F-Block+Aquaponics+2013-2014


 * F-Block Aquaponics: Current Activities**

Luckily the contraption we made around the pump was good but the chemistry doesn't seem to be doing to well. Felipe is floating to the top and immediately swimming straight down to the bottom. Juan Carlos is doing well but out of safety concerns we decided to being them both up to the 301's aquaponics system. Felipe didn't make it on they way up :( (3/23/14)

We introduced 2 new fish to our system!! Welcome Felipe and Juan Carlos!! (3/22/14)
 * [[image:greengineers/10150144_675848879148867_206333715_n.jpg caption="10150144_675848879148867_206333715_n.jpg"]] ||
 * Felipe, cruising in the tank ||

We created a contraption with a net for baby fish and a plant holder so that the pump won't be too powerful for the next fish! (3/21/14)

Our pump was too powerful for Pablo and he unfortunately died trying to fight the current. :( (3/20/14)

Now that we have plants and the chemistry seems to be turning out good, we decided to put our first goldfish into the system. (3/19/14)
 * [[image:greengineers/10149335_669772053089883_321967610_n.jpg caption="10149335_669772053089883_321967610_n.jpg"]] ||
 * Welcome to our system Pablo! ||

We bought some herbs to put in the system to go along with the plants we have been growing on our own. (3/4/14)

Our plants grew about a half of an inch and the nitrates started going up! We decided it was time to put in our cilantro. We first took the dirt and plants our of the pot and got as much dirt off as we could. We then started separating the individual plants and rinsing the roots to get off any excess dirt. After that, we put 1-2 of our seedlings in a container with the hydroton and then placed them in our plant holder! (2/12/14)
 * [[image:greengineers/1922895_651848388215583_1677447464_n.jpg caption="1922895_651848388215583_1677447464_n.jpg"]] ||
 * Cleaning and sparating the little seedlings!! ||


 * [[image:greengineers/1899161_651848381548917_647983464_n.jpg caption="1899161_651848381548917_647983464_n.jpg"]] ||
 * Our cilantro seedlings in the hydroton! ||

We started germinating thyme and cilantro seeds in soils which we will eventually transfer to the hydroton plant cups which will then go into the styrofoam holder. (2/4/14)
 * [[image:greengineers/Screen Shot 2014-02-04 at 3.37.22 PM.png caption="Screen Shot 2014-02-04 at 3.37.22 PM.png"]] ||
 * Our plants on the windowsill in the 4th floor green house ||

After about 2 weeks of adding ammonia and testing the water we are finally seeing nitrites and nitrates! (2/4/14)

After getting our styrofoam to the size and shape we wanted, we ironed it (with a piece of parchment paper between the iron and styrofoam so it wouldn't burn) because it was flaking. The iron slightly melted the styrofoam making a thin coat around it so it wouldn't flake off. (1/31/14)
 * [[image:greengineers/Screen Shot 2014-02-01 at 4.53.43 PM.png caption="Screen Shot 2014-02-01 at 4.53.43 PM.png"]] ||
 * Not the most pleasent smell in the world! ||

We sawed the styrofoam in half because it was too thick causing the plant holders to be to far to reach the water. (1/28/14)
 * [[image:greengineers/Screen Shot 2014-02-01 at 4.52.23 PM.png caption="Screen Shot 2014-02-01 at 4.52.23 PM.png"]] ||
 * Not the most pleasent sound in the world! ||

We started making a holder that our plants will eventually sit in. We first carved holes into a block of styrofoam to hold the containers that will hold our plants! (1/22/14)

After fixing a leak, we started adding in ammonia and nitrifying bacteri//a// to change the ammonia to nitrates and nitrates. Each day we test the water to observe our pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. (1/17/14)
 * [[image:greengineers/1558678_637431422990613_366040031_n.jpg caption="1558678_637431422990613_366040031_n.jpg"]] ||
 * Matching the color to record the amount ||


 * [[image:greengineers/1543356_637431426323946_1159702831_n.jpg caption="1543356_637431426323946_1159702831_n.jpg"]] ||
 * We taped this to the outside of the water testing kit just in case we need a reminder of how many drops of each solution we need! ||

Once everything was cleaned again we got the system back to normal! (1/13/14)
 * [[image:greengineers/1062904_636348156432273_1583110644_n.jpg caption="1062904_636348156432273_1583110644_n.jpg"]] ||
 * Our system after everything was cleaned again ||

After our system was up and running the water started getting really murky. We came to the conclusion that the hydroton was not cleaned enough so we spent a whole class period cleaning it along with all the bins and the pebbles in the fish tank! (1/9/14)


 * [[image:greengineers/1543893_636348153098940_205544901_n.jpg caption="1543893_636348153098940_205544901_n.jpg"]] ||
 * The clean hydroton! ||

Watch this video of our up and running aquaponics system! (12/18/13)

After setting up our elbow and pipe for the plant bin and rinsing the hydroton for 30 minutes, we were finally ready to add the water! (12/18/13)
 * [[image:greengineers/Screen Shot 2013-12-18 at 6.10.47 PM.png caption="Screen Shot 2013-12-18 at 6.10.47 PM.png"]] ||
 * Mac adding the water to our plant bin ||

We started decorating our system in preparation for the holidays! (12/13/13)

We also added a pipe with an elbow to our bin which will eventually hold the hydroton! (12/13/13)

During Thanksgiving week, we kept preparing the materials with the few days that we had. We hung up our light and cleaned old sealant off of out piping.



After we got into our teams in F-Block, we started taking inventory, dividing up materials, cleaning what we had, and making plans to get what we needed. By Friday, all of the bins and tubing we planned to use was clean!



** F-Block: **
__ What is "aquaponics"? __

Aquaponics is the method of growing crops and fish in a circular system.



__Why aquaponics?__
 * 1) It uses 10% of water than a conventional growing system (a.k.a. soil garden)
 * 2) There is no weeding or digging needed at all!
 * 3) It can produce fish and plants all year round (regardless of climate!)

__ Cycle of chemistry in an aquaponisc system: __

Fish poop ammonia (NH3), nitrifying bacteria turn the ammonia into nitrite (NO2-), nitrobacter turn the nitrites into nitrate (NO3-), and the plants absorb the nitrate as food.

__How to test the water in an aquaponics system:__

The water levels have to be right in the system for the fish and plants to prosper. Here is how to test the system for pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels:

__ Our short term goals: __
 * Everyone research types of food to grow, chem/bio involved, and types of fish
 * Talk to 301s working on AquaP
 * Take inventory
 * Divide materials with A Block
 * Clean/prep materials
 * Decide on roles

__ Our long term goals: __ Power the system with only solar power
 * Grow a herb garden (basil, cilantro, parsley, rosemary, mint)
 * Bring aquaP to struggling areas
 * Bring aquaP to Tiger’s Loft

=More information about Aquaponics water testing and setup: here=