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What Storage Capacity Is Sufficient for Underwater Aquaculture Cameras?
Hits: 846 Time: September 13,2025



With a 2MP resolution, H.264 encoding, and an approximate 8 Mbps bitrate, a single channel requires about 160 GB for 7 days and around 320 GB for 14 days. A common practice is to use a 128–256 GB SD card for local offline storage; for multi-channel setups or longer playback periods, supplement with a NAS (Network Attached Storage) or DVR (Digital Video Recorder) (equipped with HDD/SSD).

How to Calculate Capacity (Quick Estimation)

  • Formula: Total Capacity (GB) ≈ Bitrate (Mbps) × 3600 × 24 × Days × Number of Channels ÷ 8 ÷ 1024 ÷ 0.9
    Explanation: ÷8 converts bits to bytes; ×24 accounts for hours in a day; ÷1024 converts MB to GB; 0.9 accounts for file system and metadata overhead.
  • Examples:
    • 2 MP, H.264, 8 Mbps, 1 channel, 7 days ≈ 163 GB
    • 2 MP, H.264, 8 Mbps, 1 channel, 14 days ≈ 327 GB
    • 2 MP, H.265, 4–6 Mbps, 1 channel, 7 days ≈ 82–123 GB (H.265 saves more storage space)



Common Scene-Capacity-Solution Quick Match Table

Scenario Playback Days Number of Channels Recommended Capacity/Solution Notes
Single-point fixed monitoring 7 1 128 GB SD card Most mainstream models support up to 128 GB, offering high cost-effectiveness
Single-point fixed monitoring 14 1 256 GB SD card Some models support 256–512 GB
2–3 points linked monitoring 7–14 2–3 256–512 GB SD card + NAS/8T HDD Hybrid local + network storage is more stable
Large-range/nighttime monitoring 7–14 1–3 256–512 GB SD card + larger-capacity NVR Strong supplementary lighting slightly increases bitrate, so reserve extra capacity

Quick Implementation Suggestions

  1. First confirm the resolution × encoding × bitrate, use the formula to estimate the daily storage consumption per channel, then multiply by the number of days and channels.
  2. Select an SD card based on the maximum support limit of the device: Most underwater cameras support up to 128 GB; if specified, 256–512 GB cards can be used.
  3. For needs of ≥14 days of playback or multi-channel setups, add a NAS/NVR with HDD/SSD. Prioritize enterprise-grade drives and redundant backups for reliability.
  4. The actual bitrate is affected by water transparency, supplementary lighting, and motion complexity. It is recommended to collect a 1-hour on-site sample first, adjust the bitrate accordingly, and then select the storage solution.

Common Misconceptions and Corrections

  • Focusing only on resolution while ignoring encoding/bitrate → First confirm resolution × encoding × bitrate before calculating capacity.
  • Overlooking device limits → Check the maximum storage support of the camera model first, then match the SD card.
  • Relying entirely on local SD cards → For multi-channel setups or long playback periods, always add a NAS/NVR—it is more stable and easier to manage.




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