Urban Farming & Aquaponics workshop

Aquaponics Handbook

11 june 2014

Urban farming & Aquaponics Workshop

Aquaponics Handbook

11 june 2014

ABOUT

This handbook has been made as part of the workshop conducted by the IForesee

(i4C) student innovation platform. This community is supported by the Centre for

Innovation (C4I) of Leiden University in The Hague. The goal of the i4C is to form

groups (or Labs) of students, researchers and practitioners that actively explore a

variety of topics in a multi- and trans-disciplinary fashion by hands-on

experimentation and collaboration to discover new ways of tackling existing and

future challenges.

C4i

The Centre for Innovation the Hague is the living lab of the Leiden University -

Campus The Hague. The centre was setup in 2007 as part of the European Union

Fund for Regional Development (EFRO) in line with Aim 2 of the EU cohesion policy

to implement projects who contribute to the development in the Netherlands. Now

the Centre has developed to a genuine living lab that facilitates cooperation

between public and private actors in the field of governance innovation.

i4C

The Aquaponics Lab is one of the groups within the i4C community. It investigates

the possibilities and opportunities of utilizing aquaponic farming techniques in

urban environments and we are particularly interested in exploring DIY and

consumer-based aquaponics systems. The future of food, we think, will involve

more participatory efforts from the consumer side which promises a variety of

beneficial aspects; less transportation costs and associated pollution from shipping,

packaging and distributing fresh produce, healthy homegrown organic vegetables

and fruit, aesthetically pleasing design of food producing systems, etc.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Centre for InnovationLeiden University - Campus The HagueThe Living Lab (second floor) (3)Schouwburgstraat 2 (A)2511 VA The Hague

MAP

CENTRE FOR INNOVATION CONTACT PERSONS

Sjoerd Louwaars

s.p.louwaars@cdh.leidenuniv.nl

+31 6 28 83 82 52

Markolf von Ketelhodt

mvketelhodt89@gmail.com

+31 6 37 44 75 94

GUEST SPEAKERS

Daniel Reyes

M.Sc Chemical Engineer at TU Delft

Talk: Industrial scale Aquaponics

Boris Roodenburg | Urban Crops

Entrepreneur & Designer

Talk: Domestic scale Aquaponics

AQUAPONICS LAB FELLOWS

Natalia Uribe Calv

M.Sc Industrial Ecology at Leiden University & TU Delft

William van den Broeck

M.Sc Industrial Ecology at Leiden University & TU Delft

Markolf von Ketelhodt

M.Sc Industrial Ecology at Leiden University & TU Delft

INTRODUCTIONAquaponics is an agricultural process that combines aquaculture with hydroponics

in order to grow aquatic organisms, fruits and vegetables. It exists in many forms.

The basic principle of aquaponics is nutrient recycling. It tries to simulate

ecosystems in its natural regulatory capacities. The figure below presents the

general circulation occurring in any aquaponics system.

Three key elements are always present.

First, fish in for example a fish tank,

aquarium or pond excrete ammonia (NH4+)

as a waste. The concentration of NH4+

would normally quickly raise but the water

is cycled over a filter or growbed. This

contains bacteria (such as Nitrospira and

Nitrosomonas) which convert the

ammonia to nitrates (NO3+). These nitrates

are then taken up by the plants. This is

the general nitrogen cycle, however, other

nutrients are also recycled.

The filter or growbed also acts to filter out particulate matter and in this way, it

keeps the water clean. A lot of variations on this basic cycle from plant, filters and

fish do exist and are continuously improved by thousands of aquaponics

enthusiasts around the world. Specific guidelines to build systems can be found all

over the Internet.

During the workshop two keynote speakers, Boris Roodenburg (NL) and Daniel

Reyes (MEX) have explained the general concepts about aquaponics as a new

urban farming tool. After this introduction the presentation slides can be found. In

these, general guidelines for aquaponics functioning are given. The presentations

were followed by a brainstorm session in which participants designed their own

aquaponics systems in order to win the desktop aquaponics system provided by

the aquaponics lab. The workshop was concluded with demonstrations of small

aquaponics systems, water quality measuring kits, vertical farming with recycled

bottles and bell-siphon functioning.

WORKSHOP PRESENTATION SLIDES

By Boris Roodenburg [LINK]

By Daniel Reyes [LINK]

INSTRUCTIVE GUIDE: BUILDING YOUR OWN AQUAPONICS SYSTEM

The main objective of this handbook, is to provide a detailed description on how to

build your own aquaponics system using simple materials bought at IKEA. A

general description of this system is given before listing the different parts you

need to build it. Finally, the different steps to build the system are explained

together with pictures of the system.

This system is one of the most basic systems you can set up. Materials can easily

be bought at Ikea. Extra plumbing materials maybe be needed, which can be

purchased in any store such as Gamma or Praxis. This system is not big enough to

grow edible fish. It is designed to grow mostly herbs and vegetables. Some things

to keep in mind with selecting the fish is the water temperature they should be

kept, what their oxygen needs are and and general biology and water quality (eg.

PH, kH, etc.). The temperature should be as close to the normal temperature of the

room so no extra heating is necessary. Fish that don’t need a lot of oxygen (like

catfish or goldfish) are easier to keep. Practically, we recommend starting out with

goldfish as these produce a lot of nutrients and are very easy to keep alive.

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Antonius Lade/Reservoir, both 25 and 50 liters as grow bed and fish tank

respectively. These are used as food containers so are considered food IVAR 1

element stand. To hold reservoirs. Consists of 2 identical frames, minimal 2

planks and a steel reinforcement.

2. Instead of the IVAR stand the reservoirs can also be hold in the Antonius

frame.

3. Grow media examples are hydroton, lava rock, gravel. Special attention is

need with gravel as it is not 100% inert.

4. Piping for pumping up. We use plastic tubing that fits with the pump but

PVC piping works as well.

5. Bell siphon – Consider using white PVC pipes as these are considered inert

and thus food grade.

1. Adapter.

Can be number of things as long as it’s an airtight fit over the grow bed basin.

We use a drainage pipe for washing machine basins you can buy in Gamma.

This has a nice fit with the 32 mm pipes.

2. Rubber O rings

3. Pipe that fits on adapter (32mm diameter)

4. Pipe with airtight cap that has a snug fit (50 mm diameter)

5. Pipe as media guard (100 mm diameter)

From left to right, 32mm, 50 mm and 100mm pipes

Airtight cap that fits on the 50 mm pipe

6. Pump preferably with bypass valve. We use a submersible fountain pump

(16W) with a flow rate of 1000 liters per hour (AP-399a). Preferably this would

be a lot lower and have a capacity of 600 liters per hour. In these cases, with

such strong pumps you need the bypass valve. The bypass valve is to control

how much water is pumped up to your growbed and, thus, how fast the system

cycles the water. Preferably, all the water of the tank should be cycled through

the growbed once every hour.

7. Round drill bit slightly larger than the bell siphon's outflow pipe's diameter.

This can be purchased very low cost at Gamma.

INNDIVIDUAL STEPS

1. Frame Construction

The IVAR frame can be purchased in IKEA as two wooden frames and separate

planks that keep the frame together. The reinforcement is highly recommended for

stability. The fish tank has to be place underneath the grow bed but at which

height they are is up to you to decide. Just remember that the fish tank preferably

does not receive direct sunlight as this can induce algae growth.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION

We recommend painting the wooden frame

with water-proofing paint in order to avoid

the wood from fouling.

2. Drainage Holes

Cut out holes through the grow bed (25L reservoir) and one of the wooden boards.

The hole through the bottom of the reservoir has to have a snug fit with the

adapter of the bell siphon. This part has to be water tight. Preferably cut the hole a

little bit smaller than the adapter piece, around 40 mm. The hole also has to be

more to the side of the adapter. This is necessary for the water gets pumped up on

one side, fills the grow bed and gets withdrawn for the other side so the nutrients

get optimally filtered out. The hole in the wooden board has to be bigger than that

of the reservoir as this part does not need to be water tight and you have to be

able to screw the adapter through this hole.

3. Bell Siphon Construction [LINK]

First, you can fixate the adapter through the reservoir hole. Make sure the adapter

is pointed downwards and don’t forget about the rubber O-rings. If these don’t

prevent the system from dripping you could consider using silicone around the

adapter.

The 32mm pipe sticking out of the adapter will determine the maximum height of

the water before it gets drained. Don’t cut it too short as the grow bed needs to be

filled at least for 50%. However, the grow bed also doesn’t need to be flooded until

the top. Some flexibility is provided in this for you, but we suggest cutting it off

shy from 10 cm. Over this 32mm pipe the 50mm pipe is installed. Cut it off at a

length that, if you place it over the 32mm pipe, some space is left over so the

water can flow into it. The 50mm pipe gets sealed off with the airtight cap on top.

On the bottom you need to make some holes or cuts in the pipe so that water can

flow into the siphon at this point. Make as many holes as possible to increase flow

through but make sure the pipe remains sturdy and the holes are only drilled at

the bottom. The height to which you drill the holes will determine the minimal

stand of the water. Underneath the height of the holes, water will not be drained

anymore. Furthermore, this pipe does not necessarily need to be fixated to the

bottom. In fact, the siphon cannot be cleaned when fixated so it is easier if this

remains loose.

Top view with 32mm pipe fixed in the adaptor

View of the adaptor under the reservoir

Finally, over these two pipes comes the media guard (100mm diameter). This is

fairly big but it makes it easier to access the bell siphon when media is already

present in the grow bed. The media guard is essential to prevent clogging of the

bell siphon.

4. Installing the Reservoirs

Now you can put the reservoirs in place. Normally the adapter still fits through the

hole of the wooden board. Additional pieces are preferably added to the bottom of

the bell siphon to let the water flow back through bend piping. This eases the flow

and makes you able to direct it. Pieces like the one in the photo below can be

used.

5. Finishing Touches

Now you can install a pump in the fish tank. If this pump has got plastic tubing,

attach the tubing to the framework so it leads up to the grow bed. Here it should

enter the grow bed from the other side of where the bell siphon is installed. It is

also possible to construct PVC piping attached to the frame that goes up to the

grow bed. If the pump is installed and you have test run the project it is time to

completely finish the system. Get your fishes at your local pet shop and your

herbs or vegetables from your allotment garden or from Albert Heijn. Hydroton is

an easy media to start with. You can fill the grow bed up to the top with it and fill

the fish tank with water. Now your system is ready to start up!

CLOSING REMARKS

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the participators of the workshop.

The enthusiasm has inspired and motivated us to keep up with our endeavor’s. The

IForesee community is always looking for new members and on Friday afternoons

there are weekly meetings. Everybody is welcome to join these meetings. In this

community there are no obligations and participation in any activity is of your own

free will. Furthermore, there are other interesting activities happening at the Centre

for Innovation unrelated to aquaponics. There is something happening for everyone

to enjoy. Please check the Facebook page of the IForesee community and of the

Centre for Innovation The Hague for more information.

If you have any questions about aquaponics, or you need help with building your

own system, or you would like to help build a system together with us, don’t

hesitate to contact us at any time.

For more (up-to-date) information

please visit our website at

http://www.iforesee.nl/aquaponics-lab.html