Aquaponics Post #1
Aquaponics Post #1
Problem/Question:
In an aquaponics system, how does different grow bed media (i.e. clay and pumice/lava rock) affect the growth rate Lamiaceae mentha (mint) grows?
Hypothesis:
If Lamiaceae mentha is grown in a pumice/lava rock media grow bed, then its growth will exceed that of Lamiaceae mentha grown in a clay media grow bed.
Methodology/Protocol: (With apparatus set up & diagrams. Include systems diagram)
Materials:
Procedure
What, How and When of Data Collection:
The number of Lamiaceae mentha leaves will be counted every three days, and the size of three average-sized leaves on each plants' length will be taken and averaged. This will be recorded in a Google Document with all of the group members on raw data tables. Data collection will be completed four to five weeks after the Lamiaceae mentha seeds are planted.
How data will be reported/presented:
The percent change in average leaf length for each plant will be calculated from the collected raw data using the following formula:
Percent change= (Final height-Initial height)/Initial height x100
Percent changes in Lamiaceae mentha stems will be plotted on a line graph using Microsoft Excel. Time (intervals of every three days) will be plotted on the x-axis and percent change in height will be plotted along the y-axis. Data tables that were used during raw data collection will also be presented. Overall average percent change for the two medias for the entirety of the experiment will also be taken and plotted on a bar graph.
The number of leaves for each plant will also be taken in account and plotted on a line graph using Microsoft Excel over the course of the experiment.
How data will be analyzed
Using the raw data in our charts and plotted line graph data gathered for the growth of mint plants over time and across grow bed media, the percent changes of the two data sets will be compared quantitatively (between the data for the pumice grow bed and the clay grow bed). The respective properties of clay and pumice will be factored into the analysis to better understand the difference in mint growth between the two media. After the experiment, we will identify possible error sources.
In an aquaponics system, how does different grow bed media (i.e. clay and pumice/lava rock) affect the growth rate Lamiaceae mentha (mint) grows?
Hypothesis:
If Lamiaceae mentha is grown in a pumice/lava rock media grow bed, then its growth will exceed that of Lamiaceae mentha grown in a clay media grow bed.
Methodology/Protocol: (With apparatus set up & diagrams. Include systems diagram)
- Independent Variable— clay and pumice/lava rock growth beds.
- Dependent Variable— the growth rate (in percent) of the corresponding Lamiaceae mentha plants.
- Control Variables— aquaponics tank, number of goldfish, amount of time allotted for Lamiaceae mentha to grow, light, pH levels, water temperature, room temperature, water supply, goldfish used, size of tubing for water pump, grow bed size, volume of each media used.
Materials:
- 10 gallon tank.
- 18 Lamiaceae mentha (mint) seeds.
- 2 Goldfish.
- Goldfish pellets.
- Plant light source with stable base.
- Two grow bed containers (gardening trays).
- Air pump.
- Air stone.
- Ruler (in centimeters).
- pH testers for the water.
- Bag of clay.
- Pumice/lava rock.
- Gravel for aquarium bottom.
- Supporting table for grow beds.
- Bell siphon.
- Tubing for water pump.
- Organic detritus for the bottom of the aquarium (to promote bacterial growth).
Procedure
- Obtain a 10-gallon sized aquarium tank.
- Clean the tank of any possible impurities and place gravel at the bottom of the fish tank, which foster nitrogen-fixing bacteria which convert ammonia (as goldfish waste) to nitrates (as nutrients for mint) before the water is pumped above the growth beds.
- Obtain two gardening trays and fill each with the same volume of grow media (one with lava rock and one with clay).
- Wash the purchased aquarium gravel and evenly line the bottom of the tank with the gravel, up to about the one-centimeter mark.
- Puncture holes in two-inch intervals along the length of tubing that will be placed in the grow beds and direct water to the plant media.
- Drill one hole on the long, outermost side of one of the growth beds and run a length of tubing from the pump in the aquarium to the hole in the growbed nearest the air pump. Once threaded through the drilled hole, place the tubing (with holes poked into it) along the perimeter of the tank, slightly above the growth media, and then place into next growth bed and run along its perimeter in the same fashion. Once the tubing reaches the far end of the second growth bed, cut off any excess tubing to be the appropriate length.
- Fill the aquarium with water.
- Place the water pump in the aquarium to ensure that water flows up to trickle over the growth beds. Turn on the water pump.
- Connect air pump to air stone via tubing. Place air stone in aquarium and turn air pump on.
- In either of the growth beds, cut a medium sized hole to house the bell siphon (size varies depending on diameter of bell siphon). Place bell siphon into the cut hole in the floor of the growth bed, oriented so that its pipe drains back into the aquarium tank below. Do the same in the next growth bed, with another drilled hole in which another bell siphon is placed.
- After few days (3-4), plant mint seeds (five per growth bed, with approximately three inches between each seed) in each of the growth beds, totalling ten seeds.
- After a length of time (to allow the seeds to germinate), test the pH of the aquarium. If the results will be healthy for the goldfish, place the goldfish into the tank.
- Twice a day, feed goldfish by adding a pinch of flakes (goldfish food) to the aquarium, roughly equivalent to one or two flakes per goldfish. Be careful not to add too little or too much food. Feed the fish at regular intervals each day.
What, How and When of Data Collection:
The number of Lamiaceae mentha leaves will be counted every three days, and the size of three average-sized leaves on each plants' length will be taken and averaged. This will be recorded in a Google Document with all of the group members on raw data tables. Data collection will be completed four to five weeks after the Lamiaceae mentha seeds are planted.
How data will be reported/presented:
The percent change in average leaf length for each plant will be calculated from the collected raw data using the following formula:
Percent change= (Final height-Initial height)/Initial height x100
Percent changes in Lamiaceae mentha stems will be plotted on a line graph using Microsoft Excel. Time (intervals of every three days) will be plotted on the x-axis and percent change in height will be plotted along the y-axis. Data tables that were used during raw data collection will also be presented. Overall average percent change for the two medias for the entirety of the experiment will also be taken and plotted on a bar graph.
The number of leaves for each plant will also be taken in account and plotted on a line graph using Microsoft Excel over the course of the experiment.
How data will be analyzed
Using the raw data in our charts and plotted line graph data gathered for the growth of mint plants over time and across grow bed media, the percent changes of the two data sets will be compared quantitatively (between the data for the pumice grow bed and the clay grow bed). The respective properties of clay and pumice will be factored into the analysis to better understand the difference in mint growth between the two media. After the experiment, we will identify possible error sources.