Monitoring the Behavior of Physicochemical Parameters in Tilapia Ponds Using a Prototype of a Semi-Automatic Water and Sediment Sampling System

The cultivation of tilapia in ponds, as well as other fish or aquaculture species, requires control over water or sediment quality (anions, cations, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, nutrients, among others) at various stages of development.To this end, an instrument was developed that allows water or sediment samples to be taken at various depths, so that physical and chemical determinations of water or sediment quality can then be made.The prototype is semi-automatic and has the option of removing sediments from the bottom of the pond and taking a water sample with suspended sediments or taking a water sample without suspended sediments at a certain depth.In both cases, the sample volume is 600 mL.The prototype was used at 40 points in a tilapia pond.Using an API marine field kit, the pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, nitrates, and nitrites were determined in each sample, and their non-homogeneity was observed, with variations within permissible limits.The sampling prototype is versatile, low-cost, and obtains the sample in 3.5 min for subsequent analysis with the field kit or transfer to a laboratory.The prototype is portable, weighs 5 kg, and allows for agile field operation.The sampling obtained in the case study allowed us to observe the influence of the pond's topography on the distribution of water quality parameters, which helps and guides the scheduling of pond water Pol.J. Environ.Stud.Vol.XX, No. X (XXXX), 1-14 changes to obtain healthier and more abundant production, so that water and sediment quality sampling is a regular practice.This requires sampling instruments such as the one presented in this study.The device is inexpensive, making it accessible to low-income aquaculture farmers on the coast of Sinaloa and elsewhere.Furthermore, it is an easy-to-use, necessary, and valuable tool, as it allows for quality control of the water and suspended solids in the ponds to prevent and address risks of contamination or disease in the crops, thus ensuring sustainable aquaculture production.In case of breakdown, its parts are inexpensive and easy to replace.