Introduction Questions
1. How do plants use water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to grow? In other words, what is the
process referred to as photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy into chemical energy and storing it in
the bonds of sugar. Plants must have water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight in order to produce
sugar.
What type of nitrogen waste do fish produce and how can this be broken down into a form suitable
for plant roots to absorb? (Hint: this answer will include bacteria)
Two main species of bacteria need to grow in the aquarium before it can be fully
stocked. These good bacteria enter the aquarium with the first fish purchased. They come in
the water from your fish store and in the waste the fish produce. The waste which supplies
these good bacteria is the reason why the bacteria are so necessary. Fish produce ammonia
in their solid waste and excrete it through their gills.
Explain the relationship of oxygen and carbon dioxide generated and utilized by plants and
animals?
Aquatic animals and plants add carbon dioxide into water during respiration. And they use up
oxygen during respiration.
Questions of Technology and Setup
What equipment do I have at my disposal?
The teacher will supply an aquarium, rocks, and water. The group will buy fish, cleaning
supplies, and plants (either seeds or plants).
Which plants and animals can I use in my system?
Fish (silver perch, goldfish, barramundi, Jade Perch).
Green leafy vegetables ().
How can water be circulated between plants and animals?
Plants absorb their required nutrients through their roots. In both plants and animals nutrients
are dissolved in water, and are used internally to sustain the organism.
How will I determine if my design is successful?
I can determine if my design is successful if the fish stay alive and the plants grow larger than
at the start of the project.
Design and sketch an aquaponics system that can be built within this classroom (I will provide the
aquarium tank, filter, aerator, rocks, lights, and water pump.)
Biotic Factors of Aquaponic System
Type of plants (must be an edible plant for
humans)
Water lettuce, to float on the surface of the
water, which will make the tank dark for the
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Growth media for plants (no soil)
Time to maturity (plants)
Light source (include proper wattage and possible
color)
Type of fish
Time to maturity (fish)
zebra danio.
On the surface of the water.
n/a
Florescent Light Bulb (20 watts)
Zebra danio because they are excellent for
breaking in a fish tank, a hardier fish.
n/a
Abiotic Factors of Your Aquaponic System
Optimum pH
Optimum Temp
Ammonia levels
Dissolved oxygen levels
Size of tank for fish
Number of appropriate fish for tank size
Suggested frequency of feeding
Amount of food to be fed per feeding (mass)
Filtration
Aeration
Frequency of Data Collection
Under 7 because this pH doesn’t allows the
production of ammonia which is harmful to
fish
72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Low because its poisonous fish.
5-7mg of oxygen per liter of water, this gives
the fish enough oxygen to survive.
10 gallons
8 fish because the zebra danios like to be in
schools of 6 or more fish.
Twice a day because this is the
recommended times a zebra danio should
be fed.
6 grams of food per fish because this is the
recommended amount of food the zebra
danio need.
Yes, because the tank will be running for
about seven weeks and the tank must be
clean in order for the fish to survive.
Yes, we are using one pump because is it
much more energy efficient and fits in with
the environmental advantages.
Once a day we will find the water
temperature and pH level. After every 5th
day we will find the mass of the fish, this will
allow the fish to not stress out very easily.
And the first and last day of the experiment,
we will find the mass of the plants.
2. Which technologies can be utilized to engineer an aquaponics or a hydroponics system and to
monitor its progress?
A vertical aquaponic system grows vegetables without soil in columns above a fish tank. The
aquaponic system puts fish waste to work as fertilizer for crops. A small pump draws nutrientrich water from the fish tank to the tops of the vertical columns. The water trickles down
through the roots of the plants, gathering oxygen from the air as it falls back into the tank.
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3. Explain why you selected the technologies listed in Question 1. In other words, what are the
advantages of those technologies versus other available technology?
A vertical aquaponic system will help the plants grow more quickly. You can produce about
twice the amount of plants as you can with a hydroponic system of the same area.
Conclusion Questions
4. How will you determine if your project has been successful? Which criteria will you use to
judge success?
We can determine if our project is successful if our fish are still alive, there is an increase in the
mass of the plants, and there is an increase in biomass.
5. How do planning and designing a project on paper differ from the application and execution of
those plans?
When you are planning the design on paper, it is much easier and makes more sense than
when you start to design the actual tank and start to figure out that some plants will not work
as well, as you may have originally thought.
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