Development and Testing of a Real-Time IoT Monitoring System for Aquaponic Farming

Abstract

Aquaponics offers a sustainable approach to agriculture by integrating aquaculture and hydroponics, using fish waste as nutrients for plant growth and plants as natural filters for water recirculation. Despite its ecological advantages, maintaining optimal environmental conditions within aquaponic systems remains a significant challenge due to the need for continuous manual monitoring and adjustment. This study aims to address this issue by developing an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring system to automate and optimize key environmental parameters critical to aquaponic farming, namely water temperature, pH levels, and water levels. The system utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller integrated with cost-effective sensors, a local web interface for data visualization, and a real-time alert mechanism via Telegram messaging. A pilot deployment was conducted, and usability was evaluated through the System Usability Scale (SUS) with 19 aquaponic practitioners. The system achieved a SUS score of 77.11%, indicating a "Good" usability rating. Sensor data was successfully transmitted at two-minute intervals, with real-time alerts triggered when thresholds were exceeded. The results demonstrate that the proposed system is not only technically feasible and user-friendly but also contributes to sustainable agriculture by reducing manual labor and enabling proactive intervention. The study supports the adoption of IoT in small- to medium-scale aquaponic farms, aligning with global efforts toward SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).