WARE RET 2014-Marine Aquaponics in the Classroom Tana Jackson 1 , Frank Marcantoni 2 : Suzanne Boxman 3 & Dr. Maya Trotz 3 1. Tampa Bay Technical High School; 2. Van Buren Middle School; 3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida For more information about the program visit: http:// wareret.net . The Water Awareness Research and Education (WARE) Research Experience for Teachers (RET) is funded by the National Science Foundation under award number 1200682. Abstract Objectives Background Year One Marine Classroom Aquaponics System Year Two Marine Classroom Aquaponics System References Year One vs. Year Two An aquaponic system combines aquaculture, farming fish, with hydroponics, growing plants in nutrient rich water with no soil. These systems produce lean protein and fresh vegetables while naturally recycling nutrients. Aquaponics is a valuable teaching tool because it combines many science, math, and engineering topics. Adoption of classroom aquaponic systems can potentially inspire and motivate K-12 students in STEM topics. In this study, year one of a marine classroom aquaponic system was observed and modified for two specific problems: 1) lack of plant growth; 2) lack of student engagement due to non- appealing aesthetics. Year two of the marine classroom aquaponic system will address these two problems through design modifications. Create a sustainable engaging marine classroom aquaponics system. FigureTitle Under Graph Year one of a marine classroom aquaponic system was able to keep fish alive however plants were not able to grow. In addition, student engagement was low. The fish were low to the ground, the top was visually unappealing. A third problem was water splash due to the bell siphon which caused damage to the floor and cabinets. Tank low to the ground vs. traditional aquarium Plants died soon after planting Visually unappealing top and fish ground level Year 1: Year 2: Costs: $180 Stand: $40 (pre- made) Lid: None = splash damage Medium: (Expanded Clay) $33 Tank: $60 Bin: $7 Pipes, pumps and tubes: $40 Aerator: $0 (not needed due to bell syphon) Cost: $227(only $47 more) Stand $65 (custom built) Lid: $ 15 = no splash damage Medium: (raft and pods) $20 Tank: $60 Bin: $7 Pipes, pumps and tubes: $40 Aerator: $20 Visually: Brown clay balls at eye level; fish close to floor level; no plants; standard fish stand; not very sturdy Visually: plants and plant roots at eye level; fish higher off of floor; stand industrial and visually interesting; can see all components; very sturdy Plant growth: No place to hang a light so plants did not grow Plant growth: incorporated a grow light for plant health; can see roots. Other issues: Due to the bell syphon there was no lid. The splash from the bell syphon cause corrosion on floors and nearby cabinets. Fix: Constant flow module with a lid instead of bell syphon. An aerator was added to maintain dissolved oxygen levels, decreased due to

WARE RET 2014-Marine Aquaponics in the Classroom

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Page 1: WARE RET 2014-Marine Aquaponics in the Classroom

WARE RET 2014-Marine Aquaponics in the ClassroomTana Jackson1, Frank Marcantoni2: Suzanne Boxman3 & Dr. Maya Trotz3

1. Tampa Bay Technical High School; 2. Van Buren Middle School; 3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida

For more information about the program visit: http://wareret.net. The Water Awareness Research and Education (WARE) Research Experience for Teachers (RET) is funded by the National Science Foundation under award number 1200682.

Abstract

Objectives

Background

Year One Marine Classroom Aquaponics System

Year Two Marine Classroom Aquaponics System

References

Year One vs. Year TwoAn aquaponic system combines aquaculture, farming fish, with hydroponics, growing plants in nutrient rich water with no soil. These systems produce lean protein and fresh vegetables while naturally recycling nutrients. Aquaponics is a valuable teaching tool because it combines many science, math, and engineering topics. Adoption of classroom aquaponic systems can potentially inspire and motivate K-12 students in STEM topics. In this study, year one of a marine classroom aquaponic system was observed and modified for two specific problems: 1) lack of plant growth; 2) lack of student engagement due to non-appealing aesthetics. Year two of the marine classroom aquaponic system will address these two problems through design modifications.

Create a sustainable engaging marine classroom aquaponics system.

FigureTitle Under Graph

Year one of a marine classroom aquaponic system was able to keep fish alive however plants were not able to grow. In addition, student engagement was low. The fish were low to the ground, the top was visually unappealing. A third problem was water splash due to the bell siphon which caused damage to the floor and cabinets.

Tank low to the ground vs. traditional aquarium

Plants died soon after planting

Visually unappealing top and fish ground level

Year 1: Year 2:Costs: $180

Stand: $40 (pre-made)Lid: None = splash damageMedium: (Expanded Clay) $33Tank: $60Bin: $7Pipes, pumps and tubes: $40Aerator: $0 (not needed due to bell syphon)

Cost: $227(only $47 more)Stand $65 (custom built)Lid: $ 15 = no splash damageMedium: (raft and pods) $20Tank: $60Bin: $7Pipes, pumps and tubes: $40Aerator: $20

Visually: Brown clay balls at eye level; fish close to floor level; no plants; standard fish stand; not very sturdy

Visually: plants and plant roots at eye level; fish higher off of floor; stand industrial and visually interesting; can see all components; very sturdy

Plant growth: No place to hang a light so plants did not grow

Plant growth: incorporated a grow light for plant health; can see roots.

Other issues: Due to the bell syphon there was no lid. The splash from the bell syphon cause corrosion on floors and nearby cabinets.

Fix: Constant flow module with a lid instead of bell syphon. An aerator was added to maintain dissolved oxygen levels, decreased due to loss of the bell syphon.

http://wareret.net/