Aquaponics short-course at the
University of Arizona
Kevin Fitzsimmons, Jason
Licamele, Eric Highfield
University of Arizona
6 April 2011
Trends in food markets
 Demand
for more locally grown, organic
foods
 Increasing demand for vegetables and fish
for health reasons
 Need to increase economic and
environmental efficiency (energy, water,
land area, recycling of nutrients)
Global food crisis
Rapidly increasing population
 Diversion of foods to bio-fuels
 Increased costs for water, fertilizer, fuel
 Multiple demands for farmland (urban sprawl,
industrial and mining, solar and wind generation,
wildlife conservation, watershed protection,
global warming, etc.)
 Demand for locally produced food

Need new model for food
production
Revolution – huge increase in food
production, but heavy reliance on irrigation,
fuel and fertilizer.
 Blue Revolution – almost 50% of seafood is
farm raised, but many environmental
impacts (effluents causing eutrophication,
algae blooms, cage and raft conflicts with
other users in oceans, bays and lakes)
 Green
Development of hydroponics and
aquaculture
 Fast
growing sectors of global food
production
 Hydroponics is more efficient use of water
and nutrients, controls the environment and
reduces use of pesticides and herbicides.
 Aquaculture is more efficient production of
domesticated aquatic animals and plants.
Past Projects
Land – Disney World, Florida
 Biosphere 2 – Tucson, Arizona
 High school education
 Commercialization
 The
Disney World – EPCOT – The Land
 University
of Arizona provided technical design,
layout, and training of staff.
 Selected hydroponics and aquaculture as two critical
food production systems for the future.
Disney World – EPCOT – The Land
 30,000
guests a day learn about hydroponics,
aquaculture, tilapia, and advanced farming
techniques
 Products are served in the Good Turn Restaurant
Development trials for Biosphere 2

Biosphere 2 – A one hectare greenhouse. Completely
sealed, with eight people living inside for two years.
Early trials for Biosphere 2
University of Arizona
provided overall
technical support and
designed the food
system.
 Intensive food
production
 Healthy foods with
minimal need for
external inputs
 Replicated trials with
tilapia and lettuce

Various growing techniques
 Growing
in
gravel/biofilter
 Growing
boards
in floating
Density and micronutrient trials
 Low
density of fish
 High
density of fish
Nutrient film technique
 Growing
in troughs/gutters with flowing water
Nutrient film technique
 Flood
and drain version in troughs/gutters
Fish and grain crops
Tilapia and barley
Nutrient dynamics in recirc
Determined that integrated fish and irrigated crops were
most efficient food production system for Biosphere 2
Educational systems in high schools
Fish instead of traditional
farm animals
Hydroponic vegetables and
ornamental flowers
Water chemistry
 pH
 Conductivity
 Dissolved
solids
 Suspended solids
 Oxygen
Carbon Cycle
digestion and
respiration + 3O2
C6H12O6
sugars and
other organics
anaerobes and
methanogens
Photosynthesis
6 H2O + 6 CO2
water and
carbon dioxide
CH4 + COx
C6H12O6 + 3O2
sugars and
other organics
and oxygen
Carbonate Cycle
CO2 + H2O
H2CO3
H+ + HCO3-
carbon dioxide
dissolved in water
carbonic
acid
bicarbonate
ion
H+ + CO32carbonate
ion
Carbonate cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
 Ammonia
 Nitrite
 Nitrate
 De-nitrification
Nitrogen cycle in aquatic systems
Nitrogen cycle
 Nitrogen
is often a limiting element in
freshwater aquatic system
 Adding nitrogen will cause rapid increase in
primary productivity
 Nitrogen in anaerobic sediments
- denitrification (reduction to NH3 or N2 gas)
UAAQ CEAC
Nitrogen Mass Flow

Nitrogen Mass Flow
– Introduced via feed
– Input: 108 g nitrogen / day
Fe e d ( 2 8 % P r o te in; 5 .7 % N )
O xyg e n D ynam i c s o f the Aquapo ni2c%s Fis
Sys
teiom
Gs H
h B
m as
) #3118
To t al : 1 0 0 % N
( 1 0 % N di s s o l ve d i n H 2 O )
O 2c o n
=
O xyge n C o ns um ptio n
O 2g e n = O xyge n G e ne ratio n

Oxygen


Fish
Plant root zone
Plant respiration
– Generation
Fo rc e d into wate r)
To t al : 7 3 % N
( 5 0 % D i s s o l ve d N )
( 2 3 % P ar t i c ul at e N )

Plant photosynthesis
Microalgae / Phytoplankton
photosynthesis
2 ) Se par at i o n o f s o l i ds and s l udg e
O 2c o n
5 ) R e s i dual ni t r at e
in H2O
Fis h
(R e s piratio n)
1 0 % Sl udg e
e c hanic al
PM
hyto
plankto n/Algae
Filtr atio n
( O 2g e n D ay)
(O 2c o n N ight)
M ec hanic al / Biologic al
F ilter
3 ) C o nve r s i o n o f ni t r o g e n t o ni t r at e
To t al : 6 3 % N
( O 2c o n N itrifying B ac te ria)
N H 3-N H 4
NO2

( 4 0 % N e xc r e t e d i nt o H 2 O by fi s h)
O D iffus io n
2
Tilapia s p p .
N R e te ntio n: 2 7 %
Air B lo we r
(Air appro x 2 1 % O 2g e n
– Consumption

1 ) C o nve r s i o n o f fe e d t o fi s h bi o m as s
( O 2c o n M ine ralizatio n o f s o lids )
B io lo gic al
Filte r
N c o ns .< 1 %
NO3
To t al : 6 2 % N
L e ttuc e
(O 2c o n R o o t zo ne )
P ho to s ynthe s is
O 2g e n D a y
4 ) C o nveRr e
s isopiratio
n o f ni t rnat e t o pl ant bi o m as s
H ydr o po ni c s L e t t uc e
D at a C o l l e c t i o n: 5 - 6 g - N / kgOdr y
w e i g ht
2 D iffus io n
O 2c o n night
Phosphorus cycle
Phosphorus and
orthophosphate.
Organic P
decomposes and
releases PO4,
taken up by algae
and plants or
adsorbs to clay
particles and
precipitates.
Anaerobic
conditions can rerelease P to water.
Wetland Ecosystem Management
Tilapia and other fish
 Oreochromis
species
 Catfish
 Koi
 Yellow
perch and bluegills
 Sturgeon and ornamental fish
Fish feed as nutrient sources
 Fish
feed is the basic input for nutrients to
fish and plants
 Protein is source of nitrogen for plants
 Phosphorus and potassium from fishmeal,
bone meal, or feather meal
 Micronutrients from vitamin and mineral
premixes in fish feed
UAAQ CEAC
Aquaponic Inputs

Inputs:
– Water
– Star Milling Co.

1/8” Floating Tilapia Feed
– Dolomite 65 Ag




CaCO3 46.0%
MgCO3 38.5%
Ca 22.7%
Mg 11.8%
– Biomins



Biomin Fe+ (5%)
Biomin Mn+ (5%)
Biomin Zn+ (7%)
– Nutrient Content Analysis
Crude Protein
35%
Crude Fat
5%
%
N
5.97
Crude Fiber
3.5%
%
P
1.53
Ash
9%
%
K
1.46
%
Ca
1.61
%
Mg
0.26
%
Na
0.24
%
S
0.46
FISH FEED
mg/L
Cu
15
mg/L
Zn
143
mg/L
Mn
93
mg/L
Fe
461
mg/L
B
18
Organic micronutrients
• Biomins
 Biomin Fe+ (5%)
 Biomin Mn+ (5%)
 Biomin Zn+ (7%)
 Biomin
Calcium is created using an encapsulation
(chelating) of the mineral calcium with glycine and
natural organic acids.
 Biomin Z.I.M is a true amino acid chelated multimineral. The chelating agent is mainly glycine, the
smallest amino acid commonly used by and found in
plants.
System design
fish – tanks vs raceways
 For plants – variety
 Gravel and sand beds
 Floating rafts
 Gutters and trays
 For
Tilapia and lettuce
Lettuce Plant

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
– Butterhead variety
– Quick turnover

5 weeks
– Cultivars
Rex
 Tom Thumb

Varieties of Romaine and Bibb
Data collection and analysis
Light measurements (PAR)
Computer monitoring
Nutrient Balance

Nutrient Balance
– Feed



32% Protein
2-4% System Biomass
FCR 2:1
– Filtration


Clarifier
Nitrification
– Hydroponics


Nutrient uptake
Water
Water Chemistry
N, TAN, NH4, NO2, NO3, K, P,
Ca, Fe, pH, alkalinity, T, EC
Aquaponic Inputs

Inputs:
– Water
– Fish Food

Star Milling Co.

1/8” Floating Tilapia Feed
– Dolomite 65 Ag




CaCO3 46.0%
MgCO3 38.5%
Ca 22.7%
Mg 11.8%
– Biomins



Biomin Fe+ (5%)
Biomin Mn+ (5%)
Biomin Zn+ (7%)
– Nutrient Content Analysis
Crude Protein
32%
Crude Fat
5%
%
N
5.97
Crude Fiber
3.5
%
%
P
1.53
%
K
1.46
9%
%
Ca
1.61
%
Mg
0.26
%
Na
0.24
%
S
0.46
Ash
FISH FEED
mg/L
Cu
15
mg/L
Zn
143
mg/L
Mn
93
mg/L
Fe
461
mg/L
B
18
pH & Oxygen

pH Range Tilapia 6.5-9
– Fish = 6.5 – 8.5
– Plant = 5.0 – 7.5

Diurnal pH Flux
– Reduce shifts to stabilize pH


Shifts can inhibit organism's physiology thus reducing growth
Acidic pH can effect solubility of Fertilizers
– Alkalinity



Optimal: 75-150 mg/L
Stabilizes pH ; provides nutrients for growth
Dissolved Oxygen
– > 4 mg/l (ppm)
UAAQ CEAC
Methodology

Data Collection
– Fish : Lettuce




Fish FCR
Fish Biomass (1 kg)
Plant Wet/Dry Weight
Plant Height/Diameter
– Lettuce quality


Apogee CCM-200
Chlorophyll Concentration
Index (CCI)
– Relative chlorophyll value
– Compare a cultivar of
lettuce growing in different
systems
UAAQ CEAC
Biomass Density

CEAC GH#3118
– Tilapia Density




0.04 – 0.06 kg/L
2% Biomass / day
1.6 – 1.8 kg feed / day
Harvest weight 1kg
– Lettuce



32 plants / m2
6” off center
Harvest head wet weight
150-200 grams
UAAQ CEAC
Water Chemistry

Nutrient Deficiency
Succession
– [ Fe+, Mn+, Mo+] <
– [Ca+, Mg+]<
– [Zn+]

Hydroponic Water
Parameters
–
–
–
–
pH 6.5-6.7
EC 1.5 – 2.0
DO 4-7mg/L
T = 23-25oC
CEAC
Lettuce
GH#3118
Target
0
0
Nitrate NO3-N
180
50
Boron (B)
0.35
<1
Calcium (Ca)
200
60
Copper (Cu)
0.05
<0.05
Iron (Fe)
2.4
2
Magnesium (Mg)
40
20
Manganese (Mn)
0.55
0.5
Molybdenum (Mo)
0.05
0.05
PO4-P
50
50
Potassium (K)
198
150
Sulfate (SO4)-S
52
20< >100
0.34
0.3
Water Chemistry (mg/L)
NITROGEN
Ammonia NH3-N
Zinc (Zn)
Data and video live on Internet
http://ag.arizona.edu/tomlive/gh3118_idx.html
UAAQ CEAC
Environmental Data
Set Points:
UAAQ 2009 Daily PAR
– Hydroponic Treatment





Exp.3
60
Day Tair = 20 - 22oC
Night Tair = 16 - 18oC
TH2O
= 23 - 25oC
pH
= 6.5 - 6.8
DO
= 4 - 7 mg/L
Exp.2
50
Moles M-2d-1

Exp.1
40
30
20
10
0
1/1
1/15
1/29
2/12
Time
2/26
3/12
3/26
UAAQ 2009 Water Parameters Exp. 1
Mean Water Temperature
pH
24.29oC
Dissolved Oxygen
5.89 mg/L
Electrical Conductivity
0.97 dS/cm
UAAQ 2009 Water Parameters Exp. 2
Mean Water Temperature
pH
UAAQ 2009 Environmental Data Exp. 2
1
6.75
24.22oC
6.73
Mean Daily
Daily PAR
PAR
19.33
16.60 moles/m2
Total PAR
PAR Exp.2
Exp.2
924.00
829.82 moles/m22
Mean Night
Night TTaa
17.14
17.09oC
Mean Day Taa
21.56
21.19oC
Dissolved Oxygen
6.74 mg/L
Daily Mean
Mean TTaa
19.35
19.14ooC
Electrical Conductivity
0.93 dS/cm
Daily Mean
Mean RH%
RH%
60.85%
59.47%
4/9
UAAQ CEAC
Nitrogen Mass Flow

UAAQ Water Chemstry
NPK
Fish Feed
– % N = 5.97


1800 grams/day
107 grams nitrogen/day
Sludge
– N = 3.38% per g dry weight



5 Liters day produced
Collect dry weight / day
Fish
– 27% nitrogen retention

Lettuce
– Samples to be analyzed

Water
– 40-60 mg/L Nitrate
250.00
Exp.3
200.00
mg/L

Exp.2
150.00
NH3-N
Exp.1
NO3-N
100.00
K
PO4-P
50.00
0.00
1/1
1/15
1/29
2/12
Time
2/26
3/12
UAAQ CEAC
Water Chemistry
Macronutrients
–
–
UAAQ Water Chemistry
Macronutrients
Accumulation reaching steady state
Calcium and magnesium supplementation

Experiments 2-8
Exp.3
250.00
Exp.2
200.00
mg/L

SO4-S
Exp.1
150.00
Ca
Mg
100.00
50.00
0.00
1/1
1/29
Micronutrients
–
3/12
UAAQ Water Chemistry
Micronutrients
Experiment s 4-8
Biomin Zinc supplementation

–
2/26
Biomin Iron supplementation

–
2/12
Time
Experiments 5-8
Experiments 6-8
Exp.2
0.40
Biomin Manganese supplementation

Exp.3
0.50
mg/L

1/15
B
Exp.1
0.30
Cu
0.20
Fe
0.10
Mn
Mo
0.00
1/1
1/15
1/29
2/12
Time
2/26
3/12
Zn
UAAQ Exp. 2
Aquaponics vs. Hydroponics
Hydroponic Solution
250
NH3-N
– Nitrogen uptake
Experiment 2 Data
 40-60 mg/L NO3-N
 10-20 mg/L P
 100+ mg/L K
K
mg/L
–
NO3-N
200
PO4-P
150
100
50
0
Feb-09
Mar-09
Time
UAAQ 2009 Hydroponics Water
H2 Primary Nutrients
250
NH3-N
NO3-N
200
K
mg/L

UAAQ 2009 Water Chemistry
H1 Primary Nutrients
PO4-P
150
100
50
0
Feb-09
Mar-09
Time
Arizona Aquaculture Website
ag.arizona.edu/azaqua
What’s needed next?
 Investment
in production
and more research
 Best technologies of ag
and aquaculture
 Limited governmental
regulation
 Trained production staff
and semi-skilled farming
staff