Urban Farming & Aquaponics workshop Urban farming & Aquaponics Workshop

15 Pages·2014·4.14 MB·English

Urban Farming &
Urban farming &
Aquaponics workshop
Aquaponics Workshop
Aquaponics Handbook
Aquaponics Handbook
11 june 2014
11 june 2014
ABOUT
This handbook has been made as part of the workshop conducted by the IForesee
(i4C) student innovation platform. This community is supported by the Centre for
Innovation (C4I) of Leiden University in The Hague. The goal of the i4C is to form
groups (or Labs) of students, researchers and practitioners that actively explore a
variety of topics in a multi- and trans-disciplinary fashion by hands-on
experimentation and collaboration to discover new ways of tackling existing and
future challenges.
C4i
The Centre for Innovation the Hague is the living lab of the Leiden University -
Campus The Hague. The centre was setup in 2007 as part of the European Union
Fund for Regional Development (EFRO) in line with Aim 2 of the EU cohesion policy
to implement projects who contribute to the development in the Netherlands. Now
the Centre has developed to a genuine living lab that facilitates cooperation
between public and private actors in the field of governance innovation.
i4C
The Aquaponics Lab is one of the groups within the i4C community. It investigates
the possibilities and opportunities of utilizing aquaponic farming techniques in
urban environments and we are particularly interested in exploring DIY and
consumer-based aquaponics systems. The future of food, we think, will involve
more participatory efforts from the consumer side which promises a variety of
beneficial aspects; less transportation costs and associated pollution from shipping,
packaging and distributing fresh produce, healthy homegrown organic vegetables
and fruit, aesthetically pleasing design of food producing systems, etc.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Centre for Innovation
Leiden University - Campus The Hague
The Living Lab (second floor) (3)
Schouwburgstraat 2 (A)
2511 VA The Hague
MAP
CENTRE FOR INNOVATION CONTACT PERSONS
Sjoerd Louwaars
[email protected]
[phone]
Markolf von Ketelhodt
[email protected]
[phone]
GUEST SPEAKERS
Daniel Reyes
M.Sc Chemical Engineer at TU Delft
Talk: Industrial scale Aquaponics
Boris Roodenburg | Urban Crops
Entrepreneur & Designer
Talk: Domestic scale Aquaponics
AQUAPONICS LAB FELLOWS
Natalia Uribe Calv
M.Sc Industrial Ecology at Leiden University & TU Delft

William van den Broeck
M.Sc Industrial Ecology at Leiden University & TU Delft
Markolf von Ketelhodt
M.Sc Industrial Ecology at Leiden University & TU Delft
INTRODUCTION
Aquaponics is an agricultural process that combines aquaculture with hydroponics
in order to grow aquatic organisms, fruits and vegetables. It exists in many forms.
The basic principle of aquaponics is nutrient recycling. It tries to simulate
ecosystems in its natural regulatory capacities. The figure below presents the
general circulation occurring in any aquaponics system.
Three key elements are always present.
First, fish in for example a fish tank,
aquarium or pond excrete ammonia (NH +)
4
as a waste. The concentration of NH4+
would normally quickly raise but the water
is cycled over a filter or growbed. This
contains bacteria (such as Nitrospira and
Nitrosomonas) which convert the
ammonia to nitrates (NO +). These nitrates
3
are then taken up by the plants. This is
the general nitrogen cycle, however, other
nutrients are also recycled.
The filter or growbed also acts to filter out particulate matter and in this way, it
keeps the water clean. A lot of variations on this basic cycle from plant, filters and
fish do exist and are continuously improved by thousands of aquaponics
enthusiasts around the world. Specific guidelines to build systems can be found all
over the Internet.
During the workshop two keynote speakers, Boris Roodenburg (NL) and Daniel
Reyes (MEX) have explained the general concepts about aquaponics as a new
urban farming tool. After this introduction the presentation slides can be found. In
these, general guidelines for aquaponics functioning are given. The presentations
were followed by a brainstorm session in which participants designed their own
aquaponics systems in order to win the desktop aquaponics system provided by
the aquaponics lab. The workshop was concluded with demonstrations of small
aquaponics systems, water quality measuring kits, vertical farming with recycled
bottles and bell-siphon functioning.
WORKSHOP PRESENTATION SLIDES
By Boris Roodenburg [LINK]
By Daniel Reyes [LINK]

INSTRUCTIVE GUIDE: BUILDING YOUR OWN AQUAPONICS SYSTEM
The main objective of this handbook, is to provide a detailed description on how to
build your own aquaponics system using simple materials bought at IKEA. A
general description of this system is given before listing the different parts you
need to build it. Finally, the different steps to build the system are explained
together with pictures of the system.
This system is one of the most basic systems you can set up. Materials can easily
be bought at Ikea. Extra plumbing materials maybe be needed, which can be
purchased in any store such as Gamma or Praxis. This system is not big enough to
grow edible fish. It is designed to grow mostly herbs and vegetables. Some things
to keep in mind with selecting the fish is the water temperature they should be
kept, what their oxygen needs are and and general biology and water quality (eg.
PH, kH, etc.). The temperature should be as close to the normal temperature of the
room so no extra heating is necessary. Fish that don’t need a lot of oxygen (like
catfish or goldfish) are easier to keep. Practically, we recommend starting out with
goldfish as these produce a lot of nutrients and are very easy to keep alive.
MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Antonius Lade/Reservoir, both 25 and 50 liters as grow bed and fish tank
respectively. These are used as food containers so are considered food IVAR 1
element stand. To hold reservoirs. Consists of 2 identical frames, minimal 2
planks and a steel reinforcement.
2. Instead of the IVAR stand the reservoirs can also be hold in the Antonius
frame.
3. Grow media examples are hydroton, lava rock, gravel. Special attention is
need with gravel as it is not 100% inert.
4. Piping for pumping up. We use plastic tubing that fits with the pump but
PVC piping works as well.
5. Bell siphon – Consider using white PVC pipes as these are considered inert
and thus food grade.
1. Adapter.
Can be number of things as long as it’s an airtight fit over the grow bed basin.
We use a drainage pipe for washing machine basins you can buy in Gamma.
This has a nice fit with the 32 mm pipes.
2. Rubber O rings
3. Pipe that fits on adapter (32mm diameter)
4. Pipe with airtight cap that has a snug fit (50 mm diameter)
5. Pipe as media guard (100 mm diameter)
From left to right, 32mm, 50 mm and Airtight cap that fits on the 50 mm pipe
100mm pipes