10 Gallon Aquaponics System
I decided to see if I could design and 3D print a aquaponics system using my new Makergear M2 3D
printer. The result is my 10 Gallon Aquaponics System.
The parts can be found at: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:163468
If you don't know about aquaponics check out this Wikipedia article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics
This system is inspired by the Aqua Farm from http://www.backtotheroots.com/ that I purchased a few
months ago after seeing its campaign on Kickstarter.com. The Aqua Farm system is fun. I had it placed
in a window and the direct sunlight seemed to warp the plastic. It still works but looks saggy and does
not fit well together. I decided to try to design a system around an inexpensive glass fish tank.
This is my Ten Gallon Aquaponics project
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The 10 Gallon Aquaponics Project
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My goal was to transform the 10 gallon aquarium into an experimental growing system for use in my
kitchen. I don't have any hydroponic or aquaponic experience but I did own a couple of fish tanks way
back when. This project features a filter with two bubble tubes to move the water from under the gravel
to promote biological filtration (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_(aquarium)#Undergravel_filters ). It
then has three grow pot holders each with a bubble tube to draw water up into the holder. There are 17
grow cups for your plants with one feed hatch for your fish.
I purchased a 10 gallon aquarium at Petsmart and began by designing a gravel filter in OpenSCAD
(http://www.openscad.org/ ). The commercial aquaponics unit I purchased did not have a gravel filter,
but I decided to add one with the thought that it would make the system more stable and provide
cleaning when the plants are germinating or after harvesting. The gravel filter should buffer the system
and keep it biologically active during growing cycles. The gravel filter could be used in a regular fish
tank also. It may not be necessary for the aquaponics system so it should be considered optional.
Bubble tubes are used throughout this project to move water. The air bubbles moving in the tubes will
force water to move with the bubbles. This is used to pump water from under the gravel to promote
filtration and to pump water into the Grow Pot Holder to provide a steady stream of water to your
plants.
I used my Makergear M2 printer (http://www.makergear.com/ ) to print all the parts I could. It has an
8x10 inch print bed. I experimented with different print head sizes and layer heights during this project.
It is a great project for learning about your printer.
I choose to print in ABS for this project primarily because I'm not sure if PLA would hold up in the
water. I also knew I could easily glue the ABS parts if needed.
Most of the parts were printed many times, modified and improved as I built the project. The larger
parts are challenging to print in ABS due to warping and cracking. The fit of the tubes is critical for
assembly and present a challenge to build accurately.
To date this is the largest practical project I have done on my new printer, and I think it represents in
some way the possibilities the Personal 3D printer has. Primarily I think the value in these projects is
the possibility of customizing the prints for your own personal use with a larger or different sized tank
or by improving the efficiency of the system or even by redesigning it to be better looking.
I printed this project with ABS and a .35 and .50 nozzle. I used the .50 nozzle to speed up the printing
using a .34 layer height. The bubbles tubes had to be printed with the .35 nozzle and a .25 layer height
to assure a good fit. The trays proved difficult to print and I'm working on an 'anti warp' design to
improve printing quality.
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The Printed Parts:
Gravel Filter
Gravel Filter Bubble Tubes
Grow Pot Holder
Grow Pot Holder with Feed Hatch
Grow Pot Holder Hooks
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Grow Pot Feed Lid
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Grow Pot Holder Tubes
Grow Pot
Please note the parts you download may be improved and not exactly match the images above.
The finished grow system begins testing.
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Build List
10 Gallon Standard Aquarium (20w x 10 ¼d x 12 1/2h)
Aquarium air pump for at least a 20 gallon tank
Aquarium air hose
90 degree air hose fittings - 8+
Aquarium air distribution valve with 5 valves
Hydroponic grow medium (clay pebbles)
Gravel Filter – 3
Gravel Filter Bubble Tubes – 2 sets
Grow Pot Holder – 2
Grow Pot Holder with Feed Hatch – 1
Grow Pot Holder Hooks – 12
Grow Pots – 17
Grow Pot Tubes – 3 sets
Grow Pot Holder Feed Lid - 1
Printed Parts Check List
__ Gravel Filter
__ Gravel Filter
__ Gravel Filter
__Gravel Filter Bubble Tubes
__Gravel Filter Bubble Tubes
__Grow Pot Holder
__Grow Pot Holder
__Grow Pot Holder with Feed Hatch
__ 12 Grow Pot Holder Hooks
__ 17 Grow Pots
__Grow Pot Tubes
__Grow Pot Tubes
__Grow Pot Tubes
__Grow Pot Holder Feed Lid
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Assembly
Assemble the Gravel Filter
Assemble two bubble tubes on two of the gravel filters.
I ran the hose through the side of the filter using a 90 degree fitting and then over and 90
degrees into the tube. Run the hose 2 or so inches into the tube.
Install plugs in unused holes. Install filter in tank. Put Gravel on top.
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Add Water
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Glue the hooks to the Grow Pot Holder
Each Holder gets 4 hooks glued to them.
The grow system ready to go.
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Assemble the Grow Pot Holder
The tube gets assembled from the bottom. Glue if
needed.
Run hose down into tank through hole in Grow Pot Holder and then up into tube. Again I
used a 90 degree fitting placing the hose in the tube.
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I added a 90 degree fitting to the bottom of
the tube. Hose should extend 2 inches or
so into the tube.
With the air pump on you should be able to pump water into the Holders. It is important to have
a good set of air control valves to make sure the filters and holders have an adequate supply.
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Grow Pots
You simply fill the grow pots with the hydroponic media of choice and plant your seeds or
seedlings. I have used aquarium gravel and clay pebbles so far without a lot of time testing to
report. I think the aquarium gravel is too heavy and does not wick water well. The clay pebbles
I purchased seem too big but we will see.
Growing Fish
Types of fish
I have been using Fancy Guppies in my tanks inexpensive and relatively hearty. They are
easy to breed too. Not sure how they taste.
Why fish
The goal is to create equilibrium between the fish, the plants, and the water. You feed the
fish, the fish feed the plants and the plants clean the water, then you eat the fish and
plants. That is the theory. We are testing it now.
Growing Plants
Why plants like it?
Plants in an aquaponics system should get the nutrients they need from the fish in the
water.
What plants?
So far I have tried: mint, lettuce, basil, parsley, cilantro, wheat-grass, chives and a few
others. So far the basil and the mint are thriving. I have not had the garden long enough
to really comment much on the plants.
Eating Plants
Eat em
We have eaten mint, cilantro, parsley and basil so far.
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