Design and Development of a BNC Electrode Sensor-Based pH Measurement Device to Support Pond Aquaculture in Kambingan Village

Abstract

Water quality is a critical factor in the success of brackish water aquaculture, particularly the levels of acidity (pH) and water temperature. Inappropriate pH levels can cause stress and mass mortality in cultivated fish and shrimp. This study aims to design and build a water pH measuring device that is affordable, easy to operate, and accurate for use by the residents of Kambingan Village in supporting their aquaculture activities. The device utilizes a BNC pH Electrode Probe combined with an Arduino Uno R3 MD ATmega microcontroller, a DS18B20 temperature sensor, and a 16x2 I2C LCD display, with all circuits assembled on a project board and enclosed in an X6 box. The calibration process was carried out using three standard buffer solutions of pH 4.01, 6.86, and 9.18, as well as distilled water for electrode rinsing between measurements. A three-point calibration method produced a highly linear calibration curve with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.9987. Testing on 30 water samples from aquaculture ponds showed that the device achieved an accuracy rate of 97.3% compared to a standard laboratory pH meter, with a mean absolute error of 0.08 pH units and a standard deviation of 0.04. The DS18B20 temperature sensor recorded water temperatures ranging from 28.2°C to 30.5°C, within the optimal range for Litopenaeus vannamei cultivation. Field trials conducted over seven consecutive days demonstrated that the device operated stably and was well received by local farmers due to its simple interface and compact design. This tool is expected to serve as an appropriate technology solution that empowers aquaculture farmers in Kambingan Village to independently monitor water quality in real time.