimp pond. Another reason to support the importance of water quality monitoring is that during the nighttime, the oxygen level usually drops rapidly. Without a proper plan and water quality monitoring technology, it’s very risky.

You could say that the old-fashioned way of water quality checking has been practiced regularly in your shrimp farm. However, it can be a hassle sometimes due to various factors, such as the manual water quality checker not being accurate. You can’t rely on the farm workers all the time, as they are human beings and they might have forgotten, or it’s difficult for them to get up at 3 am to check the dissolved oxygen level in the shrimp pond.

Dissolved Oxygen Sensors to the Rescue in Shrimp Farming

Leveraging IoT (Internet of Things) technology with dissolved oxygen sensors allows us to measure oxygen levels in the pond with real-time accuracy. It’s more efficient and convenient.

There are two popular types of dissolved oxygen sensors. Here’s a summary of it:

• Galvanic Sensors: They’re affordable but require a constant water current and frequent calibration with buffer solutions, which can cause membrane fouling over time when used in water.

• Optical Sensors: They are the cutting-edge technology at this moment. It can measure the dissolved oxygen in the water without accounting for currents and without the hassle of using a buffer solution.
  The way it works is that it employs light to gauge dissolved oxygen levels.

Calibration is even easier, and you can measure oxygen levels even when the sensor is out of the water. These optical dissolved oxygen sensors enable prompt oxygen management, minimizing losses due to low oxygen levels, which is a common issue in shrimp farming. They provide accuracy, stability, and easy maintenance, making for better water quality management

Integrating a Smarter Farming system from HydroNeo with high-quality Dissolved Oxygen Sensors brings you a real-time water quality checker 24/7 through a user-friendly app. Interested in knowing more? CONTACT US!