NO MATTER HOW DIFFERENT WE ARE, WE ALL NEED
What is aquaponics?
Aquaponics basically recirculates the wastes of aquatic (fish) life with plant life in order to create a sustainable, symbiotic system. There are typically two sections - an aquaculture section for the fish and an hydroponics section for the plants. The waste waters from the aquaculture section are pumped into the hydroponics section, where the plants convert the toxic ammonia from the fish waste into nitrates by a process called nitrification. These nitrates are both beneficial and essential for the plants' growth. As a final step, the now-clean, oxygenated water is returned to the fish. The foundations in Tharaka shown below will house tilapia as its fish of choice. Although not the prettiest project thus far, these foundations were laid with the aid of Mrs. Gradel and Mrs. Gharibvand while they were visiting last summer. They will provide a viable source of food for the district, along with rich, edible vegetation.
Students working on Aquaponic Model Designs
Examples of working models being tested for various plant growth, water quality, and fish quality.
Future site in Kenya of Aquaponic system to be built by Broken Arrow students.
In Tharaka Kenya building the Aquaponic System-Summer 2013Beginning the project in Tharaka, Kenya. Covering the fish pond and starting to build the adjacent greenhouse to store the grow beds for the aquaponic system.
Building the greenhouse with help from some native Kenyans.
Our group in front of the greenhouse, fish pond, and aquaponic system with a plague from the orphanage sponsors thanking us for raising the funds and building the system to provide fish and vegetables for the orphans.
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After building the grow beds students line and fill the beds with crushed lava rock to grow the plants.
Connecting the piping and solar pumps to circulate the water through the system.
Stocking the fish pond with 1,500 Tilapia fingerlings.
Group with plague for the well we raised the money to drill to provide clean water to the people in the Tharaka district.
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