Design and Development of User-Friendly Vertical Aquaponics Set-up for Ornamental Fish and Plants

Abstract

One vertical aquaponics unit following the principle of Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) has been designed and developed at ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar centre of All India Coordinated Research Project on Plasticulture Engineering in Agriculture Structures and Environment Management (AICRP on PEASEM). The developed unit is constructed using three major components, viz., fish tank/ aquarium tank (0.127 m3), vertical hydroponic pipe (Ø0.16×1.5 m) and the water distribution system. The unit experimented with 30 numbers of Guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) in 0.1 cubic meters of water and 6 numbers of Petunia plant (Petunia × hybrida) and 6 numbers of Zinnia plant (Zinnia angustifolia) in 780 CC hydroponics cups arranged at 20° from the vertical axis on a PVC pipe. The quad channel sprinkler is fixed inside the pipe at the top surface. The water dispersion efficiency concerning the availability of nutrient-rich water at the roots of the plants for its flowering has been evaluated in the present study. The optimum water quality and flower production from the plants were achieved at 200 LPH flow rate from the fish tank. At this hydrolic loading rate, maximum plant length & spread were observed among the three replications . The length & spread for Zinnia angustifolia and Petunia x hybrida were 37.17±4.27 cm & 39.54±7.45 cm, and 33.43±2.53 cm & 29.58±7.26 cm respectively. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the water quality parameters at 200 & 250 LPH flow rates in the vertical aquaponics system.The cost of one unit is calculated to be INR 7000, with approximately a 10-20% price reduction in case of mass production. The newly developed integrated system of aquarium is designed for peri-urban and urban hobby farming as well as home decoration.