Skip to content
Menu
Highlander Magazine
  • Environment
  • Adventures
    • Highlander Guru
    • Gear
    • Tips and Tricks
    • How-To
  • Locality
    • Aggie Photos
  • Media
    • Video
    • Podcast
  • About Us
    • Staff
      • Contact
      • Ad Space
Highlander Magazine

Aquaponics

Posted on March 19, 2019

Farming for the future is happening at Utah State University. USU has its own fully functioning aquaponics system–a system capable of growing a variety of crops more sustainably than other growing methods. The system is ran by five main components: the system includes a sump tank, fish tank, swirl filter, grow beds and LED grow lights. These elements combine together to raise fish and grow plants at the same time.

The sump tank houses the water that is pumped into the fish tank and used throughout the entire system. The fish live is a large sized tank so they can grow along with the plants. The swirl filter is the middle component that takes the solids from the fish tanks and sends the nutrient filled water to the plants. The grow beds are where the plants grow and the bacteria and nutrients feed them. Finally the LED grow lights provide special lighting that help the plants thrive.

With help from students, Gary Stewardson, professor of technology and engineering, built the self circulating system. Stewardson learned how to run the system from youtube and just reading books. The system is fairly simple and run itself well enough that most people can build one themselves.They created a version that would sustain itself and only need to be monitored by him and the other students.

“We have to constantly monitor the quality of the water to keep the system in balance.  We monitor everyday even Christmas,” Stewardson said. The system at USU used koi fish. It takes the waste from the fish and uses to as nutrients for the plants. The fish are fed with an automatic feeder and the plants are watered by a flood and drain system. The lights run on timers, so Stewardson gets to watch the growth occur day by day. For Stewardson he is particularly proud of the fish in the system.

“If you are worried about spilling water or killing fish you shouldn’t be doing this. I’ve been doing this two years and haven’t lost one fish. I’m quite proud of that fact,” Stewardson said.

To always keep the system in check many students take turns recording the ph levels and status of the fish. Over the summer Jessie Oliver, technology and engineering education major, took care of the entire system all by himself. He said this was a great learning opportunity for him. “It was a cool learning experience. I got to make the fish feeder and I realized how diligent you have to be. If you mess up it can be hard to fix it. We used litmus paper to test the ph and that was inaccurate. It took me the entire summer to get the ph back to a safe level. We didn’t lose any fish, but the plants got a little messed up,” Oliver said.

Currently the grow beds are growing tomatoes, peppers, chard and brussel sprouts. The technology can be used to grow a wide variety of plants.

Due to the system’s ability to control the temperature and oxygen in the water, the plants can really grow well. According to professor Stewardson it is a “efficient way to create a protein in someone’s diet.”

The system is much more sustainable than traditional farming as well. An aquaponics systems uses only about 10% of the water that would be used in a traditional field farming. This technology can be used in places where there is not a lot of water or poor soil and it will still yield a large amount of produce. You could feed a family or provide enough for one person.

Emma Larson, technology and engineering major said “It’s hard because it’s a little expensive to get started, but I think it will be alot more accessible for individuals. You could have a small system with goldfish and grow lettuce year round in the future.”

The possibilities are endless when it comes to implementing aquaponics. You can grow tomatoes in the winter or have kale year round. Oliver believes that there could be several uses for aquaponics in the future. One of his ideas included restaurants using the system to have quick access to really gourmet or specialized ingredients for dishes. He also thinks that it would be useful in highly populated urban areas or really disaster prone areas. The biggest place he believe aquaponics will be used is in the classroom.

“It’s the right blend of technology and good old fashioned hard work that a lot of kids will learn where plants and food actually comes from,” Oliver said.

This is one of Stewardsons main goals for this technology is to have it be accessible for kids and teachers in schools. The aquaponics system covers most of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and will keep students interest. Stewardson also hopes that aquaponics will bring more females into the field. Emma Larson feels that she provides a unique aspect to the field.

“I think sometimes I bring a different perspective to look at different ways to solve problems. But it’s fun to be surrounded by other people who are passionate about it no matter who they are,” Larson said.

With the many benefits of aquaponics it is possible that there will be more systems put in place in the future. Stewardson and his students will paving the way for increased learning and education about aquaponics to youth for a more sustainable future.

 

—shelby.black@aggiemail.usu.edu

@shelbsterblack

 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Instagram

*photos pre-covid ** this is the opinion of the au *photos pre-covid
** this is the opinion of the author 

Aggie Blue Bikes is a student student-run bike shop that is located right by the Field House. This organization is funded by $2.78 of student fees. Recently, the student board has been discussing a change in student fees. The $2.78 fee pays for 24- hour rentals, open access bicycle tool boards, free and cheap bike parts, community events, and educational classes. 

If you want to help this program, students are hosting a protest on the Quad at 1 p.m. on February 18th. They ask that you wear a mask, ride a bike (if you have one) and bring an attitude for peaceful change.

If you are unable to attend send emails to james.morales@usu.edu, noelle.cockett@usu.edu, president.ususa@usu.edu, and linda.zimmerman@usu.edu. In your email include what Aggie Blue Bikes means to you, and how valuable this program is to students. Please send in your email before 4 p.m. today. 

@usuaggiebluebikes 
@utahstatesman 
@usuaggielife 

Read the article on our website
“We had been looking for housing all summer, we “We had been looking for housing all summer, we spent a lot of money on application fees and still no house. I knew Nick's dad had a wall tent. I called up Nick and said 'dude, does your dad have that wall tent? We should live in that, in logan canyon.’”

Read our newest article at the link in our bio.
Happy last week of school!! We want to celebrate w Happy last week of school!! We want to celebrate with the newest issue of the highlander!! This issue is about survival. We have stories covering ultra light backpacking to mental health to climbing accidents! 

Link is in the bio! 

So go give it a read. And leave us a comment here and share it if you enjoyed it!

happy holidays!
“Over the past 5 years Steelheading has changed “Over the past 5 years Steelheading has changed a bunch, lots more people than there used to be and less fish”

Learn more about Steelhead conservation in @ethanmuhlestein’s article.
“On Thursday last week, the Bureau of Land Manag “On Thursday last week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rushed to issue a lease to allow drilling within the soon designated wilderness area. The project will allow extensive construction in the usually quiet Labyrinth wilderness, including road building, well construction, pipelines, infrastructure, and building a 10-acre processing facility on nearby Utah School Trust Lands. This drilling would be for helium, which has similar impacts of oil and gas drilling.

We are writing this Op-Ed to ask you to please reach out and make a comment on or before Wednesday, November 4th. You can make a comment using a premade message, or by writing your own, at  https://p2a.co/V5DN0kO. This process will take less than five minutes, and we ask you to please take the time to preserve this magical canyon.”

@summervaughn_ 
@merwappett
“Women have really amazing and really powerful b “Women have really amazing and really powerful bodies! For some women getting into the backcountry is a way to celebrate that and if you are new to the backcountry don’t let some of the more delicate points of life as a woman prevent you from getting outside.” - @ksburns05 

Read more tips about women in the backcountry on our website. 

Shoutout to all the lovely women who volunteered their photos.

@summervaughn_
“At the end of the day, that moment of realizati “At the end of the day, that moment of realization before swipe, click, and camera is necessary. Why are you actually outside? Why do you actively participate in these sports? Why does the photograph never look as good as the moment? If no answer comes to mind the phone should maybe stay in the car. Take every time spent in the great outdoors with these thoughts of some yogi, “view every moment as if you are seeing it in the crystal clear reflection of water: brand new, fresh, and awe-inspiring.’”

Read more about social media and the outdoor on our website
“When life gives you online school, move to a be “When life gives you online school, move to a beautiful place.”

Read @sareelane’s article about USU students living in a dreamy Hawaiian town on our website.
When life gives you a rock, climb it. When life gi When life gives you a rock, climb it. When life gives you an ocean, slackline over it.

The world is a beautiful place and is there for you to enjoy it. Now is the time to go outside and make the most of it all! Take a break this week to go outside and do something you love.

Follow us for more pictures of all things outdoors.
Follow on Instagram

Highlander Podcast

©2021 Highlander Magazine | Powered by WordPress and Superb Themes!