SouthWestSensor's DropletSens™ platform provides an automated, continuous safety net for fish farms and aquaponic systems. Powered by advanced microfluidics, our in-situ sensors and online analysers deliver real-time, high-frequency, lab-quality measurements of ammonium/ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate, allowing your team to act instantly to protect your livestock.

Preventing Stock Mortality with Real-Time Toxic Ammonia Alerts

Ammonia ($NH_3$) is a natural excretory product of fish, but even at trace concentrations, un-ionized ammonia is highly toxic, causing gill damage, respiratory distress, and rapid mortality. Similarly, nitrite ($NO_2^-$) accumulation leads to "brown blood disease," severely limiting the oxygen-carrying capacity of the fish's blood.

Relying on daily or weekly manual test kits leaves your investment exposed to silent, fast-moving toxic spikes. SWS analysers sample continuously (up to every 10 seconds), offering an automated, high-frequency early warning system. If ammonia or nitrite levels cross safe thresholds, the system triggers instant alarms, allowing operators to immediately increase water exchange rates, adjust pH, or activate emergency dosing.

Optimising Biofilter Performance in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)

Modern land-based RAS facilities rely heavily on biological filters containing nitrifying bacteria to convert toxic ammonia into nitrite, and subsequently into less harmful nitrate ($NO_3^-$). Managing this biological nitrogen cycle requires precise, continuous tracking:

  • Biofilter Health Tracking: Monitor the ratio of ammonium to nitrite across your biofilter to verify that nitrification is operating at peak biological efficiency.
  • Early System Intervention: Detect biofilter "upsets" or bacterial die-offs caused by sudden temperature drops, chemical washdowns, or therapeutic treatments before toxic compounds reach the rearing tanks.
  • Discharge Compliance: Track final discharge nutrient levels autonomously to ensure your facility meets strict environmental permitting standards for local watercourses.

Why DropletSens™ is the Safest Choice for Sensitive Aquatic Environments

Traditional optical and electrochemical probes degrade rapidly in aquaculture environments due to organic biofouling, fish feed residue, and bacterial slime. SWS's nanodroplet microfluidic platform is uniquely engineered to overcome these challenges:

  • Optics Shielded from Fouling: The chemical reaction is confined inside microscopic channels, entirely shielding the sensitive optical detection systems from biofouling and organic matrix coatings.
  • Zero Drift Calibration: An on-device standard solution automatically executes routine calibration checks, ensuring your critical life-support data is fully quantitative and accurate 24/7.
  • Ultra-Low Reagent Consumption: Scaled-down chemical consumption means a single reagent cartridge runs continuously for up to 90 days, minimizing routine maintenance inside sensitive biosecure areas.

Seamless Integration with Aquaculture Control Systems & Telemetry

To act as an effective life-support monitoring tool, SWS analysers are built to integrate directly into your facility's automated controls:

  • Industrial Comms: Connect natively to your existing PLC, SCADA, or aquaculture control systems (such as OxyGuard or Senect) via Modbus, RS232, RS485, or Bluetooth.
  • Low Power Footprint: Drawing only 1.5 Watts during standard continuous sampling intervals, our units are ideal for solar-assisted remote lake pens or off-grid coastal hatcheries.
  • Active Pre-Filtration: Integrated pumped options feature self-cleaning Rotorflush modules to keep fish scales, feed particles, and organic solids out of the analytical stream.