DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE-BASED WATER QUALITY MONITORING

AND CONTROL WITH AUTOMATED FEEDING SYSTEM

____________________

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department

Electronics Engineering of College of Engineering

Bulacan State University

____________________

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering

____________________

by

BALITE, EARL RENIEL R.

CONCEPCION, ROSETTE G.
OJERA, DORICO B.
SUAREZ, CAMILLE DC.
December 2018

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 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

This chapter presents the research Introduction, Statement of the Problem,

Significance of the Study, Scope and Delimitations of the Study.

INTRODUCTION

Aquaculture is one of the most significant fast-growing industry in the

Philippines, known as fish or shellfish rearing, breeding and harvesting in all types of

water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes and the ocean, and one of the most

widespread sector of this is tilapia farming which is the second most farmed fish in the

Philippines after the milkfish. Increasing the production of healthy tilapia has many

factors, this includes the survivability rate which is relevant to a good pond management

specifically to a proper water quality of ponds.

The main problem that affects the water quality of fish ponds that risk lives of

tilapia are inappropriate water temperature cause by the environment, which affects the

feeding pattern, growth of tilapia and dissolved oxygen. Dissolved Oxygen is needed by

all fishes, produced by air diffusion or photosynthesis. Low dissolved oxygen

concentration due to excessive algae growth and decomposition of submerged plants and

fish is recognized as a major cause of stress, slow growth, disease susceptibility and

mortality in tilapia fishes. Potential of Hydrogen (pH) is a logarithmic scale used to

specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. The acceptable range of pH for

tilapia fishes is ideally between pH 6.5 to pH 9.0. When water has high alkaline level (>

pH 9.0), ammonium in water is converted to toxic ammonia, it is toxic to tilapia and It

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has many effects like spongy appearance of gill filaments, presence of bloody gills,

excessive production of slime and poor growth of tilapia fishes. Presence of Ammonia is

caused by waste product of fish metabolism and excessive use of supplemental feeds. On

the other hand, acidic water (< pH 6.5) leaches metals from rocks and sediments. These

metals have an adverse effect on the fish’s digestion rates and ability to take in water

through their gills, and can be lethal as well. These parameters should be monitor and

control, the disturbance of any of this constraints results to a low survivability rate of

tilapia resulting to fish kill and a low profit for fishermen.

Another problem that affects the survivability of tilapia is the right kind and

amount of feed or fertilizer intake by the fishes. Fish, like most other animals, grow best

on a balanced diet. The proportion of protein, fat, and carbohydrate in an ideal diet varies

according to the age of the fish. The right kind and composition of diet will assuredly

maximize growth rate. For the researcher’s enhancement, the researcher added a feature

to control this factor that also affect the water quality and survivability of tilapia.

According to Philippine Statistics Authority and BFAR, in 2016 the country

produced 259,045 metric tons of tilapia by means of aquaculture and majority of tilapia

production is produced in Central Luzon or Region III.

According to Camen Agustin on July 2007, chief of the fish health section of the

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Central Luzon, some of the

200,000 tilapia in more than two hectares of fish ponds in Balagtas, Bulacan which were

supposed to be harvested in three weeks, died because of very low dissolved oxygen in

water. This dissolved oxygen may be caused by water quality and abrupt change in

temperature.

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 According to The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 3

Director Wilfredo Cruz on May, 2018 P17.5 million worth of milk fish, tilapia and other

fishes were wiped out in Obando fish kill. It is estimated 250 metric tons of cultured fish

were killed. And according to Agila Cruz, fish kill was due to an extremely low amount

of dissolved oxygen in the fish pond water which can be attributed to extreme heat.

Extreme heat has a direct impact on the water temperature which in turn can cause

lowering of the dissolve oxygen in the water.

Monitoring water quality and feeding system in Balagtas, Bulacan is manually

operated. Some fishermen use different devices for observing the water quality in ponds

and some do not have. Thermometer is used for water temperature, the fishermen

manually dip this device whenever they want to know the pond’s hotness or coldness and

it is powered by batteries. DO meter is used for measuring dissolved Oxygen, it is a

separated device that fishermen have in monitoring the pond and it is expensive. pH

meter for pH level indicator is another separated device used manually by fishermen.

These are the manually operating devices that are used by the fishermen in monitoring

the water quality of the pond. Due to separation of these devices, it results to a more

monitoring display and inefficient time interval in monitoring. In comparison to the

proposed study, the researcher combined these devices into a single one, that results to a

more competence when it comes to time. In the other hand, the feeding system operated

by fishermen in the said place is manually done too. The fishermen used their bare hands

to scatter an estimated amount of feed in the pond and this feeding system is inaccurate

due to miscalculation of feeds by the fishermen resulting to a too much or lack of feeds to

tilapia which is bad for the health of the fish and water quality of the pond. In comparison

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to the researcher’s additional feature in its proposed study, right amount of feed will be

distributed due to right calculation and the distribution of feed to the pond is automated.

As an improvement of the previous thesis in China entitled “Water Quality

Monitoring and Control for Aquaculture Based on Wireless Sensor Network”. The

researcher focuses specifically in water quality management of tilapia. This includes

monitoring and controlling of such parameters that affects the quality of the pond and

also adding an additional feature that highly affect the survival rate of the tilapia from

fingerling to harvest. The proposed feature to be added is the automatic feeder. The

amount of feed is dependent to the size and density of tilapia in the pond. The sizing will

be done manually by taking the average weight of the fishes. The size and density of

tilapia will be put in the mobile for automatic calculation. After calculation, the mobile

will send the data to the system which will automatically distribute the feeds. The sensors

are connected to the microcontroller that uses GSM module to send the data to the

Android phone. The researcher concentrates to everyone who owns fish pond and

produces tilapia explicitly in the province of Balagtas, Bulacan in the Philippines.

The researcher come up with the idea to develop a device that monitor and control

the water quality of the pond and also regulates the feeds that tilapia intake. The wireless

sensors used in this monitoring system are for temperature, pH level and dissolved

oxygen. The sensors measure these parameters at specific time intervals and transmit the

data wirelessly to a receiving station. The mobile device acts as the central monitoring

platform for data analysis, processing and presentation. While the sensor nodes act as the

remote monitoring platform for data acquisition.

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 The development of this study aims to make time more efficient as well as the

monitoring and feeding in a pond. Regularly seeking the balanced quality of water in

ponds due to automated system shall prevent the cause of fish kill leading to a high

survivability rate of tilapia in Balagtas, Bulacan.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The general problem of the study is focused on how to develop a Mobile-Based

Water Quality Monitoring and Control with Automated Feeding System that will send

information and control the condition of the water quality of the pond to an android

device, and also an automatic feeding system that regulates the feed intake of the tilapia

The study also seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What are the factors that affect the quality of the feeding system of Tilapia fishes on

fish ponds?

2. How can the Mobile-based Tilapia feeding system acquire the necessary values of

water temperature, pH level and dissolved oxygen?

3. How can the Mobile-based Tilapia feeding system control the quality of the water and

regulate the feed intake of the Tilapia fishes?

4. What are the hardware and software needed for the Mobile-based Tilapia feeding

system?

5. How can the system enable the fish pond owner to manage the quality of fish pond?

6. How acceptable is the proposed system in terms of the following requirements:

6.1.Functionality

6.2.Reliability

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 6.3.Usability

6.4.Efficiency

6.5.Maintainability

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study aims to develop a mobile-based water quality monitoring and control

system with additional automatic feeding system that will improve the current way of

tilapia farming for pond owners of Balagtas, Bulacan. At the end of the study, it is

expected that the proposed system will be beneficial to the following beneficiaries:

Fishpond Owners. The fishpond owners are responsible for the planning,

decision making and managing of the pond business including the inventory

management. Using the proposed system, the owners can easily monitor the water quality

resulting to a faster response to lessen tilapia fish kill resulting to an increase in profit.

Fishpond Caretakers. The caretakers are the ones who actually monitor the

health of the tilapia fishes. Monitoring was done by manually checking the fishes weekly.

With the use of the proposed system, monitoring does not need to be done weekly. The

system is continuously checking the water quality to provide a more accurate collection

of data use for notifying the caretakers in times of poor water quality.

Philippine Aquaculture. tilapia is one of the major aquaculture specie in the

Philippines. Using the proposed system, the water quality can be monitored and

controlled that will improve the condition of water for a higher survivability of fishes. As

a result, there will be an increase in the production of tilapia in every municipality.

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 Future Researchers. The ideas and data presented in this study may be use as a

reference in conducting new researches. This will also serve as an overview to the

development of a better way in tilapia farming and production.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The following statements are the scopes and delimitations of the study.

Scope

1. The study shall focus in the fishing industry in the Philippines.

2. The study also intends to develop an Android-based system that automatically

monitor and control the water quality in fish ponds.

3. The study shall cover the concept of Aquaculture.

4. The study shall utilize the concept of mobile communication system in

transmitting and receiving the data.

5. The study shall cover the development of a good pond management.

Delimitation

1. The study shall only cover the fisheries in Balagtas, Bulacan.

2. The study shall only cover the monitoring and controlling of PH level, dissolved

oxygen and temperature in fish ponds.

3. The study shall only cover the rearing and breading of Tilapia Fishes

4. The study shall not cover the limitation of mobile signal strength and coverage.

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5. The study does not cover other problems in fish pond such as stocking rate,

parasites and predators.

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 CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

This chapter presents the review of related theories, literatures and studies after

the thorough and in-depth search done by the researchers. This will also present the

conceptual framework and assumption of the study to fully understand the research to be

done and lastly the definition of variables for better comprehension of the study.

2.1 RELATED THEORIES

2.1.1 Embedded Systems

An embedded system is a kind of a computer system designed for accessing,

processing, storing and controlling data in various electronics-based systems. The

software, also known as firmware, is embedded into the hardware. It is written to execute

a particular function and is intended to keep in view the convenience of system memory

and processor’s speed, and the limitation of power dissipation. Embedded system also

uses a hardware platform, which is assembled with a microprocessor or microcontroller,

to perform the operation. It has the elements such as input/output interfaces, memory,

user interface and the display unit. Embedded system generally comprises of power

supply, memory, processor, timers, output circuits, serial communication ports, and

SASC (System Application Specific Circuits).

Embedded system is significant in this study particularly in Arduino programming

in terms of performing the duty built in because it is specially designed in doing few tasks

in most efficient way. It interacts with physical elements in our environment like sensing

temperature, pH level and dissolved oxygen in water that are relevant in this study. It is

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also vital in the controller embedded in the feeding system which tells how fast the motor

will rotate dependent on the wanted distance of feeding. In addition, a controller is also

embedded in the system which is programmed to correct the pH level in water.

Embedded system controls most of the features of device that the researchers have

designed.

2.1.2 Temperature Sensor

A temperature sensor is a device, typically a thermocouple or RTD (Resistance

Temperature Detector), which provides temperature measurement through an electrical

signal. These tools are engineered to change their own characteristics depending upon

the temperature of the surrounding conditions. It is prepared by two dissimilar metals,

which generate the electrical voltage indirectly proportional to change the temperature.

The RTD is a variable resistance, it will change the electrical resistance indirectly

proportional to changes in temperature in a precise, and nearly linear manner.

The measurement of the temperature sensor is about the hotness or coolness of an

object. The working base of the sensors is the voltage that read across the diode. If the

voltage increases, then the temperature rises and there is a voltage drop between the

transistor terminals of base and emitter, they are recorded by the sensors. If the difference

in voltage is amplified, the device generates the analogue signal and it is directly

proportional to the temperature.

Temperature sensor is relevant in this study because temperature is an important

factor to consider when assessing water quality. In addition to its own effects,

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temperature influences several other parameters and can alter the physical and chemical

properties of water.

2.1.3 pH Level Sensor

A pH level sensor or pH meter is an electric device used to measure acidity or

alkalinity in solution. The alkalinity of water is its acid-neutralizing capacity. The acidity

of water is its base-neutralizing capacity. Water with high alkalinity can neutralize a large

quantity of acid without large changes in pH. On the other hand, water with high acidity

can neutralize a large quantity of base without large changes in pH.

A pH meter works like a voltmeter wherein it measures the voltage (electrical

potential) produced by the solution then compares it with the voltage of a known

solution. The difference in voltage between them is used to deduce the difference in pH.

Although the meter is measuring voltage, what the pointer on the scale actually shows is

a pH measurement. The bigger the difference in voltage between the orange (inside) and

blue (outside) solutions, the bigger the difference in hydrogen ion activity between. If

there is more hydrogen ion activity in the blue solution, it’s more acidic than the orange

solution and the meter shows this as a lower pH. In the same way, if there’s less

hydrogen ion activity in the blue solution, the meter shows this as a higher pH or more

alkaline.

pH sensors are vital in this study because pH is related to the buffering capacity of

water (the ability to resist changes in pH when an acid or base is added). pH is an

important parameter to be measured in water quality monitoring because high or low pH

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values can be indicative of pollution and can greatly affect the survival of the fishes in

ponds.

2.1.4 Dissolved Oxygen Sensor

Dissolved oxygen sensors are used to measure the amount of oxygen that is in

dissolved water, by unit volume. Dissolved oxygen is a physical distribution of oxygen

molecules in water. Oxygen does not react with water, but mixes with it. Aquatic

organisms need dissolved oxygen to respire.

The dissolved oxygen sensor is a Clark-type polarographic electrode that senses

the oxygen concentration in water and aqueous solutions. A platinum cathode and a

silver/silver chloride reference anode in KCl electrolyte are separated from the sample by

a gas-permeable plastic membrane. A fixed voltage is applied to the platinum electrode.

As oxygen diffuses through the membrane to the cathode, it is reduced. Accordingly, a

current will flow that is proportional to the rate of diffusion of oxygen, and in turn to the

concentration of dissolved oxygen in the sample. This current is converted to a

proportional voltage, which is amplified and read by any of the CMA lab interfaces.

Dissolved oxygen sensor plays a big role in this study because dissolved oxygen

is in need to be monitored. Dissolved oxygen is necessary for the survival of fish. If

there’s too much dissolved gas concentrations in water, fishes may suffer from "gas

bubble disease” where the bubbles block the flow of blood through blood vessels causing

death. On the other hand, if the dissolved oxygen concentration is too low, fishes are put

under stress that can result in large fish kills.

2.1.5 Cellular Concept

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 GSM is a mobile communication modem; it is stands for global system for mobile

communication (GSM). The idea of GSM was developed at Bell Laboratories in 1970. It

is widely used mobile communication system in the world. GSM is an open and digital

cellular technology used for transmitting mobile voice and data services operates at the

850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz frequency bands. It was created to describe

the protocols for second-generation (2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile phones

and is now the default global standard for mobile communications – with over 90%

market share, operating in over 219 countries and territories.

A GSM mobile is a complete system in itself with embedded processors that are

dedicated to provide an interface between the user and the mobile network. The AT

commands are served between the processors of the mobile termination and the terminal

equipment. The mobile handset can also be equipped with a USB interface to connect

with a computer, but it may or may not support AT commands from the computer or an

external processor/controller. GSM system was developed as a digital system using time

division multiple access (TDMA) technique for communication purpose. A GSM

digitizes and reduces the data, then sends it down through a channel with two different

streams of client data, each in its own particular time slot. The digital system has an

ability to carry 64 kbps to 120 Mbps of data rates. (Agnihotri, n.d.)

The researchers decided to use this mobile communication because the data that

will be gathered will be presented through a mobile application using a GSM Module

connected to the Arduino.

2.2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

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2.2.1 Tilapia Historical Review

Tilapia are freshwater fish belonging to the family Cichlidae. They are native to

Africa, but were introduced to many tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the

world during the second half of the 20th century (Pillay, 1990). The introduction of tilapia

into those areas was for: (i) farming as food fish; (ii) recreational fishing; (iii) aquatic

weed control; and (iv) research purposes. Tilapia have many attributes that make them an

ideal candidate for aquaculture, especially in developing countries. These includes (El-

Sayed, 1950)

1. Fast growth.

2. Tolerance to a wide range environmental conditions (such as temperature,

salinity, dissolved oxygen, etc.).

3. Resistance to stress disease.

4. Ability to reproduce in captivity and short generation time.

5. Feeding in low trophic levels and acceptance of artificial feeds

immediately after yolk-sac absorption.

2.2.2 Tilapia in the Philippines

Culture of tilapia began in the Philippines with the introduction of the

Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) in 1950 from Thailand. Since then,

three other species and several hybrids have been introduced.

Renewed interest in tilapia culture came about in the country with the introduction

of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in 1972. This fish was better accepted by

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farmers and consumers alike because of its faster growth and lighter color. From that

date, the growth of the tilapia farming industry in the Philippines has been dynamic and

phenomenal. (Smith, Torres, & Tan, 1985)

2.2.3 Grow-Out Systems for Tilapia

Tilapia is grown to market-size in ponds, cages and pens. For pond culture,

brackish- water and freshwater ponds are used while tilapia culture in cages and pens is a

rapidly expanding industry in various freshwater lakes. (Smith, Torres, & Tan, 1985)

2.2.3.1 Pond culture

In brackish water fishponds, the Mozambique tilapia is the predominant

species. While not deliberately stocked in most cases, the fish invades ponds

stocked with milkfish. With its propensity for breeding, the tilapia multiplies and

is harvested along with the main crop. To rid the pond of competitors of the

milkfish, eradication of the tilapia is normally attempted during pond preparation.

Chemicals such as Gusathion are used for this purpose, but tilapia still get into the

ponds when they are filled prior to milkfish stocking. (Smith, Torres, & Tan,

1985)

2.2.3.2 Cage Culture

Cage culture has provided an innovative approach for fish production in

lakes and other inland waters. It is relatively easier to manage and has better

protection against typhoons and poachers than fish pens (Lampa 1981). It has also

democratized the use of natural resources by increasing the number of small-scale

operations that can use this technology. (Smith, Torres, & Tan, 1985)

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 2.2.3.3 Tank culture

Tank culture of tilapia is a good alternative to pond or cage culture if

sufficient water or land is not available and the economics are favorable. Tilapia

grow well at high densities in the confinement of tanks when good water quality

is maintained. This is accomplished by aeration and frequent or continuous water

exchange to renew dissolved oxygen (DO) supplies and remove wastes. Culture

systems that discard water after use are called flow through systems while those

that filter and recycle water are referred to as recirculating systems. (Rakocy,

1969)

2.2.4 Feeding of Tilapia

2.2.4.1 Feeding habit

An understanding on the natural feeding of fish is important in order to

produce: (BFAR, 2000)

1. An acceptable and nutritionally adequate diet.

2. A proper feeding regime is adopted to ensure optimal growth and

survival of the fish.

Tilapia are also daytime and surface feeder. It means they eat at the water

surface and eat more during the day. At night there is little or no feeding activity.

2.2.4.2 Types of feeds

1. Mash or powder form - This is given to fish weighing < 0.2g. to 5.0g./pc. This

is known as the fry mash.

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2. Crumbles - This is given to fish weighing 5.1g. to 30.0g./pc. This is also known

as the starter crumble.

3. Pellets - This is given as soon as the mouth of fish is big enough to swallow the

smallest size of pellet.

a. Juvenile Pellet - This is known as the grower pellet. It is

given to fish weighing 30.1 to 90.0g./pc.

b. Adult Pellet - This is known as the finisher pellet. It is

given to fish weighing greater than 90.0g./pc.

4. Dough or ball form - It is preparing by adding water to the feed while mixing

until sticky mass is formed. In the absence of pelleting machine, feed maybe

prepared in this manner. (BFAR, 2000)

Tilapia prefer smaller pellets and dislike hard pellets. As a rule of thumb,

small fish should be provided with small feed particles while large fish should be

provided with large feed particles.

2.2.4.3 Feeding Method

1. Hand feeding (Sabog) Feed is distributed evenly or in several sites so that all

fish have access to food.

2. Using feeding bag Feed is placed in a B-net (32 mm mesh size) feeding bag

and tied in poles. The bag is suspended in pond water surface. Fish obtain feeds

by picking or suction. (BFAR, 2000)

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2.2.5 Feeding System

Fishes need the proper food sources to maintain a healthy, successful population.

Often times in ponds, the base of the food chain is lacking, limiting the available food for

the pond’s smaller fish. This has a negative impact on the larger fish that are relying on

smaller fish to grow and prosper. Supplemental feeding is a great way to provide the

needed food source to establish and maintain a healthy fish community. Supplement

feeding can be done by stocking bait fish or providing manual or automatic feeding

system. (Beasley, 2014)

The feeding method or feeder used for tilapia farming depends on the culture

system used, the size of the farm/ponds and the availability and cost of manual labor. In

most tilapia farms where pelleted dry or moist feeds are used (either farm-made or

commercial feeds), broadcasting by hand is the preferred method of feeding.

Broadcasting is also the recommended method because this allows the farmer to monitor

the feeding behavior and general health of the fish. However, in very large ponds, a truck

may be used to tow a feeder that blows pelleted feeds over a wider area of the pond to

ensure even feed distribution. Nevertheless, in some cases where broadcasting can’t be

used just like in cage culture, feeding rings are required if floating pellets are used, and

feeding trays may be necessary with sinking pellets. In intensive culture systems are

common in countries where the labor cost is high. Various semi-automatic systems are

therefore used to reduce this cost, and increase the growth rate and to reduce the FCR

such as clockwork-driven belt feeders, pendulum demand feeders and electrical systems

such as scatter feeders. Clockwork-driven belt feeders permit a constant distribution of

feed in small quantities over a 12 hours period. Pendulum demand feeders are commonly

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used for on growing tilapia in cages, raceways and ponds. They are relatively inexpensive

and do not require electrical power. And electrical systems such as scatter feeders can

spread pellets over the pond surface and allow for strict control of feeding rates. While in

super-intensive systems, computer controlled automatic feeders are used. The use of

demand feeder can complement manual hand feeding of the fish. Automatic feeders can

also be set to dispense larval feeds continuously to allow tilapia fry access to feeds

throughout the day. Feeding hours should also be constant in order to adjust the fish

behavior. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, n.d.)

One of the feature of the proposed system is the automatic feeding system. It

distributes fish feeds automatically based on what the user inputs in the android

application.

2.2.6 Water quality parameters

2.2.6.1 Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen refers to the level of free, non-compound oxygen

present in water or other liquids. It is an important parameter in assessing water

quality because of its influence on the organisms living within a body of water. A

dissolved oxygen level that is too high or too low can harm aquatic life and affect

water quality. Dissolved oxygen enters water through the air or as a plant

byproduct. Dissolved oxygen is also produced as a waste product of

photosynthesis from phytoplankton, algae, seaweed and other aquatic plants.

If dissolved oxygen concentrations drop below a certain level, fish

mortality rates will rise. However, if dissolved oxygen is too high in

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concentrations, it can cause gas bubble disease in fish and invertebrates. And area

of water with little to no dissolved oxygen present is called dead zone. They are

so named because aquatic organisms cannot survive there. (Fondriest

Environmental, Inc., 2013)

According to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (2000), the ideal

level of dissolved oxygen for tilapia fishes is 3 mg/L for optimum growth.

Dissolved Oxygen is one of the water quality parameters that will be

monitored by the proposed system and can be seen in the android application.

2.2.6.2 PH Level

According to Fondriest Environmental, Inc. (2013), pH is a determined

value based on a defined scale, similar to temperature. This means that pH of

water is not a physical parameter that can be measured as a concentration or in a

quantity. Instead, it is a figure between 0 and 14 defining how acidic or basic a

body of water is along a logarithmic scale. The lower the number, the more acidic

the water is. The higher the number, the more basic it is. A pH of 7 is considered

neutral. The logarithmic scale means that each number below 7 is 10 times more

acidic than the previous number when counting down. Likewise, when counting

up above 7, each number is 10 times more basic than the previous number.

According to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Luzon

(2000), the acceptable range of pH for tilapia fishes is 6.5 to 9 for its optimum

growth.

The proposed system will monitor and control the pH level of the water.

When the pH level is below or above the acceptable range, the system will

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 automatically correct it. Also, the value of pH can be viewed in the android

application.

2.2.6.3 Temperature

Water temperature is a physical property expressing how hot or cold water

is. As hot and cold are both arbitrary terms, temperature can further be defined as

a measurement of the average thermal energy of a substance. Thermal energy is

the kinetic energy of atoms and molecules, so temperature in turn measures the

average kinetic energy of the atoms and molecules. This energy can be transferred

between substances as the flow of heat. Heat transfer, whether from the air,

sunlight, another water source or thermal pollution can change the temperature of

water. (Fondriest Environmental, Inc., 2013)

According to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Luzon

(2000), the ideal range of temperature is 25 to 30 °C for tilapia fishes. Too low or

high temperature could result in high mortality.

The last water quality parameter that the researcher want to monitor and

can be viewed in the android application is water temperature.

2.2.7 Microcontrollers and Microprocessors

A Microcontroller is a IC chip that executes programs for controlling other

devices or machines. It is a micro (small size as it is an Integrated Circuit chip) device

which is used for control of other devices and machines that is why it is called

'Microcontroller'. It is a Microprocessor having RAM, ROM and I/O ports. It is similar to

a Personal Computer or a CPU but instead of interacting with human beings they interact

22
with other machines. Basically, Microcontrollers were developed for making process

automated. They are being used in Embedded Systems.

2.2.10.1 Arduino

Arduino is open source, both in its software and hardware specification, so

that hobbyists can assemble the simplest Arduino modules themselves by hand.

More sophisticated pre-assembled Arduino modules can be purchased and are

modestly priced. The hardware comes in many format specifications, from a small

wearable device, to larger surface mounted modules. The primary mode of

computer connection is via USB, though Bluetooth, serial and Ethernet form

factors also exist.

The Arduino software is free and open source. The programming platform

is based on the popular Wiring language. The IDE is based on Processing, which

is a well-known language among designers and prototype developers. Unlike

most microcontroller interfaces, Arduino is cross-platform; it can be run

on Windows, Linux and Macintosh OS X. (Sandhu, 2016)

Arduino will be used as the main controller of the sensors and mechanisms

of processes for the proposed system.

2.2.7.2 Android Studio

Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE)

for Google's Android operating system, built on JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA software

and designed specifically for Android development. It uses a new build system

23
based on Gradle that provides flexibility, customized build flavors, dependency

resolution, and much more. Smart editing features such as inline resource lookups

make it easier to read your code, while giving you instant access to edit code the

backing resources. Advanced code refactoring gives you the power to transform

your code across the scope of the entire project, quickly and safely. (Durochet, et.

al 2013)

The researchers will be used Android Studio as the IDE in developing the

application for the monitoring and controlling of water quality and automatic

feeding system.

2.2.7.3 Cloud Services

Cloud services refer to any IT services that are provisioned and accessed

from a cloud computing provider. This is a broad term that incorporates all

delivery and service models of cloud computing and related solutions. Cloud

services are delivered over the internet and accessible globally from the internet.

Cloud services provide great flexibility in provisioning, duplicating and scaling

resources to balance the requirements of users, hosted applications and solutions.

Cloud services are built, operated and managed by a cloud service provider,

which works to ensure end-to-end availability, reliability and security of the cloud

(Technopedia Inc., n.d.).

24
 Cloud Services will be instrumental in the development of monitoring and

controlling the water quality and automatic feeding system for it will serve as the

storage of information and access it with Internet Connection.

2.2.8 Waspmote Smart Water

Waspmote Smart Water is the first water quality-sensing platform to feature

autonomous nodes that connect to the Cloud for real-time water control. It is suitable for

potable water monitoring, chemical leakage detection in rivers, remote measurement of

swimming pools and spas, and levels of seawater pollution. The water quality parameters

measured include pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)

conductivity (salinity), temperature, and dissolved ions such as Ca+, Cl-, K+. The

Waspmote Smart Water platform is an ultra-low power sensor node designed for use in

rugged environments and deployment in Smart Cities in hard-to-access locations to detect

changes and potential risk to public health in real time. It may use cellular (3G, GPRS,

WCDMA) and long range 802.15.4/ZigBee (868/900MHz) connectivity to send

information to the Cloud, and can accommodate solar panels that charge the battery to

maintain autonomy.

Unlike Waspmote Smart Water that only sense water quality parameters, the

device that the researchers have designed is a complete monitoring system and control

that will automatically correct the pH level of the water.

25
Figure 2.1 Photo taken from: http://www.libelium.com/smart-water-sensors-to-monitor-

water-quality-in-rivers-lakes-and-the-sea/#!prettyPhoto-img[12708]/0/-img[12708]/0/

2.2.9 Moultrie Automatic 30 Gallon FeedCaster Feeder

Moultrie Automatic 30 Gallon FeedCaster Feeder is a heavy-duty automatic

feeder that works well in larger stocked ponds or even in smaller lakes. It is known for its

high quality and reliable automatic feeding units. The device requires a 6 volt

rechargeable battery for constant operation, with the battery being able to provide power

for several months without a recharge. The unit comes with a programmable timer which

allows the user to set daily feeding times, frequency, and maintain an accurate dosage.

26
Figure 2.2 Photo taken from: https://pondinformer.com/best-automatic-pond-fish-

feeder/

This device is an automatic feeder that is related to our thesis study but it is only

limited in feeding fishes. The advantage of the automatic feeder that the researchers have

designed has a spinner for a well-distributed feeds. The spin can be controlled depending

on the wanted distance of the feed distribution and it has an additional water quality

sensor for monitoring.

2.2.10 Aquaculture Pond Buoy

The Aquaculture Pond Buoy allows easy remote monitoring of dissolved oxygen

levels and temperature in aquaculture pond raceways. The solar-powered buoy has an

easy-to-use optical RDO Titan probe for 24-hour dissolved oxygen monitoring, plus a

transceiver that transmits data wirelessly, right to your laptop or PC. Reduces spot-

checking rounds, automates aerator control and eliminates calibration for an entire

season. Automated real-time alerts reduce the risk of fish kills. Real-time oxygen

monitoring lets you optimize feed ratios while minimizing fish stress, disease and

mortality.

27
Figure 2.3 Photo taken from: https://in-situ.com/products/aquaculture-management/fish-

pond-management/aquaculture-pond-buoy/

This device is related in our thesis study in a manner that it is a water quality

monitoring device that is applicable in fish pond. This device is applicable in fish pond

and capable of monitoring water quality in pond with any variety of fish including tilapia

fish water quality parameter that can be monitored by the user. Our thesis study

advantage in this device is that it is not a mobile-based monitoring system because the

data gathered will be transferred in pc or laptop and also this device disadvantage is that

it only monitored water quality, feeding control system is not applicable in this device

which is present in our thesis study.

2.3 REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES

2.3.1 Foreign Studies

2.3.1.1 Evaluation of Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring System in Nile

Tilapia- Lettuce Aquaponics Based on Wireless Sensor Network

28
 Water quality real time monitoring technologies testing and experiment

evaluation proved itself an effective aquatic quality management tool that leads to

maximize monitoring and recording of the aquaculture work flow. Wireless

sensor networks based monitoring system was evaluated for some water quality

parameters like oxygen, pH, temperature and conductivity are more likely to be

involved with fish losses and affect fish and plant production. The probability of

the high risk of aquatic diseases or plant disorders based on nutrition deficiency

were reduced during the culture process through enabling constant monitoring the

critical parameters in the culture environment. A traceability system of

aquaculture did not only increase economic benefits for the aquaculture enterprise

but also improve consumer confidence in aquatic quality and safety. The

integrated system provided theoretical support for establishing data integration

network and general framework solution of data collection for recirculation

aquaculture via wireless sensor networks. The WSN is based on sensors

connected to Arduino microcontroller with built in memory and RAM and Zigbee

is a specification for a suite of high level communication protocols using small,

low-power digital radios based on an IEEE 802 standard networks. Remote

wireless sensor nodes through the integration with GSM were tested. The high

rate of return on investment (ROI) in aquaponics has attracted a large number of

small to middle level investors who tend to have a more scientific background

than the traditional farmers. It is currently being used as a means to address and

raise awareness as to what it would take for our country to become self-reliant in

producing its own food. More over evaluating economical potentials in turn

29
provides the user with a means to examine the profitability of the system under

many alternative scenarios. (Adly, Sayour, Badawy, & Ragai, Sept 2013)

The study shows wireless sensor networks based monitoring system for

some water quality parameters like oxygen, pH and temperature which is related

to our proposed thesis study similarly to its parameter being monitored regardless

to an automated feeding system.

2.3.1.2 Thermal Feasibility of Tilapia Production under Greenhouse

Conditions in a Semi-Desert Region of Mexico

Nile tilapia do not achieve the desired productivity in the semi-desert

regions of Mexico, because of their temperature variations. Temperature needs to

be regulated to obtain commercial weights in 6 months, as stated by governmental

agencies. With the use of greenhouses, it is not possible to maintain all year round

the optimum water for tilapia production, thus the temperature effect needs to be

considered. A comparison was performed between two different semi-arid

environmental temperatures. Fingerlings were stocked (60 days) by triplicate

inside a greenhouse. Water, greenhouse and environmental temperatures were

measured. Fish were weighed at the end. The weekly average values were

compared graphically. External temperatures were of 20.5 ± 6.7 (ET=20.5) and

16.9 ± 8.4 °C (ET=17) respectively. ET=20.5 °C showed a more stable water

(26.8 ± 1.3 °C) and greenhouse temperatures (24.4 ± 4.4 °C) while ET=17 °C had

a greater variation of water (22 ± 3.3 °C) and greenhouse (18.7 ± 5.5 °C)

temperatures. Tilapia under ET=20.5 °C achieved a better weight of 22.23 ± 1.85

g whit a tendency for bigger weights while Tilapia under ET=17 °C achieved a

30
more uneven weight of 16.21 ± 3.30 with a tendency for smaller fish. The

temperature and growth variation will have to be considered when planning a

tilapia production project to obtain the desired weights. Tilapia under greenhouse

in semi-arid regions of Mexico, without any other technology, will only be

feasible, according to the plans proposed by the government, during the warmer

period of the year. (Peña-Herrejón, SanchezVelazquez, Aguirre-Becerra, &

García–Trejo, 2016)

This study shows how temperature affects the growth of tilapia. Specific

ranges of temperature are significant with regards to the health of tilapia. This

study is related to our thesis study in such manner that the water temperature

parameter is one that should be monitored in our study.

2.3.1.3 The Design and Development of Automatic Fish Feeder System

Using PIC Microcontroller

This research devoted to reduce the labor cost as well as develop better

pellet dispense system. Subsequently, this research was proposed to design an

automatic fish feeder system using PIC microcontroller application. The device

developed combines mechanical and electrical system in controlling fish feeding

activity. This device, basically consists of pellet storage, former, stand, DC motor

and microcontroller. The pellets controlled by DC motor which located under the

pellet storage. A control system was then attached to this device allowing the fish

to be fed at the right cycle time as required or predefined by user. Timer was

employed in this device to control the motor rotation attached to sphere former,

which dispense the pellets into the water. The pellets dispensed into the marking

31
 area of the pond based solely on the rotation speed of the motor itself. The

controller came with a keypad giving user more option in determining the suitable

speed for the motor depends on their cattle. In short, the pellets in the automatic

fish feeder system will be controlled by the rotation speed of DC motor. (Noor,

Hussian, Saaid, Ali, & Zolkapli, 2012)

This study shows a development of an automated fish feeder regardless of

what fish is in the pond. This research is related in our study for the reason that

the researchers will develop an automated feeder with water quality monitoring

device.

2.3.2 Local Studies

2.3.2.1 Design and Implementation of Real-Time Mobile-based Water

Temperature Monitoring System

In this age of international trade and competition, the aquaculture industry

needs to plan and implement a technology that will address issues concerning

global food security. In modern aquaculture management, a remote water quality

monitoring and computer-controlled intensive culture is the future trend in

aquaculture. The objective of this research is to design and develop a real-time

mobile-based water temperature monitoring system capable of decreasing the

reliance on manpower at the monitoring site to reduce the cost and to assess

tilapia production cycle and fish grow-out system. The system implementation

resulted in a monitoring system that collects the current water temperature from

the core-controller in real-time. Also, the system provides and displays

32
information that includes normal range, maximum, minimum, average and

findings of the collected temperatures. The results obtained in this study has

shown the ability of data acquisition in the remote and real-time detection of

water temperature accurately and efficiently. It provides decision support to help

and guide fisher folks in avoiding distress to tilapia and obtaining the optimum

water temperature range. (Jr. & Llantosb, 2017)

In this study, the researchers design and develop a real-time mobile-based

water temperature monitoring system to reduce the cost of the monitoring site and

to assess tilapia production cycle and fish grow-out system which is related to our

thesis study with regards to water temperature monitoring.

2.3.2.2 On-farm feed management practices for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis

niloticus) in the Philippines

The contribution of the Philippines to tilapia production in Asia has

increased steadily in the past five years as it addresses hunger and poverty

alleviation in the region. Commercial tilapia aquaculture in the Philippines has

improved as farmers have become aware of the importance of adopting innovative

husbandry technologies. These include the use of intensive culture, using novel

feed ingredients, improving the quality of industrial aqua feeds, adopting cost

effective feeding strategies and efficient pond fertilization methods, and culturing

improved genetic strains. A case study was conducted to: a) assess current tilapia

feed management practices; b) determine recent nutrition-based innovations that

include the use of alternative feed ingredients, the adoption of nutritionally

complete commercial tilapia feeds, and improvements to feed management

33
practices; and c) evaluate these factors in terms of improved production

efficiencies. Thirty-two farmers from selected tilapia cage hatcheries, pond

hatcheries, grow out cages and ponds in Regions III and IV-A (known major

tilapia producing regions in the Philippines) were interviewed. The issues

addressed included their farm management practices, with particular focus on

tilapia feed preferences; quality, procurement and storage methods; and feeding

strategies. Their responses were collated and analyzed in the context of

information simultaneously gathered from the scientific literature, popular

publications and relevant websites. The results from the case study highlight the

importance of farmers being trained and remaining well-informed about recent

improvements in feed technologies and the use of efficient cost-saving feeding

strategies to optimize the production of seed and marketable tilapia.

Recommendations on how to increase tilapia production through improved feed

and feed management practices are described. Finally, recommendations for local

regulatory agencies to implement aqua feed quality and nutrient standards are

provided. (Romana-Eguia, Larona, & Catacutan, 2013)

This study shows feeding management of tilapia in the Philippines, which

is relevant to our thesis study regarding the feeds that tilapia intake, resulting to

healthier tilapia.

2.3.2.3 Automated Aquaculture System that Regulates pH, Temperature and

Ammonia

The current method of raising tilapia in the Philippines is through fish

ponds exposed to the weather. Methods for measuring pH, temperature, dissolved

34
oxygen, and ammonia are limited to manually using a chemical test kit. The

current system relies on manually regulating the water quality so the fish are at

risk of harmful situations resulting from unsafe levels of temperature, pH,

dissolved oxygen, or ammonia. This study aims to solve that problem by creating

a system that automatically measures and regulates the pH, temperature, dissolved

oxygen, and ammonia. This study takes advantage of electronic sensors for pH,

temperature, and dissolved oxygen, while computing the ammonia factor, to allow

the user to measure the levels of the said parameters at any given time, process,

send the data to a LabVIEW database, and use the data to automatically take

corrective action against harmful levels of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen,

and ammonia while notifying the user through SMS. The proponents of this study

built the prototype and tested it on two different trials of 50 fingerlings each in a 1

cubic-meter glass aquarium. (Africa, Aguilar, & Jr, 2017)

This research shows experimental data by monitoring water quality in

aquarium, the researchers use tilapia fingerlings. This study is related to our thesis

study in a manner that the user will be aware of the water quality is harmful to the

tilapia.

35
2.4 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

1. Knowledge Requirement  Brainstorming

 Data Gathering
 Tilapia Cultivation
 Documentation
 Programming
 Design Process “Development of a
o C
Programming  Development of
Programming Mobile-Based Water
2. Software Requirement Flowcharts
Quality Monitoring
 Software and
 Arduino IDE
Application
 Android Studio and Control with
Development
 Cloud Service
 Implementation Automated Feeding
3. Hardware requirement  Testing and
Evaluating System”
 Android Phone
 Sensors
o Temperature
o pH
o Dissolved
Oxygen
 Arduino
 Feeder
o DC Motor
o Power supply

The input frame of the conceptual framework is composed of needed requirements

to aid the development of the proposed study. These requirements are composed of

gathered data through observation, including the information from relevant theories and

literatures, and various ideas from related studies. Certain hardware is necessary to gather

the needed data that are needed in this study.

36
 The process frame consists of analysis of current systems, events, and schemes

which are usually introduced through previous literatures and papers related to tilapia

cultivation issues and their existing solutions. The development of flowcharts helps to

visualize on how the system operates and how the desired output is achieved. The

graphical user interface (GUI) design and algorithm programming and training is to be

materialized with the respective IDE software. The software will undergo continuous

validation and compliance tests for performance evaluation whereas the results will

indicate if the system is prior for the final feasibility evaluation or troubleshooting.

All of the stated processes have led to the finished output which is the

Development of a Mobile-Based Water Quality Monitoring and Control with

Automated Feeding System.

2.5 ASSUMPTION OF THE STUDY

2.5.1 Null hypothesis: There’s no statistically significant difference between the tilapia

cultivation method between the conventional way of monitoring water quality of fish

pond with manual feeding system and the mobile-based water quality monitoring with

automated feeding system for tilapia culture.

2.6 DEFINITION OF VARIABLES

Arduino - is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware

and software.

C Programming - is a high-level and general-purpose programming language

that is ideal for developing firmware or portable applications.

37
GSM – stands for global system for mobile communication; is a digital mobile

network that is widely used by mobile phone users in Europe and other parts of

the world.

GUI - Short for graphical user interface, A GUI is an interface through which a

user interacts with electronic devices such as computers, hand-held devices and

other appliances and uses icons or other visual indicators to interact with

electronicdevices, rather than only text via a command line.

IDE- stands for Integrated Development Environment. It is a software application

that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software

development.

Local area network (LAN) - a group of computers and associated devices that

share a common communications line or wireless link to a server

Thermocouple - a sensor used to measure temperature

38
 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the Methods and Techniques to be used, Locale of the

Study, Population and Sample of the Study, Research Instruments, Data Gathering

Procedure, and Data Processing and Statistical Treatment in order to achieve the

objectives of the study.

3.1 METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF THE STUDY

A descriptive research is used in this study. It involves data gathering that is vital

in attaining the wanted result of the study. Under the descriptive research is the

qualitative research wherein the researchers are the data-gathering instrument. In this

method, researchers conduct interviews from selected people of different government

agencies to get the desired data relevant in this study.

Another type of descriptive research, which is the quantitative research, is used

wherein the researchers will analyze and interpret the numerical data gathered. Numerical

data will be obtained through experimental research by numbers of trials and

observations, will then be recorded, and evaluated using the evaluation sheet in

developing a technological device. A descriptive survey research is also used in this study

to gather the perceptions of the beneficiaries about the proposed device.

Experimental research is significant to this study specifically in testing the

hypothesis. This study aims to increase the survivability of Tilapia fishes that is why

series of tests are needed to conduct. It is relevant for the researchers to monitor the

progress in the survival rate of Tilapia fishes with the use of the proposed device. The

39
data gathered using this experimental method will be evaluated to prove that the proposed

device or system is effective in the improvement of Tilapia survivability.

Descriptive survey research is also an important method used in this study. It is

essential for the researchers to know the perception of the fishpond owners and caretakers

about the issue on Tilapia survivability. With this method, the researchers will be able to

know the opinions of the beneficiaries regarding the proposed system. The innovations

proposed by the researchers were based on the fishpond owners’ statement concerning

the issue.

The chosen methods seek to solve the problems regarding tilapia survivability

including the temperature, pH level and dissolved oxygen determination through sensors,

the correction of pH level, the control of feeding through a developed feeding system, the

development of a monitoring application, and the operation of the whole system. The

technologies to be used in this study are GSM, Arduino Mega, temperature sensor, pH

3.2 POPULATION AND SAMPLE OF THE STUDY

The true population of the respondents of the study will be composed of four (4)

fisheries officers, forty-five (45) fishpond owners, and one hundred nine (109) fishpond

caretakers, with a total of one hundred fifty-eight (158) respondents. The fisheries

officers are from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of the fisheries sector of Balagtas,

Bulacan. The fishpond owners who are responsible for the planning, decision making and

managing of the pond business including the inventory management. And the fishpond

caretakers are the ones who actually monitor the health of the tilapia fishes. The selected

40
respondents are the persons who are the potential users of the mobile based water quality

monitoring and control with automated feeding system.

The Stratified Probability Sampling Technique will be used by the researchers to

determine the respondents of the study. It is a method in which the entire population is

divided into different subgroups or strata on the basis of some characteristics. The

researchers will divide the respondents into separate strata, and the strata samples will be

obtained using stratified sampling. Table 1 shows the distributions of the respondents.

Table 3.1

Distribution of Respondents

RESPONDENTS POPULATION PERCENTAGE

Fisheries Officers 3 10%

Fishpond Owners 7 23%

Fishpond Caretakers 20 67%

Total 30 100%

Using the Slovin’s Formula as solution in solving for the sample population size with

95% confidence error:

𝑁
𝑛=
(1 + 𝑁𝑒 2 )

Where:

𝑛= sample size

41
𝑁=population size

𝑒=margin error

Solution:

158
𝑛=
(1 + 158 ∗. 052 )

𝑛 = 113.26

To have a 95% confidence in conducting the study, a total of 114 respondents

need to participate in the survey. But the actual number of participants in the study is

only 30 due to lack of time and resources.

3.3 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

In order to account the research instrument of this thesis study, the researchers

will conduct a survey-questionnaire form and interviews, which will be located on the

appendices. The gathering results of tilapia fish pond in Balagtas, Bulacan will be based

on the response of the chosen location of the study. Rating scale forms shall be provided

in gathering data.

The rating scale method provides the respondents’ perception and awareness

regarding the subject of the experiment. The researchers have chosen this method to

attain consistent data for analyzing the results of experimentation. The researchers have

also believed that the perception of the respondents will play a significant role in the

conclusion of this thesis study. The basis criteria of the project shall follow the ISO 9126

42
Quality Model for Test Specifications to establish the thesis proposal’s functionality,

reliability, usability, efficiency, maintainability and portability.

In agreement to ISO/IEC 9126, the following characteristics are to be considered

to qualify and evaluate the development of the research device. This data gathering tool

was chosen since the evaluation of the device will be conducted only in the pond.

Functionality is the quality of having a practical use or the quality of being functional

(Merriam Webster, 2017). This characteristic shall describe whether the device is

performing according to the program and tell whether the software application developed

is performing in accordance with the device. Functionality shall also provide evidence

about the accurateness of the device to maintain the monitoring of water quality

parameters and also the feeding system for fish pond and tilapia. Maintainability is to

keep in an existing state as of repair, efficiency or validity and to preserve from failure or

decline (Merriam Webster, 2017). This characteristic of research instrument is used to

test stability or maintenance compliance of the output of this thesis study. Usability is the

quality or capable of being in good enough condition (Webster, 2017). This characteristic

of research instrument is used to test the usability compliance of the output of this thesis

study. Reliability is the extent to which an experiment, test, or measuring procedure

yields the same results on repeated trials (Merriam Webster, 2017). This characteristic of

research instrument is used to consider the maturity, fault tolerance, recoverability, and

reliability compliance of the research device. Efficiency is the ability to do something or

produce something without wasting materials, time and energy (Merriam Webster, 2017).

This characteristic of research instrument is used to consider the time behavior, resource

utilization and efficiency compliance of the research device.

43
 All of these characteristics shall be rated according to the Likert Scale (Level of

Satisfaction using 5-point system). For each standard under each section, the respondents

can give the following ratings:

Table 3.2

Scale Range Criteria

The respondents are extremely satisfied of the output

5 4.51 to 5.00
provided by the project as a solution to the problem.

The respondents are satisfied of the output provided by

4 3.51 to 4.50
the project as a solution to the problem.

The respondents are not sure and in doubt of the

3 2.51 to 3.50
project’s capabilities.

The respondents are not satisfied with the projects

2 1.51 to 2.50
output performance.

The respondents are completely not satisfied of the

1 1.00 to 1.50
project.

In accordance with the ISO-IEC 12207 (2008) evaluation guideline, the

researchers shall comply its software application that will be used. The objective of the

researchers why it was chosen is for the researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of the

software application when it comes to its development with the device.

44
 For the data processing, the researchers have chosen the ISO/IEC 5807 standard

for creating the operation of the device. These includes of data flowcharts, system

flowcharts, and program flowcharts for the development of the research device.

3.4. DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

3.4.1. Non-Directive Interview

It is a type of interview which question are not prearranged. They tend to be free

flowing which is informal and open to discuss. It gives better understanding of the

respondents and the focus of the study. Information given by the respondents are

considerably valid because of their experience on cultivating of Tilapia fishes. With these

data, it acts as a guide on how the device should work for better efficiency.

3.4.2. Data Sheets

Data sheets are documents that the manufacturer issued for every component. The

data sheets summarize the performance and other technical characteristics of necessary

components. It will help to understand the compatibility and reliability of components

used for development of the device. Some components will be in contact with water, so

data sheets are necessary to identify if the components can withstand being underwater or

being exposed to water for a long period of time.

3.4.3 Surveys

It is a commonly used method of collection information about a population of

interest. Survey will be distributed to the respondents to evaluate its Functionality,

Reliability, Usability, Efficiency, and Maintainability.

45
3.4.4 Planning and System Requirements Analysis Stage

The researchers came up with an idea for a more efficient way of monitoring the

water quality of fish pond. The study focuses on giving an accurate, and reliable water

quality monitoring system for pond for Tilapia fishes. Several factors affect the

survivability rate of Tilapia fishes. These factors comprise of temperature, dissolved

oxygen, pH level and others. The device primarily focuses on these factors in observing

the water quality. To accomplish the desired device system, it requires accurate

measurement of parameters needed, good communication between the device and the

phone, pH level control, and user-friendly application. For the feeding system, the device

will automatically distribute the feeds, placed by the end-user, to its coverage area. The

device systems need to comply with certain requirements to achieve the desired outcome.

The system should properly monitor the current condition, through the application, of the

water for ease monitoring. It should automatically correct the pH level suitable for the

Tilapia fish to live. The system should also alert the end-user through the application

whether some parameter fluctuates extremely that may harm the growth of the Tilapia.

The feeder should distribute the feeds properly to ensure all Tilapia is well fed. The

mobile application should have a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) for easy

understanding of information stated and other features.

3.4.5 Design of Product Stage

There are three parameters to measure by the corresponding sensors in the pond.

These are the temperature, pH level and dissolved oxygen. The data gathered by the

sensors is programmed in Arduino to be sent by the GSM Module to the android phone.

An application is installed in the android phone to monitor the data sent by the GSM

46
Module. In the android application, the user may monitor the water quality and calculate

the feed amount. However, the pH level is not just monitored but also automatically

corrected. In the calculation of feed, the user needs to input the number of fish sampled

and their total weight, and the total number of fish (population) in the pond. The

application will automatically calculate the amount of feed per serving to be sent back for

the system to activate the automatic feeder. The automatic feeder is time-based and it will

distribute the stored feed depending on the programmed feeding rate.

3.4.6 Development of the Product Stage.

This study will create a system with both hardware and software portion. For the

hardware part, the Arduino Mega microcontroller will be used as the brain of the system.

Connected to this are sensors, module and motor driver that will be needed for the system

requirements of the research device. Applying the cellular concept, the module that will

be used is the GSM module. This module will send numerical data or the data gathered

by the sensors to the android application that will be processing the graphical user

interface. Three sensors are present in this research device, these includes the temperature

sensor, dissolve oxygen sensor and pH level sensor. These sensors are soak in the fish

pond for measuring the water quality parameters. Motor driver is connected from the

Arduino Mega microcontroller to the liquid pump that distributes pH stabilizer when the

device sense harmful range of pH level for tilapia and to the DC motor that distribute the

feeds in the fish pond. The Arduino Mega microcontroller will be programmed based on

the C programming language. And for the software part, an android-based application

will be developed for the water quality monitoring and control. All the data accumulated

from the device such as the temperature, pH level and dissolved oxygen will be stored

47
and be viewed on the application. The application also has a calculator for the amount of

feed that will be put in the container of the research device. The software platform used

to develop the mobile application is Android Studio.

3.4.7 Testing Stage

In testing the device, the researchers will conduct three sets of experiment, and

two results per set of experiment which are expected for almost a month of observation.

One result is obtained without the use of the device and the other is with the used of the

whole proposed system. The testing stage is expected to be done in two months with six

results for a better comparison. Each result summary contains series of data acquired and

analyzed every day and the final result. The researchers expected that the mobile-based

water quality monitoring system and control with automated feeding system was able to

monitor the different parameters and sent the data to the android application with no

interference, was able to maintain the pH level required, was able to feed the fishes

automatically and accurately based on the set time, and was able to operate accordingly

with regards to the programmed functions.

3.4.8 Implementation Stage

During the implementation stage of the device, instruction manual will be given

to the fishpond owners for them to be familiar to the device. It shows the step by step

procedure from setting up the device, how to properly operate it, its parts and purpose,

the components of the device, the Do’s and Don’ts in handling the device, and the

specifications of the device. It also includes the installation of the mobile application,

how to input information for the automatic feeding system and how to view the condition

48
of the water quality. It also includes here the maintenance stage which indicates the Do’s

and Don’ts when a problem was occurred. Also, the contact person in case of

malfunctioning of the device is indicated in the manual.

3.5 DATA PROCESSING AND STATISTICAL TREATMENT

The information gathered by the researchers will be then subjected to evaluation

using analysis techniques such as (1) Percentage Analysis and (2) Mean Analysis. The

researchers use a five-point scale evaluation remark for the survey.

Percentage. Used to determine the magnitude of the responses.

𝑛
% = 𝑁 𝑥 100 ; n – number of responses

N – total number of respondents

Weighted Mean. Used to individually assess the weight given to each response.

𝑓1𝑥1 +𝑓2𝑥2 +𝑓3𝑥3 +𝑓𝑛𝑥𝑛

𝑥= ; f – weight given to each response
𝑥𝑡

x – number of responses

xt – total number of responses

49
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