Water Aquaponics:
Water aquaponics involves fish, water, and a plant. It is a self running system that allows a plant to grow and helps the fish live. The plant sits in some sort of "cup" submerged in the water. The plant oxygenates the water for the fish, the fish's waste is the nutrients that the plant needs, and the plant has a water source. All you have to do is feed the fish. The plant will grow and the fish will live.
*Steps to creating a recycled water aquaponics tank!
Step 1: Plan your designs for the project. I based my designs on a mason jar water aquaponics project that I saw online. You will need a "cup" for the plant, a tank for the fish, a fish, a plant, and gravel.
Step 2: Find and prepare the item you will be using for your tank. I used an old animal cracker container from Target.
Step 3: Design and decorate the tank with vinyl (optional). For step by step on using vinyl, go to the Individual Vinyl tab.
Step 4: Design the cup for the plant. For step by step instructions for the 3D printer, look at the Individual 3D Printer tab. I made the general shape (as shown in the first image). I then used the revolve tool to make it a half circle (as shown in the second image). Next, I used the shell tool to make the cup an actual cup rather than just a solid without the cut out in the middle (as shown in the third image). Last, I made the holes and extruded them on the flat side of the cup to allow water to get in for the plant, but not let the gravel fall out (as shown in the fourth image).
Step 5: Print the cup using the 3D printer. For step by step instructions for printing with the 3D printer, look at the Individual 3D Printer tab. My first print did not print right, so I had to reprint it. The second time was a success.
Step 6: Add gravel, decorations, and water to the tank so the water will be room temperature when you put your fish in. Wait 24 hours to put your fish in.
Step 7: Prepare your plant by putting it in your cup. Make sure the roots are covered by the gravel and will reach the water when the cup sits in the water. Before this process I had my plants roots in only water to prepare it for the aquaponics process.
Step 8: Prepare the water by adding a conditioner to it. This gets rid of the chemicals in tap water, making it safer for the fish.
Step 9: Add your fish and place your cup in the tank. You can now watch the growth of the plant and your fish swim happily!