Application of water quality monitoring in aquaculture
Introduction:
Water quality monitoring is a core link in aquaculture, directly affecting biological health, aquaculture benefits, and ecological sustainability. Imagine that in the vast waters, countless aquatic organisms thrive in the water, and their survival and growth are completely dependent on the surrounding water quality environment. The quality of water directly determines whether aquatic organisms can grow healthily and vigorously.
Therefore, through scientific monitoring methods, farmers can understand the changes in various indicators in the water body, discover potential water quality problems in advance, and take corresponding measures to adjust and improve them. Only in this way can the stability and health of the aquaculture environment be guaranteed and the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry be achieved.
In the field of aquaculture, the main purpose of water quality monitoring is to monitor and measure the types, concentrations, and changing trends of pollutants in the water body to assess the water quality.
Dissolved oxygen levels are critical to the health of aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic organisms obtain dissolved oxygen from water through various adaptive breathing methods to maintain their life activities and ecological balance. Imagine that if the dissolved oxygen content in the water is too low, just like humans in an oxygen-deficient environment, aquatic organisms will have difficulty breathing and even suffocate to death. On the contrary, if the dissolved oxygen content is too high, it will promote the decomposition and corruption of organic matter, leading to the loss of nutrients in the water and eutrophication of the water body, which will in turn cause the overgrowth of algae and plankton, forming algal blooms, which will have a serious impact on the aquatic ecosystem. Different aquatic organisms have different requirements for dissolved oxygen. Therefore, maintaining a stable and suitable dissolved oxygen level in the water body is crucial for aquaculture.
PH value is also a key parameter. The PH value of the water body reflects the acidity and alkalinity of the water body and has an important impact on the physiological functions of aquatic organisms. Most aquatic organisms are suitable for living in neutral or slightly alkaline water bodies. Too high or too low PH values will affect the physiological processes of aquatic organisms such as respiration and digestion, resulting in slow growth and decreased immunity. For example, when the PH value of the water body is too low, the heavy metal ions in the water will become more active and toxic to aquatic organisms.
Temperature should not be ignored either. Water temperature is a key environmental factor affecting the metabolic rate of aquatic organisms. Within the appropriate temperature range, aquatic organisms have normal metabolism and grow faster. However, too high or too low water temperature will have an adverse effect on their growth and survival. For example, when the temperature is high in summer, the high water temperature will cause the dissolved oxygen content in the water to decrease, and it will also accelerate the metabolism of aquatic organisms, increase their energy consumption, and easily cause diseases.
Ammonia nitrogen is one of the pollutants that need to be monitored in aquaculture. During the breeding process of aquatic organisms, their excrement and remaining bait will decompose to produce ammonia nitrogen. Ammonia nitrogen is toxic to aquatic organisms. Excessive ammonia nitrogen will damage the gill tissue of aquatic organisms, affect their respiratory function, and in severe cases, will cause their death.
Turbidity is an indicator of the concentration of suspended matter in water. When the turbidity of the water body is high, the suspended particles will absorb and scatter light like a barrier, greatly reducing the light transmittance of the water body. In shallow water areas, this light attenuation phenomenon is particularly obvious, and submerged plants have difficulty obtaining sufficient light energy, and photosynthesis is severely restricted. Photosynthesis is an important process for aquatic plants to produce oxygen and organic matter. If photosynthesis is inhibited, the amount of oxygen produced will decrease, resulting in a decrease in the dissolved oxygen content in the water. At the same time, high turbidity water will also affect the feeding of aquatic organisms. For example, when the turbidity of the water is high, the vision of fish will be disturbed, making it difficult to accurately find and catch food, thus affecting their growth and development.
In aquaculture, water quality monitoring is not only a technical job, but also a management wisdom. Through various advanced water quality monitoring equipment, farmers can obtain accurate information on various key parameters in the water anytime and anywhere. These devices are like the “clairvoyance” and “wind direction ears” of farmers, allowing them to understand the status of aquaculture water bodies in a timely manner, and quickly adjust aquaculture management measures to maintain stable water quality.
Adjusting the oxygenation equipment according to the dissolved oxygen content is one of the important measures to optimize the breeding environment. When the dissolved oxygen content in the water is detected to be low, the farmer can turn on the aerator in time to increase the dissolved oxygen content in the water. The working principle of the aerator is like injecting fresh air into the water so that aquatic organisms can breathe sufficient oxygen. Different types of aerators have different characteristics and application ranges. For example, impeller aerators are suitable for large-scale pond farming, while micro porous aerators are more suitable for high-density factory farming.
Setting the appropriate water temperature range according to the type of aquaculture is a key factor in aquaculture. When the water temperature is detected to be low, farmers can use heating rods and thermometers to control the water temperature. When the water temperature is detected to be high, the water temperature can be lowered by increasing the frequency of water changes, using refrigeration equipment, etc.
It is also crucial to control the feeding amount and excrement removal according to the content of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite. When the content of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite is detected to be elevated, farmers can appropriately reduce the feeding amount, systematically control the accumulation of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite, and ensure the safety of aquaculture. At the same time, timely remove the excrement and residual bait in the aquaculture water body to keep the water body clean, just like cleaning the room. Only by cleaning up the garbage in time can the room be kept tidy.
In short, water quality monitoring is not only an important link to ensure the health of the aquaculture environment and biological health, but also one of the keys to scientific aquaculture and sustainable development. In the future development of aquaculture, the research and application of water quality monitoring technology should be further strengthened, the accuracy and timeliness of water quality monitoring should be improved, and strong support should be provided for the sustainable development of aquaculture. At the same time, farmers should also enhance their awareness of water quality monitoring, actively adopt scientific aquaculture management methods, and jointly promote the healthy development of aquaculture.
