AquaGreen
Home Aquaponic System To design an aquarium which is easy to maintain, while improving the quality of life of a ďŹ sh such that it becomes an integral part of the interior treatment of the space in which it is kept, keeping in mind the budget and priorities of a novice aquarist.
Be easy to maintain
Become an integral part of the interior treatment THIS AQUARIUM MUST Be sensitive towards the priorities of a novice
Improve quality of life of a fish
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Have a filter Low tech Easy to grow plants Easy to keep fish
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Wood work incase of large tanks Forms of tanks Landscaping within the tank Position of the tank Ornamentation
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Good looking fish Number of fish Fit into budget Should not require too much care
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Maintain right conditions for fish as seen naturally Give each fish enough space Right amount and variety of food Landscaping and ornamentation depending on the type of fish Uni-directional flow of water Give proper lighting
THE CHALLENGE
Custom made tanks
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Apparatus is bulky and unattractive Needs more maintainance Too many wires, plugs and pipes Reduced aesthetics of the tank Too many separate elements to buy
Same boxy form Only physical filteration is provided No beneficial water current Expensive Only for one specie of fish
KINDS OF FISH TANKS
Branded all-in-one tanks
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Same boxy form No filteration provided No water current Only for one specie of fish
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Same boxy form Filter needs cleaning regularly Very expensive
EXISTING SOLUTIONS
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Difficult to set up Easy to maintain Inexpensive
Low- tech planted tank
KINDS OF AQUARIUM SYSTEMS
Aquaponic tank
High- tech planted tank
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Easy to maintain Inexpensive Not easy to set up More natural
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Easy to set up Easy to maintain Expensive
This water is now absorbed as nutrition by the plants for their biological cycle.
Water with fish excreta, excess ammonia and food is transported up into the grow bed through a pump.
The filtered water is now directed back into the tank for the fish.
Working of an aquaponic tank
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
The change in levels of the base will help direction solid waste at the base of the tank.
Spherical surfaces are unadvisable as they create a vortex in the water due to spiral motion of water current. This motion of water causes severe harm to the ďŹ sh.
The roof must have enough space to hold and conceal the growbed, aerator and pump.
IDEATION
The pressure exerted by the bubbles is so powerful that the bubbles carry water along with them as they rise above, thus pumping water out! air source
Working of the air- lift pump
As the water in the growbed rises, water rises within the bell. When the water reaches the threshold of the bell, water starts to flow over into the funnel. This creates a vaccume on top of the bell that causes a difference in air pressure inside and outside the bell. This difference causes more water to be sucked into the bell and forced out through the siphon. When the water level in the tank reaches below that of the inlet pores in the bell, the vaccume is broken and the siphon breaks. The siphon restarts when the tank is refilled.
Grow beds with hydro- balls
Working of the Affnan bell valve (siphon)
Bell siphon assembly
aerator
air- lift pump assembly
Aquaponic tank design
THE CONCEPT
e d c a
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Top: Image showing growbeds in tray Left: Image showing clear set-up of tank equipment and their positions. (a) pipe to move water upto growbed (b) pipe to supply air to (a) (c) aerator (d) bell siphon (e) gasketed lid to feed ďŹ sh
Volume: 21.06 lits
THE PRODUCT
Top: Hydro-balls for growbed Below: The air-lift and bell siphon mechanism
Improved water quality in tank and plant growth from day 1 (7th June) to day 57 (3rd August)
Growth of basil plant as of 10th dec with 2 trimmings
This validation of this product was conducted for 3 months from the 20th of May to the 20th August 2014.
VALIDATION
No need for water changes, evaporation naturally decreases water level and water can be added in small quantities as and when necessary. The tank or plants are not gravely aected by power cuts. Lesser moving parts thereby increasing the life of equipment. Air-lift designed to pick up solid waste unlike a usual power-head. Only one electronic component- the aerator. Bell siphon ensures rush on water thereby aerating the tank and creating water ow. Tank maybe cleaned once in 30-60 days
THE ADVANTAGES