Aquaculture and Aquatics
Healthy aquatic environments depend on stable, well-monitored water conditions. Whether managing fish stocks in open-water net pens, maintaining precise water levels in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), or ensuring safe conditions in public aquariums and swimming facilities, operators need instrumentation that delivers accurate, continuous data without disturbing the environment it is measuring. Stork Solutions supplies a range of submersible level transmitters and temperature sensors specifically suited to aquaculture and aquatic applications. Designed for permanent immersion in fresh, brackish, and saltwater, our sensors feature corrosion-resistant stainless steel and marine bronze housings, flush-mounted ceramic sensing elements that resist fouling, and low-power digital interfaces including SDI-12 and HART for integration with remote telemetry and data logging systems. From small-scale hatcheries and shellfish farms through to large commercial aquaculture operations and public aquatic centres, Stork Solutions provides the sensing technology to keep water conditions visible, controlled, and compliant.
Temperature Sensors & Transmitters
Key Aquatics & Aquaculture Applications:
Submersible Level Sensors for Tanks, Ponds, and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
Water level management is central to every aquaculture operation. Overfilling risks structural damage and stock loss; underfilling exposes fish to stress, poor oxygenation, and temperature instability. In recirculating aquaculture systems, level control is tightly coupled to filtration, aeration, and water exchange cycles, making reliable, real-time level data essential for both automated control and manual oversight. The SLS-A Submersible Level Transmitter is a robust analogue sensor designed for permanent immersion in tanks, ponds, raceways, and reservoirs. Its stainless steel construction and IP68-rated cable assembly withstand continuous submersion, while a 4-20 mA output integrates directly with PLCs, data loggers, and telemetry systems commonly used in aquaculture facilities. For operations that require digital communication and multi-sensor networking, the SLS-D Digital Submersible Level Transmitter provides SDI-12 V1.4 output, allowing multiple level sensors to share a single cable bus across a site. This reduces wiring complexity on farms with numerous tanks or ponds and supports integration with solar-powered or battery-powered remote monitoring stations. Where combined level and temperature measurement is needed from a single probe, the LMK 307 T Level and Temperature Transmitter delivers separate 4-20 mA outputs for both parameters, simplifying installations in hatcheries and grow-out tanks where thermal stability is as important as water depth.
Temperature Monitoring for Fish Health, Breeding, and Water Quality Compliance
Water temperature directly influences fish metabolism, growth rates, feed conversion, disease susceptibility, and breeding cycles. In aquaculture, even small, sustained deviations from the target temperature range can reduce stock performance or trigger health issues that are costly to resolve. Continuous, accurate temperature monitoring is therefore not a luxury but a core operational requirement. The STT-28 SDI-12 Submersible Temperature Transmitter is purpose-built for long-term immersion in tanks, ponds, estuaries, and coastal waters. Available in stainless steel or marine bronze housings, it uses a high-stability NTC thermistor with digital correction to deliver low-drift temperature data over multi-year deployments. The SDI-12 interface supports low-power operation and multi-sensor bus networking, making it well suited to aquaculture sites with distributed tank arrays or remote pond locations. A fast-response 10 mm thin-walled probe variant is also available for applications where rapid detection of temperature changes is critical, such as hatchery incubation systems or live transport tanks. For shallower installations and general-purpose aquatic temperature monitoring, the STT-26 Submersible Temperature Transmitter provides a cost-effective analogue option with proven long-term submersion capability, pressure tested to 10 bar for reliable operation in tanks, ponds, and shallow open-water sites.
Corrosion-Resistant Construction for Freshwater, Brackish, and Saltwater Environments
Aquaculture and aquatic facilities operate across a wide spectrum of water chemistries, from soft freshwater in trout hatcheries through to full-strength seawater in salmon net pens and shellfish farms. Sensors that corrode, foul, or degrade in these conditions quickly become a maintenance burden and a source of unreliable data. Stork Solutions’ submersible sensors are constructed from 316L stainless steel as standard, providing excellent resistance to freshwater and mildly corrosive media. For saltwater and brackish environments, marine bronze housing options on the STT-28 deliver the chloride resistance needed for long-term seawater immersion without pitting or stress corrosion cracking. Flush-mounted ceramic sensing elements on the LMK 307 and SLS-LC level transmitters eliminate dead space where organic matter, biofilm, and sediment can accumulate, reducing fouling and extending the interval between cleaning or maintenance. This combination of material selection and sensor design ensures that instruments deployed in aquaculture environments continue to deliver accurate data throughout their service life, even in biologically active water with high organic loading.
Digital Interfaces and Remote Monitoring for Modern Aquaculture Operations
Modern aquaculture increasingly relies on centralised monitoring and automated control to manage water quality across multiple tanks, ponds, or cage sites from a single location. Stork Solutions’ digital sensor range supports this transition with industry-standard communication protocols that integrate seamlessly with existing SCADA, PLC, and telemetry infrastructure. The SLS-D and STT-28 both use SDI-12 V1.4, a protocol specifically designed for environmental monitoring applications where low power consumption and multi-drop sensor networking are essential. Multiple level and temperature sensors can share a single three-wire bus, dramatically reducing cabling costs on large sites. All SDI-12 sensors can be configured, scaled, and data-logged using the USB-SDI12-PRO interface and free Stork DCT software, allowing technicians to commission, verify, and recalibrate sensors on-site using a standard laptop. For facilities that use HART-enabled control systems, the LMK 358 H provides HART communication alongside a 4-20 mA signal, enabling remote diagnostics, secondary variable access, and device configuration without removing the sensor from the water.
Talk to Stork Solutions About Your Aquaculture and Aquatics Monitoring Needs
Every aquatic facility has its own combination of species, water chemistry, tank geometry, and monitoring infrastructure. Whether you are setting up a new RAS facility, upgrading sensors on an existing fish farm, or specifying instrumentation for a public aquarium or swimming complex, Stork Solutions’ UK-based technical team can help you select the right level and temperature sensors for your specific environment. From initial application review through to product selection, configuration, and ongoing support, we work with aquaculture operators, system integrators, and consultants to deliver reliable, low-maintenance monitoring solutions. Contact us today to discuss your requirements, request datasheets, or arrange a technical consultation.