BioSphere IV Introduction

So far a closed eco-system can be developed without any animals other than roaches and small pill bugs with no problem.  The process of establishing  CO2, O2, water and other cycles can be achieved within about 6 months for a given container (sphere, cube, if you like).  Fish and shell fish have been growing for years in these Biosphere.  Below is a crab living for two years in a biosphere.  Wires are handing around the sides.

 

So far I have not grown food for human consumption when using this technology.  This Biosphere is designed for providing a closed living environment for something that runs around on four legs and farms food.

 

Goals

• Solve automated water irrigation problems with soil (make sure all fresh was is not drained back to the ocean)


• Sustain the environment for a mouse to live in a hermetically closed biosphere for a year or so.  (Most of the biospheres run for about a year or 2 until I take it apart to make changes for the next one)


• Create a process to control plant overgrowth and succession.


• Create processes for growing food for the mouse in the form of foraging.  (It's very difficult to go into the biosphere without opening up.  It's best to do automated practices)


• Create an environment that is in line with a mousses' habits (digging, eating, chewing and etc....)

Overview

Tanks

There are three 40 gallon breading fish tanks used.  One is used for the marine layer.  The other two are used for farming and the mouse.  The tanks are connected with a 4 inch pipe (not made of plastic) where are can move from tank to tank.  There is a door between the two farming tanks.  The mouse is moved into one farming tank while plants have a chance to grow after being eating.  This is something like crop rotations for mice.

 

Pictured below is the beginning stages of cultivating the marine layer in air.  Before it is put into a biosphere, it needs to cycle and get stable in the open air.  Once it's stable, then it is checked for CO2 sinking capacity.  There are sand crabs reproducing in the tank over the past 6 months.

This tank is covered with glass, but is still open to the air on the left.  Two air bubblers move water through a class cylinder by bubbling.  This is how air is moved back into the marine layer from farming tanks.

 

Pictured below is the start of one of the two farming tanks.  This one just got a glass wall glued to the top.  It will be stood up on end and filled with soil for plants.  Pipes go in and out at the top.

 

 

Plants

All plants will be perennial vegetables.  Two on the list so far is sorrel and strawberries.  There are other perennial vegetables what will be planted.  Right now strawberries and sorrel is being testing for growing and eating.

 

Another part of the experiment - can these two tanks produce enough food for a mouse.  The tanks are roughly 4 square feet of growing area.  This is tested before closing the system.

 

Air Movement

A professional cylinder/piston air pump is used to move air from the farming tanks to the marine.  The air coming from the marine moves into the farming tanks when CO2 has been removed and water is added to the air.

 

Mouse Farming

Because of the habits of mice, the farming tank will to be mouse proofed.  This means water is available for it to drink, food needs to be foraged.  Mice like to dig, chew and make holes.  Wires and sensitive tubing will have to be protected.

 

Two tanks are used for farming.  While one is being eaten by the mouse, the other is recovering.  A door is placed between each tank.  The mouse is allowed to enter each one on a controlled intervals.

 

Before the whole system is closed, a mouse will be living in one or both tanks while still in open air.  It's easier to change processes and equipment when it's open. In general , once it is going, there is really no problem closing it up.  All of the plants, fish, bacteria and the like have already made a home and is willing to stay.  

 

It is not possible to put together all of the equipment in a few weeks and expect it to work.  It takes about 6 months to a year to establish a biosphere.

 

Water 

Water is collected in a beaker for the mouse to drink.  The rest is overflowed into the soil.    For more information on water, click 

http://celss.net/tiki-view_blog_post.php?postId=3960

Below is a general schematic of the system.