Aquaponics: The Future of Ecological Farming Benjamin Oif What Is It? • The Combination of Aquaculture (raising fish) and Hydroponics (growing plants without soil) Aquaculture Hydroponics Problems • Aquaculture – Fish are crammed into small spaces. – Waste is produced quickly which can cause the fish to become sick – Frequent water changes and filtering must be performed ($$$$) • Hydroponics – Chemicals are used to grow the plants – Non-Organic Solution! • Aquaponics – Using fish waste as fertilizer for plants and using plants as a filter for the fish tank • Organic • Economical - no filter and no chemical fertilizers • Ecological - Reusing the waste produced by the fish and the water Proposal • Design and build two Aquaponics systems that can be used to perform various experiments – Experiment would test Ebb and Flow vs. Constantly Filled systems • 3 Phases – 1. Construction – 2. Setup – 3. Experiment The Design: Vertical Aquaponics Ebb and Flow Plant Bed Sometimes Submerged Always Submerged Constantly Filled (Constant) Plant Bed Always Submerged Construction • Building the Acrylic Plant Tanks… Construction Construction • Building the tables… Construction Construction The Setup • Longest phase of the project – From October to March • Many things went wrong – 1. Piping leaked – 2. Plants did not germinate properly – 3. ACRYLIC TANKS CRACKED • In several places Cascio brothers helping after the tank leaked The Setup Rockwool Hydroton Experiment • 8 Tilapia in each tank • Green Beans, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Basil, Celery, Parsley and Tomatoes • Hypothesis: – Lettuce would produce more vegetation in the constant system and the rest would produce more vegetation in the ebb and flow system. • Measure total biomass, bean fruit, tomato fruit, nitrogen levels, water input and fish weight Plant Growth Ebb and Flow 3/18/2013 Ebb and Flow Constant 15 Days Later Constant 3/18/2013 Plant Growth 4/16/2013 14 Days Later Constant Ebb and Flow Plant Growth Height of light 5/10/2013 fixture in previous 24 Days Later picture Water Data Ebb and Flow = 4.1 liters per day Constant Flow= 4.5 liters per day Biomass Y-Axis measured in grams Total Biomass *13% more biomass in Constant Flow System Average Fish Weight Ebb and Flow: y= 21.20 + 5.92x Constant Flow: y= 20.15 + Conclusion • The Constant Flow system produced 13% more vegetation than Ebb and Flow • Aquaponics was successful – The final nitrate levels were practically zero which means the plants absorbed ALL nitrates – None of the 16 fish died – Delicious vegetables were produced Future Plans • The Aquaponics System will be used in future years by Science Anderson Scholars and those interest in the subject. Thank You Strnad Family Parents Mrs. Axelrod Dr. Laux Dr. Jack Horwitz Mr. Lyons US Students.