design and preliminary assessment of a vertical aquaponics ... · design and preliminary assessment...

Design and preliminary assessment of a

vertical aquaponics system for

ornamental purposes

Rafael Fernández-CañeroLuis Pérez-UrrestarazuGregorio EgeaUniversity of Seville

Research group AGR-268

Urban greening & biosystems engineering

International Conference on Living Walls and Ecosystems ServicesUniversity of Greenwich 6-8 July 2015

What is Aquaponics?

An integration of two systems:Hydroponics and Aquaculture

The process of growing food in an inert medium by controlling and adding nutrients but without soil

The cultivation of aquatic animals or plants for food.

Source: Source: Sultana, R (2012) aquaponics_presentation

INTRODUCTION

The method of growing crops and fish together in a re-circulating system.

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

Source: http://www.okofarms.com/history-1/

History

Chinampas in Lake Tenochtitlan, MexicoBuilt by Incas and AztecsBetween 14th -16th century A.D

Source: http://www.theaquaponicsgarden.com/ap_history.html

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

History

Paddy Fields In China and Thailand (Since the sixth century)

Source: Sultana, R (2012) Aquaponicshttp://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/multimedia/slideshows/food-agriculture/china-rice-paddy-fields/china-paddy-field-rice11jpg/

History

source: http://www.milkwood.net/2014/01/20/aquaponics-a-brief-history/

The development of modern aquaponics:

In a modern context, Aquaponics emerged from the aquaculture industry as fish farmers were exploring methods of raising fish while trying to decrease their dependence on the land, water and other resources.

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

History

source: http://www.milkwood.net/2014/01/20/aquaponics-a-brief-history/

The term aquaponics is often attributed to the various works of the New Alchemy Institute and the works of Dr. Mark McMurtry at the North Carolina State University.

In 1969, John and Nancy Todd and William McLarney founded the New Alchemy Institute. The culmination of their efforts was the construction of a prototype Bioshelter, the “Ark”.

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

Floating Raft System

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

AQUAPONICS SYSTEMS

Sources: http://aquaponics.com/page/methods-of-aquaponicshttp://www.japan-aquaponics.com/aquaponics-systems.html

Flood and Drain System (EBB and Flow)

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

AQUAPONICS SYSTEMS

Images source: http://www.thegrowing.org/wiki/index.php/Aquaponics_System_Prototypehttp://www.ecofilms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/balconymaximus1.jpg

Source: http://petanidota.blogspot.com.es/2015/02/growing-plants-hydroponics-system.html

Drip System

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

AQUAPONICS SYSTEMS

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) System

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

AQUAPONICS SYSTEMS

Images source: http://telehidroponia.com/n-f-t/http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com/nft-hydroponics.html

Why Aquaponics ?

(source: Pattillo and James, 2014 )

Advantages

• Reduced labour

• Nutrient management/effluent mitigation

• Plan grow 2x as fast

• Year round production possible

• 75% smaller footprint: Less space required per plant

• Prolonger individual plant life

• 90% Lees water consumption

• Soil pathogens eliminated

• Plants can be grown at desired height

• No weeding

Why Aquaponics ?

Souces: Aquaponics – Advantages & Disadvantages. Online: http://wallyfarm.com/?page_id=521Sultana, R (2012) Aquaponics

Disadvantages

• Higher Initital Cost over Raised Beds and Hydroponics

• To fill up water tanks

• To build the system (Greenhouse, pumps etc.)

• Climate control & Lighting

• Government regulation of “fish raising”

• Competitive market prices

Why Vertical Aquaponics ?

Better use of space

Greater design possibilities

source http://aquaponichowto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/vertical-aquaponics-design-11.jpg

Vertical Aquaponics ?

Green Sky Growers, located on a building's rooftop, Orlando Florida

source http://aquaponichowto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/vertical-aquaponics-design-4.jpg

Vertical Aquaponics ?

Vertical Aquaponics with with Zipgrow towers (Aquaponic Lynx, Florida, USA)

Source: http://www.brainright.com/Projects/Aquaponics/

Aquaponics with an IntegratedVertical Tube Systemfrom brainright.com

Vertical Aquaponics ?

source http://www.urbangardensweb.com/2010/03/05/vertical-aquaponic-gardening-takes-shape/

Vertical Aquaponicsystem by InkaBiospheric Systems

Ornamental Vertical Aquaponics ?

source http://www.livingwallart.com/ecowalls-in-the-classroom/

EcoWalls in the Classroom(Lafayette College)

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

OUR OBJECTIVES

GENERAL :• Assesment of a vertical aquaponics system for

ornamental purposes

SPECIFICS:• Evaluate water quality and the development of fish

population in an aquarium using a Living wall as filter system, comparing it with an aquarium with a commercial filter system

• Growth and ornamental value assessment in an aquaponic living wall system.

Living Wall System: ®Fytotextile from Terapia UrbanaLocation: Indoor laboratory in University of Seville (Spain)Planting system: bare-root plantsCulture medium: perliteFertilization: noIrrigation: cycles of 45´ irrigation – 15´ pauseTrial period: July 2014-June 2015Lighting cycle: 12 h/ day artificial Lighting system: metal halide lamp (200 W)

Features Overview

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

MATERIAL AND METHODS

0,40 m

0,40 m

WATERPUMP

0,80 m

WATERPROOF LAYERMETAL HALIDE LAMP

0.60 m

AQUARIUM FILTRATION

SYSTEM

ILUMINATION SISTEMS

1,2 m

vertical aquaponics lab design

February 2014

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

MATERIAL AND METHODS

July2014 June 2015

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

MATERIAL AND METHODS

FISH SPECIES USED

Xiphophorus helleri (swordtail) Paracheirodon axelrodi (cardinal tetra)

Images source: http://www.seriouslyfish.com/

Crossocheilus langei(Siamese Algae Eater)

Ancistrus sp. Danio rerio (zebrafish) Poecilia wingei (Endlers Livebearer)

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

MATERIAL AND METHODS

PLANT SPECIES USED

Images source: wordpress.com

Soleirolia soleirolii Spathiphyllum wallisii

Maranta leuconeura Nephrolepis exaltata

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

RESULTS

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

l

LW Control

Cummulative water consumption

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

RESULTS

0,00

0,50

1,00

1,50

2,00

2,50

3,00

3,50

l

LW ControlAverage daily water consumption

Average water temperature: LW: 24.8 °C and CTRL: 24.9 °C

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

RESULTS

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

20/7/14 28/10/14 5/2/15 16/5/15

NO

3-(p

pm

)

CTL LW

Level of nitrate dissolved in water

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

RESULTS

Level of pH

7,9

8

8,1

8,2

8,3

8,4

8,5

8,6

8,7

8,8

8,9

20-7-14 28-10-14 5-2-15 16-5-15

pH

LW CTL

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

RESULTS

0

0,1

0,2

0,3

0,4

0,5

0,6

0,7

0,8

20-07-14 28-10-14 05-02-15 16-05-15

EC(d

Sm

-1)

LW CTL

Level of Electrical Conductivity

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

RESULTS

0,0

20,0

40,0

60,0

80,0

100,0

120,0

140,0

160,0

180,0

pp

m CTL

LW

CaCO3 MgCO3

Measurement levels of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate

4,0

5,0

6,0

7,0

8,0

9,0

10,0

O2

(pp

m)

CTL

LW

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

Measurement levels of level of dissolved oxygen

minimum

RESULTS

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

17/7/14 13/9/14 26/11/14 25/1/15 18/3/15 20/5/15

Nu

mb

er

of

ind

ivid

ual

s

Xiphophorus helleri Paracheirodon axelrodi Crossocheilus langei

Ancistrus sp. Danio rerio Poecilia wingei

Fish Population Evolution in Living Wall Aquaponic System

RESULTS

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

17/7/14 13/9/14 26/11/14 25/1/15 18/3/15 20/5/15

Nu

mb

er

of

ind

ivid

ual

s

Xiphophorus helleri Paracheirodon axelrodi Crossocheilus langei

Ancistrus sp. Danio rerio Poecilia wingei

Fish Population Evolution in Control System

RESULTS

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

10

15

20

25

30

35

19/12/13 13/3/14 26/6/14 25/9/14 18/3/15 20/5/15

Nu

mb

er

of

ind

ivid

ual

s

LW fish population Ctrl fish population

Fish Population Comparative in Control and Aquaponic Living Wall Systems

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

RESULTS

PLANTS SPECIES PERFOMANCE

PLANT SPECIESGENERAL

PERFOMANCEORNAMENTAL

VALUEROOTS GROWTH

ABOVEGROUND PLANT GROWTH

Soleirolia soleirolii M M L MSpathiphyllum wallisii M M M MMaranta leuconeura H H-M* H HNephrolepis exaltata H H M H

* Currently show symptoms of chlorosis

Urban greening & biosystems engineeringResearch group AGR-268

CONCLUSIONS

1. Vegetation had good development in all cases

2. The main parameters of water quality, with the exception of pH, were maintained within acceptable ranges in both systems

3. The evolution of the fish population was slightly better in the aquarium control. different species were dominant in each of the systems.

4. In the aquarium with living wall only one specie (Xiphophorushelleri) presented an effective reproduction, while in the aquarium control there was more diversity in reproduction (3 species)

Our Future research…

Bigger LWs

More complex designs (integration with ponds)

Combining with edible fishes and horticultural

plants production

Research group AGR-268

Urban greening & biosystems engineering

Acknowledgements:

E-mail contact:

rafafc@us.es

Rafael Fernández-CañeroLuis Pérez-UrrestarazuGregorio EgeaUniversity of Seville

Manuel Jesús Ortiz RodríguezSara Mª Avila Megías

Thank you for your attention

Research group AGR-268

Urban greening & biosystems engineering

E-mail contact:

rafafc@us.es

Rafael Fernández-CañeroLuis Pérez-UrrestarazuGregorio EgeaUniversity of Seville

Design and preliminary assessment of a vertical aquaponics

system for ornamental purposes