Raising jellyfish is an activity that is as fascinating as it is demanding, especially when it comes to providing them with the right living conditions. Alexander Dressel, passionate about sea creatures from a young age, has turned his hobby into Europe's largest jellyfish farm, creating a unique and innovative business model. As a skilled breeder and research diver, Dressel gained experience in prestigious aquariums to ultimately create a place where aesthetics and technology blend harmoniously. From this case study, you'll learn how cutting-edge systems such as PLCs, cloud solutions and digital sensors for fluid analysis support the breeding of these delicate marine organisms. It's thanks to these systems that our partner Alexander Dressel can precisely monitor and control breeding conditions, providing jellyfish with an optimal living environment and himself with the ability to remotely supervise the farm. Read on to discover how automation and remote management contribute to efficient jellyfish farming, and how these technologies can support the development of modern, sustainable aquariums around the world.
Jellyfish are extremely delicate organisms, for which stable environmental conditions are essential for proper development. Even small changes in water parameters, such as pH, conductivity or temperature, can affect their health, causing stress, disease and, in extreme cases, leading to death. Therefore, precise control of these parameters is crucial if the breeder wants to provide optimal living conditions for his charges.
For jellyfish farming, the most important parameters include:
Alexander Dressel initially managed his jellyfish farm with basic measurement sensors, which required his frequent presence on site. On a daily basis, he personally inspected the tanks, animals and equipment to ensure that his delicate charges had the right conditions. Unfortunately, such a system had its limitations. Dressel could not monitor the farm remotely or respond in real time to changes in water parameters when he was not on site. The whole process proved to be time-consuming and labor-intensive, which prevented him from focusing on further business development. Over time, with plans to grow and scale the farm, he increasingly recognized the need to upgrade.
The farmer found the answer to his needs thanks to a visit from our sales expert Ralf Kappmeyer, who visited Dressel with ideas for upgrading the farm. He suggested implementing automation with a PLC and advanced, cloud-based remote data management. He outlined the benefits of using digital sensors to collect and analyze data in real time and integrating them with cloud-based distribution. Dressel's interest in these solutions became the foundation for their continued cooperation, and the jellyfish farm entered a new level of technological sophistication.
In order to improve the process of controlling water parameters at its farm, Dressel decided to implement a state-of-the-art monitoring system that enables automation and remote management of the farm. Thanks to this solution, he has gained not only convenience, but also precision, which is crucial when breeding delicate marine organisms.
The centerpiece of the system is the JUMO variTRON PLC, which, together with JUMO Cloud SCADA software, provides full automation of water parameter monitoring. The system also uses high-precision digital probes to measure pH, conductivity and temperature, which continuously transmit data to the management platform. The biggest advantage of this solution is the ability to monitor remotely through cloud integration. Dressel now has full access to farm data from anywhere, allowing him to remotely manage and effectively supervise the farm. He can observe parameters in real time and check the history of changes, which gives him more freedom and allows him to focus on growing the business. Automation has not only freed Dressel from constant presence on the farm, but also provided precise monitoring that significantly improves the quality of breeding and allows for efficient management of resources.
In addition to advanced monitoring features, the system also stands out for its aesthetics. The sensor and controller housings have been designed for presentation in demonstration aquariums - their clear, elegant appearance adds a professional touch to the aquarium that is attractive to visitors and customers alike.
The farmer is currently working with JUMO experts to implement AI solutions to further improve the efficiency of farm management. Based on measurement data and visual data from cameras, the AI system analyzes the condition of the jellyfish and provides them with optimal living conditions. Previously, Alexander Dressel had to observe the jellyfish on his own to assess their condition, which took a lot of time and required constant presence on the farm. Now the AI learns behavioral patterns by monitoring the jellyfish's movements, distribution and interactions with each other. The system is programmed to pick up subtle signs of the jellyfish's “happiness” - it monitors whether they swim freely and don't tangle with each other, and whether their movements are smooth and harmonious.
By analyzing the data in real time, the system is able to quickly detect any potential dangers and notify Dressel, allowing him to take immediate action. In this way, he can be sure that the jellyfish are living in a healthy, safe environment conducive to species reproduction. AI integration also makes it possible to anticipate potential problems, optimizing the entire breeding process and enabling a proactive approach to farm management.
As part of our collaboration, monitoring is also planned to be expanded to include additional temperature, redox and flow sensors, as well as integration of pumps for real-time management.
Farm automation has allowed Alexander Dressel to manage his jellyfish farm with new freedom and efficiency. With an integrated system that monitors pH, conductivity and temperature, he can now watch over ideal water conditions from anywhere, reducing the need for his constant presence on the farm. This relief gives him room to think about the future - about growing the farm and scaling up operations on a larger scale.
With AI that monitors jellyfish behavior and provides information about their condition, Dressel has a tool for dynamic, proactive management. The system responds to subtle changes, allowing Dressel to adapt to their needs in an instant, and this translates into the health and well-being of its charges.
What's more, this advanced technology is becoming the foundation for future development. Dressel is not only optimizing his own farm, but is also preparing to soon offer these innovative technological solutions to other breeders. By doing so, he will be able to provide them with tools that will help them effectively manage their farms and improve the quality of their operations - thus supporting the growth of the entire marine aquarium industry.
System automatyzacji akwarium morskiego
My name is Ewelina Szmit and I have been working in content marketing for several years, combining my professional skills with my passion for writing. I am convinced that even the most technical topics can be presented in an interesting and accessible way for everyone. Outside of work, I unleash my creativity by creating newspaper collages. I like to spend my free time being active, walking my dog or running.
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