MAE 188: AQUAPONIC SYSTEMS

Industry Sponsor: Thomas Grimm, OC Great ParkFaculty Advisors: Dr. Vince Mcdonell, PhD, Dr. Farzad Ahmadkhanlou, PhD

Students: Darren Zack,Teresa Nguyen,Henry Gomez,Mark Annevelink,Lee Tea

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From left to right, Tom Grimm, Henry Gomez, Darren Zack, Lee Tea, Mark

Annevelink, Teresa Nguyen

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Project GoalsDesign an aquaponics system for use in an educational environment. The model should include a 10ft. By 10ft. greenhouse, a composting unit, house freshwater prawns and 2 types of fish, grow plants and seedlings, and collect and store rainwater.

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New System

System Components• Greenhouse

• 10 feet x 10 feet, designed to be easily expanded• Rainwater Collection and Storage

• Rainwater is collected and used to replace evaporated water• Compost Box

• Drawers with a removable front panel• Seedling Box

• Drawers with slotted trays• Fish Tank

• Two tanks with tilted bases, circulated with air pumps• Grow Bed

• Two ebb and flow grow beds with nitrogen fixing plants• Grow Tubes

• Multiple tubes hung above the grow beds for added plant capacity• Control system

• Digital controller to monitor sensors (O2, temperature, etc.)

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Greenhouse

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●Base unit is 10 feet x 10 feet x 10 feet●Side panels can open and close for access to hard to reach areas●Can be expanded to create a rectangular shape, that is longer than

wide

Rainwater Collection System

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●Rainwater collected in gutters●Stored in tank at rear of greenhouse●Elevated so water flows into greenhouse without using

a pump

Compost Unit●Grow worms to feed fish● Time for composting to finish

● Worms: 1-3 months● Black Soldier Fly: 3 weeks

●Design of clear drawers to allow children to see the composting in action●Drawer pivots on central axis for easy compost removal

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Downselect of Compost Design

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Seedling Unit●Replace mature plants with new seedlings●Clear trays allow students to see root growth●Sell seedlings for profit

●Seedlings grown from seed or clone

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Fish Tanks• There are two tanks, one for koi and the other for striped bass• They have tilted bases to facilitate the collection of wastes• Circulation is done through an air lift• Water is pumped to the growbeds and grow tubes with a water

pump• The prawn cages are located within the fish tanks (not pictured)

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Grow Beds• There are two ebb and flow grow beds• Bell siphon used to control ebb and flow• Water drains directly into the fish tank below• Gravel used as a grow medium

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Grow Tubes• 3 tubes are suspended above each growbed• Continuous water flow

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Control System• A digital feedback system that allowing

monitoring of system parameters • Examples: Dissolved O2, pH, Humidity,

Temperature, Water Level• Incorporation of controllers to simplify

maintenance and allow remote monitoring• Integration of a control system is vital for

realization of commercial Aquaponic systems in practice

Atlas Scientific Dissolved O2 Kit (Audrino

Compatible)

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Audrino Environment • 256K Flash Memory• 54 Digital I/O pins• 16 Analog Inputs

• Capable of running controllers / sensors in Aquaponic systems

• Open-Source• Allows greater

collaboration with project community

• Simple programming suited for beginners/students

Audrino Mega 2560 R3

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Considerations to Aquaponic Control Systems

System will have to have redundancy due to the system being continuously run

The maintenance and building of a control system circuit may be integrated into school curriculums

Power consumption will increase , adding to the total annual power cost

Water-based Ammonium sensor must be regularly replacedAmmonium BNC sensor deemed too costly

Upwards of $2000 in cost

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Additional Components• Table for pumps and other equipment located

in the back left corner• Pipe circuit located on the inside of the

greenhouse ceiling – water runs through and is heated by sun (not shown)

Lifeforms in Our System

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Life forms Liveable Conditions Breeding Feeding

Striped Bass• Temperature range

around 80 F• 7-8.5 pH

• Three Phase growth• 12-16 months for harvest

• Require varying levels of protein across phases

• 1.5-2% of body weight per day

• 50% protein , 12% lipids for brooding fish

Koi • 59-77 F• 7-8.5 pH

• Harvest time varies• Most successful

reproduction after 2 years but can reproduce after 1

• Protein content around 30% with supplements for carbohydrates

Shrimp/ Prawn

• Prefer temperature ranges of 75-81 F

• 7-8.5 pH• Hydrogen sulphide and

chlorine absense

• Will reach 1/10 lb in 4 months , 2-3 annual crops

• Bottom feeders, will eat leftover fish food and waste in the system

Worms• 59-77 F• Can survive at 10 c but

30C and above will harm them

• 2-3 weeks hatching• 6 weeks until reproduction

• Feed best at 15-25 C

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GrowthPhase 1- from hatching to fingerling size

Raised in sump tanks or hatchery beds 30-45 days before size grading Will feed on zooplankton in this stage

Phase 2- from fingerling to 525 g Grown to 125g before regarded and grown to

525gPhase 3- 525g to market weight

Growout to 725g (~1.75 lb)

Harvest occurs in 12-16 months

Striped Bass

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BreedingBred as show fishBest reproduction occurs after 2 years of

growth, but can reproduce after 1Selective breeding can be used to increase

the quality of their coloration.Harvest Cycle

Eggs should be harvested immediately after spawning

Longer harvest cycle since they are bred for show

Koi

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Special Traits and Qualities Will clean out unwanted waste in the system Territorial, need horizontal room to prevent fighting Must be partitioned from fish Higher water flow will also prevent fighting

Reproduction and Harvest cycle Cycle Require brackish water for first 30-45 days

Growpools with mixed freshwater and brine After brackish water period they are moves to larger

tank for growout Will reach 1/10 pound in 4 months, 2-3 crops annually

Shrimp and Prawn

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Prawn Partition● The prawn will be partitioned

from the fish with mesh wire along the rear gate

● Layers of netting will be strung between each vertical layer giving the prawn horizontal space to claim their own space reducing territorial disputes

● The horizontal layers serve to reduce fighting between the prawn and maximize the efficiency of the space allotted for the spawn

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Vermicomposting● The Process

● Worms are put into compost in order to tun the compost to worm casting● Castings are a potent fertilizer and soil conditioner

● Castings and harvested and compost is replaced ● worms will feed on the compost and reproduce in a 6 week

cycle● The Benefits

● Provides worms and castings as two additional system products● Produced worms can be used as protein sourrce for the fish● Castings can be marketed as a high potency fertilizer

● Worms of Choice● Red Wigglers (Eisenia Fetida)● English nightcrawler and white worms are also viable choices

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Cost AnalysisSystem Aspect

Part List SKU/Serial # Quantity Price Per Part Cost

Control System

Atlas Scientific Dissolved Oxygen

Sensor KitSEN-11194 1 $189.95 $189.95

 BNC pH Audrino Sensor Shield

P-0010 1 $38.55 $38.55

 RHT-22

Humidity/Temperture Sensor

SEN-10167 1 $9.95 $9.95

 Barometric

Pressure Sensor - MPL115A1

SEN-09721 1 $12.95 $12.95

 Pacific Sentry

Ammonia Aqua Sensor

  5 $8.99 $44.95

 G1/2" Water Flow

SensorPOW110D3B 1 $9.50 $9.50

  Water Level Switch SEN134B3B 1 $5.50 $5.50

 MR-W1-P Flow

SwitchSEN104A2B 2 $12.99 $25.98

  Serial Camera Kit 815001001 1 $29.90 $29.90

 8" eTapeLiquid Level Sensor

SEN-10221 1 $39.95 $39.95

 Graphic LCD

128x64 STN LED Backlight

LCD-00710 1 $19.95 $19.95

 Arduino Mega 2560

R3DEV-11061 1 $58.95 $58.95

  Wires/Connectors Various     $50.00        Total Cost $536.08

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Cost AnalysisSystem Aspect Part List SKU/Serial # Quantity Price Per Part Cost

Plant/Fish Main Tank   2 $400.00 $800.00

  Caster Wheels McMst. 9008T48 4 $116.00 $464.00

  Glass Window ACRYCLR0.750PM24X48 2 $174.60 $349.20

  Growbed   2 $250.00 $500.00

  Growbed Stand   2 $200.00 $400.00

      Total Cost $2,513.20

         

Seedling Box Housing & Drawers   1 $170.00 $170.00

  Seedling Holder   9 $1.50 $13.50

  slide McMst.11435A28 9 $20.57 $185.13

      Total Cost $368.63

         

Compost Box Housing & Drawers   1 $160.00 $160.00

      Total Cost $160.00

         

Greenhouse Aluminum Bars Metals Depot P412-6061 2 $1,261.44 $2,522.88

 Polycarbonate

PanelingEnco 319-5055 34 $126.77 $4,310.18

  Hinges McMaster 8401A17 13 $13.17 $171.21

  Screws McMaster 91465A128 184 $6.07 $111.69

      Total Cost $7,115.96

         

Shrimp Box1-1/2x20 SCH40 PVC

PipeUPC: 038561301298 1 $15.39 $15.39

 4x7 feet nylon fish

netting  2 $19.99 $39.98

 1" PVC Sch. 40 90°

ElbowSKU:413-010 16 $1.85 $29.60

 4 square feet mesh

bird wire  1 $9.97 $9.97

      Total Cost $94.94

   

Cost of System: $10,788.81

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Continued DevelopmentIn order to create a profit margin on this

product we would need to find a way to find cheaper materials for the system.

Research how to automate a response to a system failure. No human interaction required.

Changes required to the product based on desired location of use (eg. Heating, cooling, ventilation)

Other markets for similar product (eg. Red Cross, Peace Corps., restaurants)

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Conclusion

We have designed a concept for use by young students to gain greater knowledge on food health, water use, and space efficient growing methods. Our system is designed to require minimal human input while maintaining a highly functional system with substantial output of fish and food products.