How does 27 degree water and 23 degree water affect the efficiency of an Aquaponics unit?
Abstract
Aquaponics is defined as a system of aquaculture in which waste products from aquatic organisms are recycled and used to grow plants, and in turn the plants provide clean filtered or oxygenated water. In this experiment for AP Biology, the students wanted to know whether or not increasing the temperature of the water to 27 degrees celsius would affect the overall efficiency of an average 23 degree celsius aquaponics system. After conducting much research, the students hypothesized that if the water of an aquaponics tank is heated to an average temperature of 27 degrees fahrenheit, then the plant Ocimum basilicus will have a higher average growth rate and the fish Carassius auratus will provide consistent rates of nitrification/ammonification; proving that the warm water provides a more efficient aquaponics tank overall. When setting up this experiment, all variables were taken into account and controls were set. This provided a better comparison and a controlled experiment, the independent variable being the temperature of the water in the tanks. The ammonification and nitrification levels of each tank were tested twice per week, and observed each month in an aquaponics update. The plant height as also recorded, but Ocimum basilicus did not grow due to hypothesized factors. The overall experiment details proved that the students hypothesis was correct, and warmer temperatures prove a more efficient aquaponics system.
Introduction and Background
Aquaponics is known to be an alternate form of innovative agriculture, and can be used in various settings around the globe, provided the resources. In order to run an efficient aquaponics unit, one must take into account all variables associated with such a process. This typically includes things such as water levels, number of organisms, number of times being fed daily, hours of “Sunlight”, and temperature. One problem the world faces in the rapidly growing human population today is agricultural productivity and efficiency. This problem was the issue the TrouterSpace group was focused on for the duration of the experiment. In order to address this issue, the TrouterSpace group wanted to test a variable that would in theory, create a more efficient aquaponics unit. A unanimous decision was made to test temperature, as it was one of the most flexible variable of the experiment. Our research indicated that temperature caused significant change in the metabolism of the Carassius auratus used. A downside to an increase in temperature was seen to be the demand of oxygen due to the increase in metabolism. In order to solve this problem, twice the amount of plants in ratio to the Carassius auratus was used. Our main components in this experiment were Ocimum basilicus (basil) , and Carassius auratus (goldfish). Using the component of a temperature as our independent variable( all other were controlled and monitored), and the temperature was increased to 27 degrees celsius, as compared to the 23 degrees celsius of room temperature water. The height of the plant,ammonification/nitrification levels, and pH levels of the tank helped us determine the overall efficiency of the tank, and come to a better conclusion.
Materials and Methods
Methods :
Two consistent aquaponics model will be built in order to ensure the consistency and reliability of the variables being tested. Each tank will have a different temperature. The amount of ammonia in the tank and the biomass of the Ocimum basilicus plants will be measured which represents the net productivity of the system. The pH of the water will also be taken in order to compare and contrast the overall efficiency of each aquaponics unit.
1. The first tank will be placed in a room temperature environment type of 21 degrees celsius, which will act as the control. A water heater will be kept in the tank to ensure the temperature stays at 21.1 degrees Celsius.
2. The second tank will be placed under a water temperature of relatively high susceptibility, or 26.6 degrees Celsius. A water heater will be kept in the tank to ensure the temperature stays at 21 degrees Celsius.
Materials:
1. Two 10 gallon fish tanks
2. Four Carassius auratus per tank, Eight in total
3. Two plastic Ikea troughs for Ocimum basilicus growth
4. Two Daylight 9.5 Watt LED bulbs
5. 2 months supply Goldfish Food
6. Two water pumps
7. Two 50 watt Via Aqua quartz tank water heaters
8. Two thermometers
9. Two months supply of Nitrate/Nitrite, pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, Ammonification Tests
10. About half a cubic foot of Hydrotin
11. Eight Ocimum basilicus seeds
Results
Independent variable: Tank water temperature
Dependent variable: Plant Height
Controls: amount of food fed to fish, number of fish, amount of water being pumped up to plants
Aquaponics is defined as a system of aquaculture in which waste products from aquatic organisms are recycled and used to grow plants, and in turn the plants provide clean filtered or oxygenated water. In this experiment for AP Biology, the students wanted to know whether or not increasing the temperature of the water to 27 degrees celsius would affect the overall efficiency of an average 23 degree celsius aquaponics system. After conducting much research, the students hypothesized that if the water of an aquaponics tank is heated to an average temperature of 27 degrees fahrenheit, then the plant Ocimum basilicus will have a higher average growth rate and the fish Carassius auratus will provide consistent rates of nitrification/ammonification; proving that the warm water provides a more efficient aquaponics tank overall. When setting up this experiment, all variables were taken into account and controls were set. This provided a better comparison and a controlled experiment, the independent variable being the temperature of the water in the tanks. The ammonification and nitrification levels of each tank were tested twice per week, and observed each month in an aquaponics update. The plant height as also recorded, but Ocimum basilicus did not grow due to hypothesized factors. The overall experiment details proved that the students hypothesis was correct, and warmer temperatures prove a more efficient aquaponics system.
Introduction and Background
Aquaponics is known to be an alternate form of innovative agriculture, and can be used in various settings around the globe, provided the resources. In order to run an efficient aquaponics unit, one must take into account all variables associated with such a process. This typically includes things such as water levels, number of organisms, number of times being fed daily, hours of “Sunlight”, and temperature. One problem the world faces in the rapidly growing human population today is agricultural productivity and efficiency. This problem was the issue the TrouterSpace group was focused on for the duration of the experiment. In order to address this issue, the TrouterSpace group wanted to test a variable that would in theory, create a more efficient aquaponics unit. A unanimous decision was made to test temperature, as it was one of the most flexible variable of the experiment. Our research indicated that temperature caused significant change in the metabolism of the Carassius auratus used. A downside to an increase in temperature was seen to be the demand of oxygen due to the increase in metabolism. In order to solve this problem, twice the amount of plants in ratio to the Carassius auratus was used. Our main components in this experiment were Ocimum basilicus (basil) , and Carassius auratus (goldfish). Using the component of a temperature as our independent variable( all other were controlled and monitored), and the temperature was increased to 27 degrees celsius, as compared to the 23 degrees celsius of room temperature water. The height of the plant,ammonification/nitrification levels, and pH levels of the tank helped us determine the overall efficiency of the tank, and come to a better conclusion.
Materials and Methods
Methods :
Two consistent aquaponics model will be built in order to ensure the consistency and reliability of the variables being tested. Each tank will have a different temperature. The amount of ammonia in the tank and the biomass of the Ocimum basilicus plants will be measured which represents the net productivity of the system. The pH of the water will also be taken in order to compare and contrast the overall efficiency of each aquaponics unit.
1. The first tank will be placed in a room temperature environment type of 21 degrees celsius, which will act as the control. A water heater will be kept in the tank to ensure the temperature stays at 21.1 degrees Celsius.
2. The second tank will be placed under a water temperature of relatively high susceptibility, or 26.6 degrees Celsius. A water heater will be kept in the tank to ensure the temperature stays at 21 degrees Celsius.
Materials:
1. Two 10 gallon fish tanks
2. Four Carassius auratus per tank, Eight in total
3. Two plastic Ikea troughs for Ocimum basilicus growth
4. Two Daylight 9.5 Watt LED bulbs
5. 2 months supply Goldfish Food
6. Two water pumps
7. Two 50 watt Via Aqua quartz tank water heaters
8. Two thermometers
9. Two months supply of Nitrate/Nitrite, pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, Ammonification Tests
10. About half a cubic foot of Hydrotin
11. Eight Ocimum basilicus seeds
Results
Independent variable: Tank water temperature
Dependent variable: Plant Height
Controls: amount of food fed to fish, number of fish, amount of water being pumped up to plants
Our results indicated that overall, although the colder temperature water contained safer and more consistent rates of testing. These tests included pH levels, Alkalinity, Hardness, Nitrate and Nitrite concentrations. The data shows that by averaging the data, the 21.1 degree celsius water contained a more neutral and stable indicator overall. The group used charting to determine whether or not the data was indeed sound and how it changed over time. The tables are shown below. Another method of analysis used was the chi-squared test. This test is typically used in order to determine whether or not one variable affects another variable. In this case, temperature was used in order to see if it affected pH levels. Our results disproved the null hypothesis.
Discussion and Conclusion
Based on the TrouterSpace group results, the hypothesis was proved wrong. The temperature fluctuation did not increase efficiency, and overall, the 27 degrees celsius tank was actually less efficient than the room temperature tank. The reason this happened was concluded to be because of the higher temperature causing a lower rate of dissolved oxygen. This lower rate of dissolved oxygen caused the Carassius auratus of the tank to produce less conversions of nitrites to nitrates. This in turn caused a cascade of misfortunes because of the plants inhibition to use nitrates as a type of fertilizer and grow. Another factor to take into account was the borrowing of Dr.Parrotts equipment. This may have already contained bacteria and caused the room temperature tank to be positively affected. Another factor to consider was the deviation of data posted on the TrouterSpace blog, wherein another Aquaponics experiment overflowed into ours, And may have affected the efficiency of the tank. In conclusion, the experiment was successfully controlled, but the hypothesis stating “if the water of an aquaponics tank is heated to an average temperature of 27 degrees fahrenheit, then the plant Ocimum basilicus will have a higher average growth rate and the fish Carassius auratus will provide consistent rates of nitrification/ammonification; proving that the warm water provides a more efficient aquaponics tank overall,” was false. If we were to do this experiment again, we would probably pick a different plant to grow with the system because our sprouts died quickly. We also may have germinated the seeds first to avoid the seeds becoming water-logged and molding.
Acknowledgements
The TrouterSpace group would like to sincerely thank Dr.Parrott for opening our eyes to the form of learning known as curriculum in action, and helping us apply our methods and theories to experiments throughout the year. The group would also like to thank all AP Biology students for the conductive criticism provided in order to improve the overall appeal and detail added to the project.
References
Chi-Square Test for Independence. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2017, from http://stattrek.com/chi-square-test/independence.aspx?Tutorial=AP
Snyder, Gordon. Water Temperature Effects on Fish and Aquatic Life. (2011). Science Fair Water. Retrieved: January 13, 2017 http://sciencefairwater.com/physical-water-quality-parameters/water- temperature/water-temperature-effects-on-fish-and-aquatic-life
Appendix
Discussion and Conclusion
Based on the TrouterSpace group results, the hypothesis was proved wrong. The temperature fluctuation did not increase efficiency, and overall, the 27 degrees celsius tank was actually less efficient than the room temperature tank. The reason this happened was concluded to be because of the higher temperature causing a lower rate of dissolved oxygen. This lower rate of dissolved oxygen caused the Carassius auratus of the tank to produce less conversions of nitrites to nitrates. This in turn caused a cascade of misfortunes because of the plants inhibition to use nitrates as a type of fertilizer and grow. Another factor to take into account was the borrowing of Dr.Parrotts equipment. This may have already contained bacteria and caused the room temperature tank to be positively affected. Another factor to consider was the deviation of data posted on the TrouterSpace blog, wherein another Aquaponics experiment overflowed into ours, And may have affected the efficiency of the tank. In conclusion, the experiment was successfully controlled, but the hypothesis stating “if the water of an aquaponics tank is heated to an average temperature of 27 degrees fahrenheit, then the plant Ocimum basilicus will have a higher average growth rate and the fish Carassius auratus will provide consistent rates of nitrification/ammonification; proving that the warm water provides a more efficient aquaponics tank overall,” was false. If we were to do this experiment again, we would probably pick a different plant to grow with the system because our sprouts died quickly. We also may have germinated the seeds first to avoid the seeds becoming water-logged and molding.
Acknowledgements
The TrouterSpace group would like to sincerely thank Dr.Parrott for opening our eyes to the form of learning known as curriculum in action, and helping us apply our methods and theories to experiments throughout the year. The group would also like to thank all AP Biology students for the conductive criticism provided in order to improve the overall appeal and detail added to the project.
References
Chi-Square Test for Independence. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2017, from http://stattrek.com/chi-square-test/independence.aspx?Tutorial=AP
Snyder, Gordon. Water Temperature Effects on Fish and Aquatic Life. (2011). Science Fair Water. Retrieved: January 13, 2017 http://sciencefairwater.com/physical-water-quality-parameters/water- temperature/water-temperature-effects-on-fish-and-aquatic-life
Appendix
^ This is a picture of our Aquaponics units!
^This is a picture of our raw nitrate/nitrite/ammonia/pH data for our room temperature tank.