Improving efficiency of a microbial bioreactor for aquaponics

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NutraPonics Canada Corporation (NCC) operates a self-contained aquaponics system whereby water continuously circulates through a fish tank, a microbial bioreactor, and plant-growth beds. This integrated system enables plants to grow twice as fast relative to traditional farming. The microbial bioreactor produces an abundance of plant growth-promoting nutrients by decomposing fish waste. Principally, nitrifying microorganisms grown as biofilms on circulating plastic carriers within the bioreactor convert ammonia excreted by the fish into nitrate, which the plants readily absorb. To maximize and optimize the full potential of microorgansims within the aquaponics system, this proposal aims to: 1) identify microorganisms comprising the carrier biofilms in the bioreactor, those associated with fish gill tissues, and those associated with plant roots; 2) determine the rates of nitrogen conversions by the carrier biofilm microbial communities under variations of ammonium concentration, pH, and oxygen level; and 3) determine the greenhouse gas production and consumption potential (i.e. carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane) of microbial communities within the bioreactor. This knowledge will inform the design, future improvements, and marketing of the company's aquaponics system. The data will allow for optimization of nitrogen use efficiency and other useful functions of microorganisms throughout the system, which will save the company time and resources as they upgrade and scale operations.