Automated Flow-Rate Control in Intelligent Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (i-RAS) to Improve Water Quality, Energy Use, and Hybrid Catfish Growth

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Published: Dec 31, 2025
Keywords:
Energy efficiency Flow-rate control Hybrid catfish Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) Water quality

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Dome Adoonsook
Faculty of Fisheries Technology and Aquatic Resources, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Teppitag Boonta
Faculty of Fisheries Technology and Aquatic Resources, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Prasert Prasongphol
Faculty of Fisheries Technology and Aquatic Resources, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Abstract

This study evaluated an automated flow-rate control system for hybrid catfish (Clarias macrocephalus × C. gariepinus) in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The experiment employed a completely randomized design with four treatments, each replicated three times: an ammonia-sensor-driven variable flow (5–15 m³·h-¹) and three fixed flow rates: low (0.5×), medium (1.0×), and high (1.5× tank volume·h-1). Fish were stocked in circular tanks with a capacity of 3,500 L (3.0 m in diameter and 0.5 m in depth) at a stocking density of 100 fish·m⁻², with an initial average weight of 13–15 g·fish-1. Fish were fed commercial pellets (≥30% protein) to apparent satiation twice daily and cultured for 16 weeks under continuous aeration and real-time monitoring of NH₃-N, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, and pH. After 16 weeks, the automated and high-flow treatments achieved the highest final weights (308.95±1.43 and 304.99±3.27 g) and survival rates (90.90±0.46 and 90.86±0.29%), which were significantly greater than those in the medium- and low-flow treatments (p<0.05). The automated system produced the lowest FCR (1.48±0.01; p<0.05) and maintained water quality (TAN, NH3-N, NO2--N) comparable to the high-flow treatment, with TAN reduced by approximately 54% compared with the low-flow treatment (p<0.05). Energy consumption was reduced by approximately 25% compared with that of a constant high recirculation rate. These findings demonstrate that real-time, sensor-driven flow regulation can enhance fish growth, maintain water quality, and reduce energy demand, thereby improving the sustainability of RAS operations.

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Adoonsook, D., Boonta, T., & Prasongphol, P. . (2025). Automated Flow-Rate Control in Intelligent Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (i-RAS) to Improve Water Quality, Energy Use, and Hybrid Catfish Growth. Journal of Fisheries and Environment, 49(3), 83–98. retrieved from https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JFE/article/view/268079
Issue
Vol. 49 No. 3 (2025): September-December
Section
Research Article
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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