Aquaponics setup

Prototype of a small aquaponics setup will be made with collected money.

Got interested in? Keep reading…

This project is about creation of small and relatively simple aquaponics system. Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (growing fish in an artificial way) and hydroponics (growing plants soillessly). When you think of aquaponics, think of a pond with fish and plants. Fish waste and rotting organic matter is producing ammonia and ammonium, then bacterias are converting those products to nitrites and then to nitrates. Nitrates are assimilated by plants and the water is purified, so a stable ecosystem is the final aim. Once the initial prototype is collected and proven as working, it will be presented at one of biggest Bulgarian universities, where physics and IT engineering is taught. And there is a lot of physics and IT involved – temperature, pH, NO2-, NO3-, NH4+ and other  levels are to be monitored and processed.

PURPOSE: To create an indoor aquaponics system with readily available items from hardware shops.

ROADMAP

1) Installment of pipes (this is the most crucial moment)
– purchase of pipes and fittings
– purchase of pump
– purchase of some power tools, if such are needed
– installment of siphon and its adjustment, so it may work properly.

2) Purchase of all additional hardware
– lighting subsystem (LED pipes for grow-bed illumination)
– UPS subsystem
– propagation subsystem
= propagator (propagator, heating mat, vermiculite, hydroponics pots)
= lighting
– hydroton (LECA) – 25 liters
– heaters for fish tank
– air pumps
– transportation table (table with wheels to move the whole system around)
– food for fish (PANTO Karpfengold K28, based on totally on plants), 25 kg
– initial fertilizer for plants (see-weed based concentrate for initial start of the plants)

3) Loading the system with water, fish and plants

4) Empty aquaponics system assembly for presentation in Dec. 2014.

<< Google doc for expenses >>

My FB profile is https://www.facebook.com/MihailMMateev. I am available to answer any questions or to hear any comments.

UPDATE 2014-06-20

The frames and containers from Ikea – Bulgaria were bought. Here is a list of the parts (URLs are from IKEA.COM, not from IKEA.BG, but the prices in BG are a little bit higher than on American site. You can find IKEA parts by Ikea code and bought it by yourself.):

No	Name	Model	Ikea code	pcs	price, USD	Total, USD	URL (for Ikea.com):
1	Lid, clear	Antonius	30181141	2	$3.57	$7.14	http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30181141/
2	Wire basket, white	Antonius	10177606	2	$4.29	$8.57	http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10177606/
3	Frame, white	Antonius	10177630	2	$14.29	$28.57	http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10177630/
4	Drawer, white, 50 liters (13 gallons)	Antonius	00177602	1	$10.71	$10.71	http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00177602/
5	Drawer, white, 25 liters (7 gallons)	Antonius	60177604	1	$8.93	$8.93	http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60177604/
.	.	.	.	.	Subtotal	$63.93
.	.	.	.	.	Transport fee	$22.86
.	.	.	.	.	Total:	$86.79

The second frame, which is visible on the last photo to the left, is a frame where the lighting shall be hanging.

UPDATE 2014-07-06

It turn out additional funding is needed. The funding aim shall be raised to USD 1800, as redundancy hardware means most of the hardware is to be doubled, and the UPS system turns out to be quite expensive (USD 400+ for the hardware and heavy-duty battery).

 

A minibar (minicooler) was bought last week. It shall be used to cool the water in the fish tank (a garden hose with 1/2″ (12 mm)  diameter from the fish tank shall come out of the fish tank into the minibar, where the hose shall be coiled for cooling, and after that the hose shall come back into the fish tank, already cooled. 30 meters of hose may contain up to 13 liters of cooled water.

It is a German De Sina. It is also known as BC-46A It is rated as +5 to +15 degrees Celsius, but at 31 degrees Celsius environmental temperature it hardly copes to make less than 13 deg. Celsius at maximum power.

Dimension are:

height: 510 mm
width: 435 mm
depth: 480 mm

It is has thermocoolling system, which means no compressor.

Power rate:

Power: 70 W
Power consumption: 0.6 kW/24 h (it depends on the desired temperature. If it works constantly, then the power consumption is 1.68 kW/day)

Noice level: 30 dB

(source in Russian)

Internal view I

The price of the minicooler is USD 72 and transport fee is USD 8,

total USD 80 for this item.

The thermostat that shall control the water pump cycling the water shall be stc1000 or tc302 (at price of USD 45 and 54, correspondingly plus USD 3 for transportation).

STC 1000 features more precise control over the temperature and it is better. The price comes lower as additional wiring is needed to be done. You may see wiring and action of STC 1000 in this video from Youtube:

Soon to be done:

A Google spreadsheet is in progress of creation. There shall be covered all past and future expenses.

The main aim is to be created an automated aquaponics system with redundant subsystem.

UPDATE 2014-07-10

The first Bitcoin was withdrawn. A BIG ‘Thank you!‘ to all crunchers, who support the project. (I have 2 computers for this project, which work 24/7, but you all make the difference.)

The amount is USD 625, and shall be used to cover initial expenses done up to now, plus intermediate expenses for first items in the roadmap below.

ROADMAP

1) Installment of pipes (this is the most crucial moment)
– purchase of pipes and fittings
– purchase of pump
– purchase of some power tools, if such are needed
– installment of siphon and its adjustment, so it may work properly.

2) Purchase of all additional hardware
– lighting subsystem (LED pipes for grow-bed illumination)
– UPS subsystem
– propagation subsystem
= propagator (propagator, heating mat, vermiculite, hydroponics pots)
= lighting
– hydroton (LECA) – 25 liters
– heaters for fish tank
– air pumps
– transportation table (table with wheels to move the whole system around)
– food for fish (PANTO Karpfengold K28, based on totally on plants), 25 kg
– initial fertilizer for plants (see-weed based concentrate for initial start of the plants)

3) Loading the system with water, fish and plants

4) Empty aquaponics system assembly for presentation in Dec. 2014.

 

UPDATE 2014-07-22

Google doc for expenses is updated (well, it is constantly updated.). Still need funding for Propagator and Lighting System.

My FB profile is https://www.facebook.com/MihailMMateev. I am available to answer any questions or to hear any comments. Infact I need a feedback in order to give you as much transparency as possible. I know the project turn out to be expensive, and even the target needs to be elevated again because of above-said deficit due to Propagator and Lighting system.

So, what has been done recently…

On the 19-th of July I’ve got some hardware and some tools. Here are the pics.

 

Small goldfish and smaller koi.

I am planning to create a sample aquaponics system with 2 boxes to test the siphon action.

I will try to write an update every 10 to 14 days.

End of update for 2014-07-22

UPDATE 2014-07-26

As usual, Google doc for expenses is updated.

And movie of water lift-up in alpha version model:

End of update

UPDATE 2014-07-27

Water circulation without siphon

End of update

UPDATE 2014-07-29

The target was raised to USD 3000.

This was needed due to the fact the lighting system, propagation system and water chemistry tests are not secured financially yet (LED is expensive, and propagator is expensive, too, so are the tests), and some additonal tools are needed to be bought (drill stand, hot-air gun).

Any money which would left will be used to make at least two Aquaponics systems for a university and a secondary school.

I am personally running two computers 24/7 for this project since its inception. And I still do.

You may track expenses here: Google doc for expenses

My FB profile is https://www.facebook.com/MihailMMateev. Anyone may contact me at will.

End of update

UPDATE 2014-08-02

Congratulations! YOU have made it! Thanks to your continuous support an alpha version is completed and working.

Here are the photos.

The work shall continue onto the rest of the subsystem – lighting, propagation, cooling, etc, as well as refining the alpha version.

End of update.

UPDATE 2014-08-12

Update time…

LECA, propagator and some other purchases arrived.

Lighting system is created.

Google doc for expenses

Photos:

End of update.

 

 

 

 UPDATE 2014-10-31

Feeding fish:

 

 

Google doc for expenses is updated.

In general: water tests were purchased, SENEYE REEF is bought, some tools were bought, second IKEA set is purchased. Also liquid-level meters were paid.

pH, NO2, NO3, and NH3 tests were purchased. Unfortunately the testing was not only time-consuming, but also they were inaccurate, as one has to rely on color charts in order to determine what is the value.

 

While looking for PAR meter (PAR meter meters only the light in the visible light diapason between 400 and 700 nm, which is the light, which plants use), SENEYE REEF was found. It is a combined pH- and ammoniameter, which measures also temperature and luminosity, and spectrum including in this measurement. A demo of the dashboard may be found here.

The reason for purchasing 150-EUR device is the light need to be measured in a way, so realistic measurements to be taken and therefore – optimal lighting and energy efficiency to be achieved.

Also, liquid-level meters were purchased. 4 pieces – one piece is taken to be hacked in order to measure the water cycles of ebb and flow in the grow bed, and the rest shall be given away at the event at Plovdiv University, where a applied-science conference shall be held on the 29-th of November. The aim is to give some hardware to the students and to obtain open-source software to monitor the process of water cycle in the grow bed.

I am in a process of finding the optimal LED grow lights. If anyone can recommend any, just drop me a line at my FB profile: https://www.facebook.com/MihailMMateev

Should anyone has any questions or comments – feel free to contact me on Facebook.

End of update.

 

 

Final aim:

After the prototype is finished, a second unit shall be created and donated to a secondary-school research team.

If funding allows, a comprehensive manual for system creation and maintenance shall be created.