The Aquatics

Use of improvised solar powered

water and air pump as aquaponics
equipment to minimize consumption
of cost and energy
 
ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 Aquaponics is a form of aquaculture that integrates soilless
crop production (hydroponics) to raise edible plants and fish.
The fish are fed and excrete waste, which is broken down by
bacteria into nutrients. Plants utilize some of these nutrients,
and in the process filter the water in the system. Most
aquaponics systems are recirculating aquaculture systems
where water is continuously recycled through an interconnected
series of fish tanks and waste treatment systems. Early
attempts at recirculating aquaculture were challenged by the
accumulation of ammonia, a potentially toxic by-product of fish
waste. In one approach to improve water quality, researchers
incorporated plants as biofilters tanks, which respectively
serve to remove large solids and use bacteria to break down
ammonia into nitrate. From these tanks water flows through
the plant beds before returning to the fish tanks. To create a
stable ecological system and maximize crop and fish production,
aquaponics practitioners now control a variety of factors such
as the water temperature, pH, micro- and macronutrients,
dissolved oxygen, and
 STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
The general problem of this study was focused on how
to minimize the cost and energy consumption in
aquaponics. Aquaponics was one of the rising industry in
the field of agriculture for sustainable and efficient
modern farming. However, aquaponics could be costly
when it comes to its energy consumption because it
required electricity to run the pump or electric motor
for circulation of water. Nowadays, most of the people
living in the generation z were productive and creative
so that the researchers innovated something that can
help aquaponic and aquacultural farmers to minimize
the cost and energy consumption of the product.
 
 METHODS
Experimental procedure

1. Design consideration and conceptualization

2. Fabrication of the experimental prototype
3. Preparation of experimental system
4. Preparation of samples
5. Testing procedure
6. Statistical treatment of data

Design Consideration and Conceptualization

The following parameters were considered in designing the

prototype:
The space of the experimental system
The cost of electrical consumption and water
Sustainable ecosystem in a small scale
 
Fabrication of the experimental prototype
The fabrication of the experimental prototype was made only
from locally available products in the vicinity of Bataan and from
reliable online shops in the internet.

The components of the prototype are solar panel, plastic tube,

plastic cups, dynamo 9V, core wire, battery, galvanized iron sheet,
plywood are fabricated together to have an improvised solar powered
water and air pump. It was done by soldering the wires together and
gluing the plastic components.

Preparation of experimental system

The experimental system was already fabricated and bought in

the local market of Orion. Its dimension was improvised solar powered
and air pump. It was the housing of the vegetable and animals to have
a circulating and sustainable ecosystem inside.
Preparation of samples

 Choosing Fish and Plants When setting up your small aquaponics

system, choose fish and plants that can adapt to life in a
relatively confined environment. Large aquaponics systems use
fish such as tilapia and yellow perch because those kinds of fish
work best in the big tanks or pools of the large systems. Goldfish
are a good choice for a small system; they are simple to keep and
less expensive than some other fish. Relatively small, fast-
growing plants with shallow root systems will thrive in your
system's plant tray. Choose any kind of leafy green salad plants
or water-loving herbs for the best results. Putting it All Together
Before you add plants, get your fish tank set up, stocked and
running. Once that’s done, fill the plant tray with a suitable
medium such as perlite. Plant your greens in the perlite the same
way you would if you were planting the greens in soil. An
aquaponics system requires a submersible pump that goes into the
fish tank, and the output from the pump feeds water through a
hose directly into the plant tray. Position the outflow pipe from
the plant tray over the top of the fish tank, and the water will
flow continually between the fish and the plants.
Testing procedure

The animals were subjected to the experimental system as

well as the plants. The improvised solar powered water and air
pump was subjected too to observe if it can pump water to
dissolve the oxygen inside the tank.

Statistical treatment of data

This study involved statistical analysis of data on the

evaluation of the feasibility of the improvised solar powered
water and air pump as aquaponics equipment to minimize
consumption of cost and energy.
RESULTS
Table 1.Frequency Distribution and Percentage of Respondents according
to their observation and experience having an aquarium or aquaponic
system.

Decision F Percentage

Yes 13 65%

No 7 35%

Total 20 100%

Table 1. It shows that majority of respondents agreed

that the tools& equipment used on the aquarium/
aquaponics system are consuming too much electricity&
water.
 
 
Table 2. Frequency Distribution and Percentage of Respondents according to
the cost and of energy and water consumption.

Decision F Percentage

A 2 10%

B 3 15%

C 10 50%

D 5 25%

Total: 20 100%

Table 2. It’s shows that greater number of respondents

consumed 20,001-50,000 pesos with a 50% of the total
population, 25% is at the 50,000 pesos above ,15% is at
10,001-20,000pesos,and the remaining 10% is at 1-
10,000pesos.
 Table 3. Frequency Distribution and Percentage of
Respondents according to water consumption .

Decision F Percentage

A 3 15%

B 4 20%

C 13 65%

Total: 20 100%

Table 3. It’s shows that greater number of respondents

consumed 50 L above with 60% of the total population,
25% is at 11-20 L while the remaining 15% is at 1-10 L.
Table 4. Frequency Distribution and Percentage of Respondents
according to the willingness of making DIY product.

Decision F Percentage

Yes 15 75%

No 5 25%

Total: 20 100%

Table 4. It’s shows majority of the respondents agreed in

making & using of DIY products instead of using high
priced tool & equipment’s
Table 5. Frequency Distribution and Percentage of
Respondents according to the willingness of reducing
the cost of energy and water consumption

Decision F Percentage

Yes 18 90%

No 2 10%

Total: 20 100%

Table 5. It’s shows that majority of the respondents

agreed that solar panel is the key to minimize the
electricity consumption.
 CONCLUSION
 Aquaponics systems are not only eco-friendly, sustainable, provide
food and security and create sustainable livelihoods but they it was
also economically feasible and make good business sense. The
aquaponics recirculation system showed that it is not only a
successful method for biomass production as food crops, but also a
useful system to recycle aquaculture wastewater. In the current
world with shrinking resources, aquaponics is one of the promising
technology to ensure future food security. It also is a seductive
concept which is especially appealing to those seeking to promote
more sustainable food production systems. It involves the
production of both fish and vegetables, using a single nutrient
source – fish feed – and ensures that most of the wastes that would
normally be released from intensive fish culture are instead used to
grow vegetables. It is important to recognize however, that
aquaponic systems are primarily vegetable production systems,
simply because of the biological nature of the relationship between
fish nutrient production and plant nutrient uptake. Intensively
grown fish produce a lot of nutrients, the consumption of which
requires a large amount of plant production.
 RECOMMENDATION
 If this project were to be continued by a future group,
there are many recommendations to establish. Firstly,
when water is pumped into the vegetation bed, it is not
distributed evenly throughout the bed. This is due to the
large size of the inlet pipe. It is recommended that a
smaller diameter pipe be installed so that the water will
disperse better. Concerning the electrical assembly, it is
recommended that DC components be used. Towards the
end of the semester, the group encountered a problem
with driving the solenoid valve with relays. If DC valves
had been used, this problem could possibly have been
avoided. In addition, due to the complex design and the
large amount of programming, it is recommended that
another electrical engineer be added to the group. Lastly,
given more time, the team would have liked to install
pressure gauges (transmitting data to the interface) on
the inlet and outlet of both filters to inform users when
each filter requires maintenance.