(digital view)
We have constructed a new chinampa! We are calling it the Algae Attack Chinampa (AAC)! This chinampa will include all of the things we have researched, studied and discovered. Aside from having the fastest absorbing plant, (which has remained as corn), the chinampa we will incorporate daphnia, solar aeration, and mycofiltration (as we previously used in Bio-Filter Island). We will use all of these to the advantage of the new chinampa!
COMPONENTS OF THE AAC:
DAPHNIA: Daphnia are a genus of small planktonic crustaceans. We incorporate them in our chinampa because they eat algae at a microscopic scale.
SOLAR AERATION: Using a solar panel, we use solar aeration to aerate and oxygenate the water.
MYCOFILTRATION: Using fungi root networks, we can filter water with them as well. The fungi grows in cultured wood chips and water is pumped at a controlled rate to it.
AQUAPONICS:
We wanted to test more plants to see if any plants would absorb added nutrients faster. We created greenhouses for the plants to grow under by getting tanks, putting in soil, and planting different seeds. We then covered the top of the tanks with plastic wrap. First, we grew and began to test squash. After a week, we discovered that the squash was not absorbing anything. Although it sprouted quickly and was a strong plant, it could not absorb nitrogen and phosphate fast enough. Next we grew dill and sunflowers. Both plants were not able to grow tall under the conditions of the mini greenhouses. We also grew sweet potatoes, which were recommended to us. They took about a month to grow above the soil, and they are currently still growing gradually. We have also recently began to test sunflower! So far, corn is our champ!
COMPONENTS OF THE AAC:
DAPHNIA: Daphnia are a genus of small planktonic crustaceans. We incorporate them in our chinampa because they eat algae at a microscopic scale.
SOLAR AERATION: Using a solar panel, we use solar aeration to aerate and oxygenate the water.
MYCOFILTRATION: Using fungi root networks, we can filter water with them as well. The fungi grows in cultured wood chips and water is pumped at a controlled rate to it.
AQUAPONICS:
We wanted to test more plants to see if any plants would absorb added nutrients faster. We created greenhouses for the plants to grow under by getting tanks, putting in soil, and planting different seeds. We then covered the top of the tanks with plastic wrap. First, we grew and began to test squash. After a week, we discovered that the squash was not absorbing anything. Although it sprouted quickly and was a strong plant, it could not absorb nitrogen and phosphate fast enough. Next we grew dill and sunflowers. Both plants were not able to grow tall under the conditions of the mini greenhouses. We also grew sweet potatoes, which were recommended to us. They took about a month to grow above the soil, and they are currently still growing gradually. We have also recently began to test sunflower! So far, corn is our champ!
We've also created a google sketch up design of the chinampa during the early stages of construction! These gave us a basic outline of how the chinampa will come out once we approach building process!
Adding in mycofiltration, plants, and solar aeration.
Building and gluing process:
Updates on the AAC
We have recently reconstructed the corn areas of our Algae Attack Chinampa. We have done this because the small plant pots were unsuitable for larger plants. We replaced it with water jugs filled with clay rocks, creating for more growing space for the plants. We have also included sweet potato and sunflower on our chinampa to accompany the corn.
We have also had to move pools, because of an unfortunate leak in the original pool. We created a new homemade filter, as you can see in the images below.
Adding kale and basil to the Algae Attack Chinampa!
Pool Testing
Day 1 - Day 31
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Day 32 - 47
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We have are testing the pool holding the Algae Attack Chinampa, to see the effect of our four algae reducing components.
As you can see from the graph above and the testing data pictures, the nitrogen and phosphate levels have decreased significantly. They have, since then, remained mostly constant without any sudden changes in the levels.
As you can see from the graph above and the testing data pictures, the nitrogen and phosphate levels have decreased significantly. They have, since then, remained mostly constant without any sudden changes in the levels.
