Two Areas Where They Nailed it Scientifically-
Two Areas for Improvement in the Scientific Process-
Questions Raised-
- Consistent and thorough data collection- This group’s most recent graphs show four measurements (pH, Ammonia, Nitrate, and Phosphate) taken fourteen times over about two months. Because of this, it appears that they were able to accurately track the levels of the various compounds in their tank.
- Hypothesizing reasons for fish deaths based on data- In several of their posts, this group used the nitrite data they had collected in conjunction with outside research to put forward reasons that their fish might be dying. They then used these same observations and research to put together a solution to counteract the problem. In one such case they improved filtration by adding a liner to reduce the nitrite concentration in the water.
Two Areas for Improvement in the Scientific Process-
- Explanation of Independent Variables- At one point, this group tried to measure how the percent of crude protein would affect water quality, but they never put forth a hypothesis as to how or why the percentage of crude protein in fish food would change the water quality. Because of the lack of an apparent hypothesis, their conclusions from that particular part of the experiment were vague and instead discussed other causes of changing water quality that they had not previously mentioned.
- Need to Address All parts of the System- Though this group did a very good job of checking on their fish and measuring water quality, they failed to consistently address a major part of the aquaponics system: the plants. When discussing water quality, they did not appear to consider the effect that dying plants could have on the reduced water quality, nor did they factor in the plant roots when discussing filtration.
Questions Raised-
- Can an aquaponics system function without a mechanical filter, using only plant roots as filtration for chemicals in the water?
- How does the protein content of the fish food affect the growth of plants, if at all?