Tyler Franklin, a senior ecology and evolution major at Minnesota State University Moorhead, has converted an abandoned space in the school's greenhouse into an ecosystem.
The eco-friendly aquaponics system, featuring nine live goldfishes, three fence posts and re-circulating water was built with recycled and repurposed materials like PVC pipe scrapes, an old fish tank, lumber and buckets.
The concept of aquaponics uses a combination of acquaculture- raising fishes and hydroponics- the method of growing plants without soil, using only the nutrients from water.
Franklin, who has been working on the system since the winter, placed a large tank on the floor containing nine goldfish.
According to inforum.com:
"A pump on a timer draws water from the tank up into a pipe every couple hours, where it then travels through the three hollow fence posts that each have about 25 holes cut in the side and a small plant in each hole."
While the plants filter out the water, sending purified form to the fishes, fish waste acts as an organic fertiliser for the plants. The system contains the right amount of bacteria and a 'biofilter' with compact netting that clenses the water, resulting in additional oxygen for the fishes.
Tomatoes, basil and a few other plants can easily be grown using this concept.
"It's that focus on ecology and life, and it's really a dynamic living system," Franklin said. 'An education tool'
He wants to further better his oasis by finding a way to pull the water using solar power instead of an electric-powered pump and to raise tilapia or other tasty fish in the system, rather than the inedible goldfish. He further claims that this green concept make full use of a little space such as rooftops and could ease the burden on farmers.
"It's educating myself and sharing what I'm learning and showing people that it's not incredibly difficult. It takes a little bit of work, it takes a little bit of time, but you could spend your time sitting at home watching TV or you could spend your time trying to help yourself and trying to help your community," Franklin said.
