A fish-plant co-culture system

Abstract

A fish-vegetable co-culture system includes an aquaculture unit, a filtration unit, a planting unit, a purification unit, and a return unit connected in sequence to form a closed-loop water circulation system. In the closed-loop water circulation system, the water levels of the aquaculture unit, filtration unit, planting unit, and purification unit are arranged from high to low, and the water flow in the aquaculture unit, filtration unit, planting unit, and purification unit all relies on the water level difference to achieve natural gravity flow. The wastewater from the aquaculture pond flows naturally to the filtration unit and planting unit through gravity flow. The water-sealed siphon drainage system can maintain a stable water level in the planting trough without additional pumps. A water pump is only installed in the clean water return link. Compared with existing systems that rely on multiple pumps, energy consumption is reduced and operating costs are decreased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of agricultural technology, and in particular relates to an aquaponics system. Background Technology

[0002] Aquaponics is an innovative agricultural model that cleverly combines aquaculture with vegetable cultivation, achieving resource recycling and harmonious ecological coexistence. In an aquaponics system, fish waste and uneaten food are converted into nutrients needed by the plants, which then absorb these nutrients through their roots, while simultaneously purifying the water and providing a healthier living environment for the fish. This system not only improves resource utilization efficiency but also reduces environmental pollution, demonstrating significant ecological benefits.

[0003] However, while existing aquaponics systems achieve resource recycling, they also face some challenges. In particular, to maintain water circulation and nutrient transport, the systems typically rely on numerous power devices such as pumps. These power devices not only consume a large amount of energy but also increase the system's complexity and maintenance costs. Therefore, how to reduce energy consumption and improve resource utilization in aquaponics systems has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, this application provides an aquaponics system that optimizes the structural design, reduces the use of power devices such as pumps, and utilizes the principle of natural gravity to achieve water circulation, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving resource utilization.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution: a fish-vegetable co-culture system, comprising multiple aquaculture ponds, each aquaculture pond having a filtration unit at its outlet, the filtration unit including a vertical flow sedimentator and a microfilter, each aquaculture pond having a conical sedimentation hopper at its bottom, the inlet of the vertical flow sedimentator being connected to a diversion pipe, and the outlet of the microfilter being connected to a planting unit via a water supply pipe; the planting unit being connected to a biological treatment tank via a first return water pipe, the outlet of the biological treatment tank being connected to a clear water tank, the clear water tank being connected to a diversion tower via a second return water pipe, the second return water pipe being equipped with a water pump; the diversion tower being connected to a diversion pipe, the diversion pipe having four parallel liquid outlets, each of the four liquid outlets being respectively connected to different aquaculture ponds; The system also includes a water quality visualization monitoring structure, which consists of modified sealing rubber components and observation components. The modified sealing rubber components are made by blending and modifying the original sealing rubber components of the pipe fittings, valves, and interfaces of the system. While retaining the original sealing function, specific chemical response components for different water quality indicators are embedded to provide specific color responses to nutrient concentrations, hard water ion content, and anion characteristics in the water. The observation components are dedicated observation structures adapted to the pipe fitting structure, specifically including: an embedded transparent observation section for rubber components at straight pipe interfaces and a detachable transparent observation window for rubber components inside irregularly shaped pipe fittings such as valves. Through optimized observation angles and structural adaptation design, the color changes of the modified sealing rubber components inside the pipe fittings can be clearly observed.

[0006] Preferably, the aquaculture pond is equipped with a vertical flow sedimentation device, and its inlet end is connected to the central drain outlet of the conical sedimentation hopper at the bottom of the aquaculture pond through a pipe. By utilizing the vertical flow of water, the suspended particles in the wastewater gradually settle to the conical sedimentation hopper at the bottom of the aquaculture pond during the rising process. The aquaculture pond is also equipped with a Cornell fish pond sewage discharge system.

[0007] Preferably, the outlet end of the aquaculture pond is connected to a microfilter via a pipe. The aquaculture ponds are grouped in pairs, and each group of aquaculture ponds is connected to the same microfilter via parallel pipes. At the same time, the outlet end of each vertical flow sedimentation tank is also connected to the microfilter.

[0008] Preferably, the planting unit includes two sets of planting troughs, each set of planting troughs having multiple planting troughs arranged side by side, and the water supply pipe adopts a water seal siphon drainage system structure; the system naturally forms siphon power through the water level difference in the planting trough, and can achieve automatic drainage and water circulation without the need for an additional pump; Water filtered by the microfilter flows into the planting trough through the water supply pipe. When the water level rises to the set height, the bell jar assembly seals the air, creating negative pressure and triggering a siphon effect. The water flows through the adjustable drain pipe, L-shaped bend, and flow control valve to the return channel. When the water level drops to the critical height where the siphon fails, air enters the air and water inlet groove at the bottom of the bell jar, breaking the negative pressure and stopping the siphon. The microfilter continues to supply water, causing the water level to rise again. This cycle repeats to stabilize the water level. This precisely maintains the water level in the planting trough within the range suitable for plant growth, preventing root hypoxia or flooding. It also promotes full contact between the water flow and plant roots, improving nutrient absorption efficiency. Furthermore, it requires no additional power unit, reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs. The two sets of planting troughs consist of a water-based medium planting trough and a floating plate planting trough.

[0009] Preferably, the medium planting trough is filled with a solid medium, such as soil, perlite, vermiculite, etc.; the floating plate planting trough is provided with an aquaculture area, in which a certain depth of aquaculture water is formed, which can be used to raise fish; the top of the floating plate planting trough is provided with a planting float, which floats on the liquid surface of the aquaculture area, and has multiple rows of planting holes, in which plants are planted.

[0010] Preferably, the modified sealing rubber component is identical in specifications to the original sealing rubber component and can be directly replaced without altering the original pipe fittings and interface structure. The observation component adopts a targeted structural design: 1. At straight pipe interfaces: an embedded high-transmittance acrylic transparent observation section is used. Both ends of this observation section have flange interfaces matching the pipe, allowing direct connection to the pipes on both sides of the interface where the modified sealing rubber component is located. The observation section is at least 5cm long, and its inner wall is flush with the rubber component, ensuring unobstructed visibility and allowing for complete observation of the rubber component's entire appearance; 2. Inside valves and other irregularly shaped pipe fittings: a bolt-fastened, detachable transparent observation window is used. An observation port is opened on the shell at the corresponding installation position of the rubber component, covering the projection range of the rubber component. The observation window is made of tempered glass with sealing gaskets at the edges. It is fastened to the pipe fitting shell with bolts, ensuring system sealing while allowing for quick disassembly for observation or periodic cleaning of scale on the inner wall of the observation window; 3. At the pipe joint: A strip-shaped observation groove is opened on the outside of the joint shell, with a transparent PC plate embedded and sealed inside. The observation groove is precisely aligned with the O-ring sealing groove inside the joint, enabling direct observation of the internal O-ring. To address the potential for microbial growth caused by the transparent observation component, this design employs three measures: First, the inner wall of the observation component is designed with a smooth, non-protruding surface, reducing microbial attachment sites; second, the system features a comprehensive multi-stage filtration system (vertical flow sedimentation + microfiltration) and a biochemical degradation system, effectively controlling nutrient concentration in the water and inhibiting microbial growth at its source; third, a monthly wiping maintenance requirement is specified to promptly remove any small amounts of attached scale and microbial film. Furthermore, the pipes containing the observation component are all flowing water with no stagnant dead zones, further reducing the risk of microbial growth and preventing adverse effects on the microbial balance within the system.

[0011] The technical effects of this application are as follows: 1. By using gravity flow to achieve the natural flow of wastewater from the aquaculture pond to the filtration and planting units, the water seal siphon drainage system can maintain a stable water level in the planting trough without the need for additional pumps. A water pump is only installed in the clean water return process. Compared with existing systems that rely on multiple pumps, energy consumption is reduced and operating costs are lower.

[0012] 2. The system employs a multi-stage purification process consisting of "vertical flow sedimentation (primary solid-liquid separation) + microfiltration (removal of fine particles) + biological degradation in the biological treatment tank (conversion of ammonia nitrogen / nitrite) + aeration and oxygenation in the clear water tank (increasing dissolved oxygen)". Combined with the swirling flow formed by the tangential water intake in the aquaculture pond to enhance the sedimentation effect, it can effectively remove suspended particles, uneaten feed, feces, and harmful substances such as ammonia nitrogen and nitrite from the water. It can effectively maintain the dissolved oxygen level of the water returning to the aquaculture pond, meeting the optimal water quality requirements for fish survival and plant growth.

[0013] 3. The planting unit is divided into a substrate planting trough and a floating planting trough. The substrate planting trough is suitable for various vegetables such as leafy vegetables, root vegetables, and fruit vegetables, while the floating planting trough can accommodate both aquatic vegetable / ornamental plant cultivation and pollution-tolerant fish farming, achieving "dual use of water and multiple outputs from one system." The system's space utilization rate is significantly improved compared to traditional single-species farming or planting models, ensuring the annual output of vegetables and fish farming per unit area, while reducing the market risk of single-category farming and lowering the cost of combined farming.

[0014] 4. Cornell's fishpond drainage system uses siphon power to discharge sewage at regular intervals, preventing sediment buildup and decomposition that pollutes the water; the water-sealed siphon drainage system precisely controls the water level in the planting troughs, preventing plant roots from lacking oxygen or being submerged; the diversion tower uses tangential water intake to evenly distribute water to each aquaculture pond, maintaining a stable water flow rate within the system, reducing equipment failure rates, extending maintenance cycles, and lowering maintenance costs.

[0015] 5. The system forms a closed-loop water cycle, improving water resource utilization. There is no need to discharge aquaculture wastewater, reducing water pollution. Fish feces and uneaten feed are transformed into nutrients needed for plant growth after multi-stage treatment, effectively replacing the use of chemical fertilizers and reducing agricultural non-point source pollution. No fish medicines are needed throughout the process, relying solely on water self-purification and biological purification. The agricultural products produced meet green food standards, which is in line with the development trend of ecological agriculture.

[0016] 6. The system structure can be flexibly adjusted according to the size of the site. The number of breeding ponds and the length of planting troughs can be increased or decreased as needed. It is suitable for small scenarios such as family courtyards and balconies, as well as large-scale applications in facility agriculture parks and ecological farms. It also supports flexible replacement of planting and breeding varieties, and has a wide range of application scenarios and promotional value.

[0017] 7. Based on the principle of specific chemical response, the modified sealing rubber component can specifically capture changes in key indicators such as nutrients, hard water ions, and anion characteristics in water bodies. Real-time monitoring, achieved through intuitive color changes, is "without the need for specialized instruments or sampling tests." The monitoring accuracy matches the system's water quality control requirements, solving the problems of cumbersome and delayed water quality monitoring in traditional systems. Furthermore, the monitoring function is achieved by modifying existing seals, eliminating the need for additional independent equipment, simplifying the system structure, and reducing equipment costs. Color changes also allow for rapid identification of water quality anomalies, providing clear guidance for maintenance operations and avoiding blind maintenance. The replacement of the modified sealing rubber component is synchronized with the maintenance cycle of the original seals, eliminating the need for additional maintenance procedures, further reducing maintenance difficulty and costs. Early warning of water quality anomalies can reduce the risk of fish mortality and poor plant growth, improving system operational stability and extending the overall maintenance cycle. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this application.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the floating planting trough.

[0020] The main technical features in the figure are labeled as follows: 1 Aquaculture pond, 2 Conical sedimentation hopper, 3 Vertical flow sedimentator, 5 Microfilter, 6 Water supply pipe, 8 Planting unit, 81 Medium planting trough, 82 Floating plate planting trough, 83 Solid medium, 84 Aquaculture area, 85 Planting floating plate, 86 Planting hole, 9 First return water pipe, 10 Biological tank, 11 Clear water tank, 12 Second return water pipe, 13 Water pump, 14 Diversion tower, 15 Diversion pipe, 16 Return water channel. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present application will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Example

[0022] like Figure 1-2As shown, an aquaponics system includes four circular aquaculture ponds (1) arranged side-by-side. Each pond has a filter unit at its outlet, which is connected to a planting unit (8) via a water supply pipe (6). The planting unit (8) is connected to a biological treatment pond (10) via a first return water pipe (9). The outlet of the biological treatment pond (10) is connected to a clear water pond (11). The clear water pond (11) is connected to a diversion tower (14) via a second return water pipe (12). The diversion tower (14) is installed centrally on one side of each of the four aquaculture ponds (1). A water pump (13), preferably an energy-saving submersible pump, is installed on the second return water pipe (12). Installed inside the clear water tank 11 near the outlet, the power is adapted according to the total water volume of the system. The diversion tower 14 is connected to the diversion pipe 15, which has four liquid outlets in parallel, and the four liquid outlets are respectively connected to different aquaculture tanks 1. The fluid in the diversion pipe 15 flows tangentially into the aquaculture tank 1. The four liquid outlets are all located along the tangential direction of the inner wall of the aquaculture tank 1 and at the upper 1 / 3 height of the aquaculture tank 1. After the water enters the aquaculture tank 1, it forms a clockwise or counterclockwise rotating flow. The centrifugal force causes the solid particles in the water that have not settled completely to gather towards the center of the tank and finally settle into the conical sedimentation hopper 2.

[0023] Specifically, the filtration unit includes a vertical flow sedimentator 3 and a microfilter 5. The aquaculture ponds 1 are arranged in pairs, and each pair is connected to the same microfilter 5 through parallel pipes, forming two independent filtration units. The microfilter 5 is preferably a rotary drum microfilter. Each aquaculture pond 1 is equipped with a dual-channel water inlet connected to the corresponding microfilter 5: the first channel is a conical sedimentation hopper 2 with a bottom center drain outlet, which is connected to the vertical flow sedimentator 3 through a pipe. The vertical flow sedimentator 3 is installed on the lower outer side of the aquaculture pond 1, below the bottom of the pond, and uses gravity to allow sewage to flow in naturally. The outlet pipe of the vertical flow sedimentator 3 flows into the inlet pipe of the corresponding microfilter 5. The second channel is an independent branch pipe set at the upper 1 / 3 height of each aquaculture pond 1, which is directly connected to the corresponding microfilter 5. A flow control valve is connected in series on the branch pipe, which can flexibly adjust the diversion flow according to the turbidity of the water in the aquaculture pond. The vertical flow sedimentator 3 utilizes the vertical flow of water to allow suspended particles in the wastewater to gradually settle to the conical sedimentation hopper 2 at the bottom of the aquaculture pond 1 during the upward movement, completing primary physical filtration. The upper branch pipe of the aquaculture pond can directly introduce the middle and upper layer of suspended water that has not been completely settled into the microfilter for fine filtration, preventing the suspended particles from diffusing again and improving the overall solid-liquid separation efficiency. The dual-path mode of vertical flow sedimentation diversion and direct branch pipe diversion achieves efficient solid-liquid separation and stable operation. It can also ensure continuous water intake to the microfilter by opening the branch pipe when the vertical flow sedimentator is under maintenance, improving the continuity of system operation. The two independent filtration units facilitate individual maintenance and repair, further ensuring filtration efficiency.

[0024] Furthermore, the aquaculture pond 1 is equipped with a sewage discharge system, which is a Cornell fish pond sewage discharge system. This system works in conjunction with the filtration unit and consists of a central sewage outlet at the bottom of the pond, a siphon pipe, control components, an anti-vortex plate, and a sludge collection chamber. The sludge collection chamber is located at the junction of the bottom outlet of the conical sedimentation hopper 2 and the inlet of the siphon pipe, and is installed close to the inner side of the bottom of the aquaculture pond 1 to temporarily collect sediment in the sedimentation hopper. The central sewage outlet at the bottom of the pond is connected to the bottom of the conical sedimentation hopper 2. The anti-vortex plate is located above the sewage outlet to prevent water vortices from causing incomplete sewage discharge. One end of the siphon pipe is connected to the sewage outlet via a flange, and the other end extends to the inlet of the vertical flow sedimentator 3, relying on the water level difference between the aquaculture pond 1 and the vertical flow sedimentator 3 to form a stable siphon force. The system can achieve sewage discharge opening and closing through two control schemes.

[0025] Furthermore, the control component can be a manual control valve, connected in series in the middle of the siphon pipe, used only for manually opening the initial state of the siphon during system debugging, or for emergency shutdown under abnormal conditions; no continuous intervention is required during operation. When the sediment in the conical sedimentation hopper 2 accumulates to the set amount, it overcomes the initial resistance by relying on the weight of the sediment and the thrust of the water flow, and the siphon water flow will automatically carry the sediment out continuously; during the sediment discharge process, the water level in the aquaculture pond 1 slowly decreases. When the water level drops to the critical height of siphon failure, air enters the siphon pipe, and the siphon effect is temporarily interrupted; subsequently, the water level in the aquaculture pond 1 gradually rises under the circulation of the system, and when the siphon formation conditions are met again, the siphon automatically restarts, realizing intermittent opening and closing of sewage discharge entirely by its own siphon effect. The advantages of this solution are simplified structure, no energy consumption, and suitability for small-scale aquaculture scenarios. The control component is also an electromagnetic control valve, connected in series in the middle of the siphon pipe and linked to a timer controller. The timer controller can preset the sewage discharge interval and the duration of each discharge. During operation, the timer controller automatically triggers the electromagnetic control valve to open, and the siphon power immediately drives the sediment out. After the preset sewage discharge duration is reached, the electromagnetic valve automatically closes, blocking the siphon water flow. The advantage of this solution is that the timing and duration of sewage discharge are precisely controllable, making it suitable for large-scale scenarios with high aquaculture density and large sediment production, without the need for manual monitoring and control. Both solutions can prevent pollutants from accumulating and decomposing for a long time, affecting water quality and further improving the pretreatment effect of the filtration unit. One can be selected based on the actual aquaculture scale and operating conditions.

[0026] Furthermore, the outlet of the microfilter 5 is connected to the planting unit 8 via a water supply pipe 6; the planting unit 8 includes two sets of planting troughs, each set having multiple planting troughs arranged side by side. The water supply pipe 6 adopts a water seal siphon drainage system structure, which specifically consists of an adjustable bell jar assembly, a drainage pipe assembly, and auxiliary control components. The adjustable bell jar assembly is located at one end of the planting trough near the aquaculture pond, and includes an upper and lower bell jar that are interlocked. The top of the upper bell jar is closed, and the lower bell jar has several air and water inlet grooves longitudinally. The lower bell jar is connected to a threaded drain pipe joint fixed at the center of the bottom of the planting trough via a threaded connection. The drainage pipe assembly includes an adjustable drainage pipe, an L... The system includes an L-shaped adapter elbow, a drainage flow control valve, and an up / down tee. The adjustable drain pipe has a flared top to improve water intake efficiency, and its upper inner side is machined with internal threads to fit and tighten with the lower external threads of the drain pipe threaded connector fixed at the center of the bottom of the planting trough. A nitrile rubber sealing gasket is fitted at the threaded connection to ensure sealing performance. The adjustable drain pipe is vertically installed below the bottom of the planting trough, and its lower end turns horizontally via an L-shaped adapter elbow. The L-shaped adapter elbow is installed at the bottom of the outer side of the planting trough to change the water flow direction from vertical to horizontal. The drainage flow control valve is connected in series on the horizontal drain pipe section. The upper part of the tee connects to the vent at the end of the drain pipe, and the lower part connects to the outlet at the end of the drain pipe. Auxiliary control components include an overflow port on the upper water inlet side of the planting trough and a cleaning and drain outlet at the bottom corner. The overflow port is connected to an overflow pipe to prevent water from overflowing due to excessive water level, and the cleaning and drain outlet is equipped with a valve for regular cleaning of sediment in the trough. This structure utilizes the natural siphon force generated by the water level difference within the planting trough, achieving automatic drainage and water circulation without the need for an additional pump. It can precisely maintain the water level within the planting trough within a suitable range, preventing plant roots from lacking oxygen or being submerged, while also promoting full contact between the water flow and plant roots, thus improving nutrient absorption efficiency.

[0027] Furthermore, the two sets of planting troughs are divided into a medium planting trough 81 and a floating plate planting trough 82. The medium planting trough 81 is filled with a solid medium 83 with a thickness of 0.2-0.4m. The solid medium 83 can be a mixture of soil, perlite, vermiculite, etc., used to provide nutrients and water needed for vegetable growth and support the root system of vegetables. It can be used to grow leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and romaine lettuce, root vegetables such as radishes and carrots, or some fruit vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers. The floating plate planting trough 82 has an aquaculture area 84, which forms a certain depth of aquaculture water. It can be used to raise fish with strong pollution tolerance such as carp, grass carp, and tilapia, with a stocking density of 5-8 fish / m³. The top of the floating plate planting trough 82 is equipped with a planting floating plate 85 with a thickness of 50-80mm. The planting floating plate 85 floats on the aquaculture area 84. On the surface of the liquid, there are multiple rows of planting holes 86, with a hole diameter of 50-80mm and a hole spacing of 150-200mm. Plants are planted in the planting holes 86, such as aquatic vegetables like water celery, water spinach, and lotus root, or ornamental plants like lucky bamboo and spider plants. In other embodiments, the planting float 85 can also be a planting basket structure filled with sponge to improve the stability of the plant.

[0028] Furthermore, the effluent pipes of the planting troughs are connected in parallel and lead to the return water channel 16. The return water channel 16 is laid below the planting unit 8 and extends along the arrangement direction of the planting troughs. Its end connects to the biological treatment tank 10 and the clear water tank 11 in sequence. The biological treatment tank 10 and the clear water tank 11 are arranged side by side and are both located at the downstream end of the return water channel 16. The biological treatment tank 10 is filled with biological packing material 17, which is evenly filled inside the biological treatment tank 10. The filling height is 2 / 3 of the volume of the biological treatment tank. Such as elastic three-dimensional packing material, suspended ball packing material, etc. The surface of the packing material is covered with functional microorganisms such as nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria. Harmful substances such as ammonia nitrogen and nitrite in the wastewater are transformed under the metabolic action of microorganisms. The pollutants are converted into nitrates, which not only remove pollutants from the water but also provide a high-quality nitrogen source for plant growth. The hydraulic retention time of the biological treatment tank 10 is controlled at 2-4 hours to ensure that pollutants are fully degraded. The volume of the clear water tank 11 is 1 / 5-1 / 3 of the total volume of the aquaculture tank 1. It is equipped with an overflow outlet and a sewage outlet. The overflow outlet is located at the top of the clear water tank 11 near the tank wall, and the sewage outlet is located at the center of the bottom of the clear water tank 11. It is used to regulate the water level and discharge a small amount of sediment. An aeration device 18 is added to the clear water tank 11. The aeration device 18 is evenly distributed at the bottom of the clear water tank 11 and can be a microporous aerator to maintain the dissolved oxygen content of the water at 5-8 mg / L, ensuring that the water quality returned to the aquaculture tank 1 meets the survival needs of the fish.

[0029] The specific implementation process of this embodiment is as follows: Aquaculture stage: Carp, grass carp and other fish are raised in four parallel aquaculture ponds 1. Appropriate amounts of feed are added according to the stocking density. Pollutants such as fish excrement and uneaten feed produced by fish metabolism are dispersed in the water or settle to the bottom of the pond.

[0030] Pre-filtration and sewage discharge stage: The water in the aquaculture pond 1 flows to the vertical flow sedimentator 3 under its own gravity. The vertical flow sedimentator 3 uses the principle of vertical water flow to make the suspended particles in the water gradually settle to the conical sedimentation hopper 2 at the bottom of the aquaculture pond 1 for physical filtration. At the same time, the Cornell fish pond sewage discharge system opens the control valve at regular intervals to discharge the sediment in the conical sedimentation hopper 2 to the vertical flow sedimentator 3 through siphon power.

[0031] Fine filtration stage: The wastewater treated by the vertical flow sedimentation unit 3 flows into the microfilter 5 through the pipeline. Each of the two sets of aquaculture ponds 1 corresponds to one set of microfilter 5. The microfilter 5 uses the rotation of the drum to intercept and filter the fine particles, residual organic matter and other impurities in the wastewater to ensure that the water quality meets the inlet water requirements of the planting unit 8.

[0032] Planting and purification stage: Nutrient-rich water treated by microfilter 5 continuously flows into media planting trough 81 and floating plate planting trough 82 through water supply pipe 6, and the water level in the planting trough gradually rises; when the water level reaches the siphon trigger height, the bell jar component of the water seal siphon drainage system seals the air to form a negative pressure, starts the siphon power, and the water flow is automatically sucked into the drainage pipe component; the solid media 83 in the media planting trough 81 adsorbs nutrients in the wastewater to support the growth of leafy vegetables, root vegetables and other plants, and the plant roots simultaneously adsorb and degrade some pollutants; pollution-tolerant fish are raised in the breeding area 84 of the floating plate planting trough 82, and aquatic vegetables and ornamental plants on the planting floating plate 85 absorb nutrients from the water through their roots, further purifying the water quality; as drainage proceeds, the water level in the planting trough gradually decreases. When it drops to the critical height of siphon failure, air enters the bell jar component, the siphon effect terminates, and microfilter 5 continues to supply water to raise the water level, and the cycle repeats to achieve automatic drainage and water level stability.

[0033] Biochemical purification stage: The effluent from the plantation unit 8 flows into the return water channel 16 through the first return water pipe 9, and then enters the biochemical tank 10. The pollutants such as ammonia nitrogen and nitrite remaining in the wastewater undergo nitrification and denitrification reactions under the action of microorganisms on the surface of the biological packing material 17, and are converted into harmless nitrates, thus achieving deep purification of water quality.

[0034] Clear water storage and return stage: The clear water treated by the biological treatment tank 10 flows into the clear water tank 11. The aeration device 18 in the clear water tank 11 maintains the dissolved oxygen in the water and regulates the water quality through the overflow port and the sewage outlet. When the breeding tank 1 needs to be replenished or replaced, the water pump 13 on the second return water pipeline 12 is started to pump the clear water in the clear water tank 11 to the distribution tower 14. The distribution tower 14 distributes the clear water evenly to the four breeding tanks 1 through the four tangential liquid outlets of the distribution pipe 15 to form a closed loop circulation. Example

[0035] This embodiment adds a water quality visualization monitoring structure to the aquaponics system described in Embodiment 1. The main structure, connection relationships and core operating parameters of the rest of the system are consistent with those of Embodiment 1.

[0036] Specifically, the water quality visualization monitoring structure includes modified sealing rubber components and adaptable observation components. The modified sealing rubber components are made by blending and modifying the original sealing rubber components of the system's pipe fittings, valves, and interfaces. They are completely consistent with the original sealing rubber components in terms of specifications and can be directly replaced and installed. They are embedded with specific chemical response components for different water quality indicators. The adaptable observation components are special observation structures designed according to the differences in pipe fitting types. Specifically, they include three types: embedded transparent observation sections, strip-shaped observation port structures, and detachable transparent observation windows. They are adapted to different pipe fitting scenarios such as straight pipe flange interfaces, pipe joints, and valves, and the observation range of each completely covers the corresponding modified sealing rubber components. By adopting the collaborative design principle of integrating monitoring functions with modified sealing rubber components and precisely adapting observation components to the pipe structure, on the one hand, there is no need to add new independent water quality monitoring equipment. The monitoring function can be realized by relying on the original sealing structure, simplifying the system structure design and reducing equipment purchase and installation costs. On the other hand, the observation components can eliminate the obstruction of the field of view by the pipe structure, capture the specific color response of the modified sealing rubber components with changes in water quality in real time, and accurately determine the water quality status in reverse. This avoids the lag of traditional sampling and testing, provides timely guidance for system maintenance, and effectively improves the stability of system operation.

[0037] Specifically, the monitoring unit in the aquaculture pond outlet pipe and planting unit inlet area includes a nutrient-sensitive modified sealing rubber component and an embedded high-transparency acrylic transparent observation section. This monitoring unit is a specialized monitoring structure adapted to the key node of "aquaculture wastewater discharge - planting purification water intake". The nutrient-sensitive modified sealing rubber component uses nitrile rubber as the base material and embeds an azo colorimetric reagent. The proportion of the response component added does not exceed 5% of the base material mass. It is installed at the pipe flange gasket and sealing gasket in this area. The embedded high-transparency acrylic transparent observation section has flange interfaces at both ends that match the pipe. It is connected in series to the pipes on both sides of the flange where the modified rubber component is located. The length of the observation section is not less than 5cm, the inner diameter is consistent with the pipe, and the inner wall is smooth without protrusions. Because the nutrients produced by the decomposition of uneaten food and feces in the water can undergo a specific chemical reaction with the azo colorimetric reagent inside the rubber components, the rubber components produce a gradient color change of "pale yellow (normal) - yellow (warning) - dark yellow / orange (abnormal)". At the same time, the inner wall of the high-transmittance acrylic observation section has no protrusions, which can avoid scale buildup and obstruction of vision. The observation sections on both sides form a multi-angle observation field of view, which can completely capture the color change, thereby realizing the visualization and accurate determination of nutrient concentration. The technical effect of achieving the monitoring accuracy to meet the system control requirements (ammonia nitrogen concentration identification error ≤0.1mg / L) is achieved. Moreover, the coaxial design of the observation components and the pipeline does not change the shape of the water flow channel, there are no dead zones in the water flow, and it will not affect the water circulation or the growth of fish and plants. The rubber components are fully compatible with the original sealing structure, which can ensure the sealing pressure requirements of 0.1-0.3MPa of the system.

[0038] Specifically, the monitoring unit in the area of ​​the clear water pool return pipeline and the outlet of the diversion tower includes a hard water-sensitive modified sealing rubber component and a strip-shaped observation port structure. This monitoring unit is a special monitoring structure adapted to the key node of "purified clear water return - aquaculture pond water replenishment". The hard water-sensitive modified rubber component uses silicone rubber as the base material and embeds calcium and magnesium ion chelating colorimetric agent. The proportion of the response component added does not exceed 5% of the base material mass. It is installed at the sealing ring and sealing O-ring of the pipe joint in this area. The strip-shaped observation port structure consists of 2-3 evenly distributed strip-shaped observation ports on the outside of the joint shell corresponding to the sealing position of the internal O-ring. A transparent PC plate is embedded in the observation port. An annular sealing gasket is set between the PC plate and the joint shell and fixed by tightening nuts. When the calcium and magnesium ion content in the water changes, it will chelate with the calcium and magnesium ion chelating colorimetric agent in the rubber component, causing the rubber component to exhibit a color state of "transparent milky white (normal) - milky white turbidity (warning) - white flocculent precipitate adhesion (abnormal)". At the same time, multiple sets of evenly distributed strip observation ports can form cross-view angles, avoiding the obstruction of the observation field by the pipe joint structure, clearly capturing the color change of the internal O-ring, and thus accurately determining the water hardness. This achieves the technical effect of adapting to the 5-35℃ water temperature environment of the clear water pool return area. Moreover, the silicone rubber substrate has high stability, low leaching of response components and no toxicity, and will not cause pollution to the water body. The PC board sealing design ensures the sealing performance of the pipe joint while ensuring the clarity of observation, avoiding the risk of water leakage. The multi-observation port design improves the comprehensiveness of observation and reduces monitoring errors caused by blind spots.

[0039] Specifically, the monitoring unit in the inlet and return water pipe interface area of ​​the biochemical pool includes anion-sensitive modified sealing rubber components and a detachable transparent observation window. This monitoring unit is a specialized monitoring structure adapted to the key nodes of "planting purification effluent - biochemical degradation influent". The anion-sensitive modified rubber components are based on fluororubber and embedded with pH-sensitive dyes. The proportion of the response component added does not exceed 5% of the base material mass. It is installed at the valve seals and pipe interface gaskets in this area. The detachable transparent observation window is a bolt-fastened structure. The end cap of the valve near the sealing rubber component is replaced with a transparent tempered glass end cap. A double-layer sealing gasket is set between the end cap and the valve body. The tempered glass surface is sprayed with an anti-fog coating. When the pH value of the water changes or when negative water characteristics appear, the pH-sensitive dye inside the rubber parts will generate a gradient color response of "light blue (normal) - light blue (warning) - pink / light brown (abnormal)". At the same time, the tempered glass end cap can be tightened with the original valve bolts to directly observe the condition of the rubber parts inside the valve. The anti-fog coating can prevent fogging caused by changes in water temperature from obstructing the view. The detachable design facilitates cleaning and maintenance of the inner wall of the observation window. It achieves the technical effect of fluororubber substrate being resistant to the complex water quality environment of the biochemical tank and having a long service life. The double-layer sealing gasket design further enhances the valve sealing performance and avoids water leakage problems caused by adding observation structures. The anti-fog coating ensures the clarity of observation under different working conditions. The detachable design reduces the difficulty of maintenance and can be cleaned without disassembling the entire valve.

[0040] Furthermore, the inner walls of the observation components are all made using a smooth, non-protruding processing technology. Since the smooth, non-protruding inner walls reduce the sites for microbial attachment, and relying on the system's own multi-stage filtration and biochemical degradation system, the concentration of nutrients in the water can be continuously reduced, inhibiting the growth of photosynthetic microorganisms from the source. The dynamic water flow can continuously flush the inner walls of the observation components, and with regular wiping and maintenance, a small amount of attached scale and microbial film can be removed in time. This achieves the technical effect of effectively avoiding the problem of microbial growth caused by the light transmittance of transparent observation components, ensuring the balance of the microbial community in the system, and eliminating the need for additional antibacterial equipment, reducing maintenance costs, ensuring the long-term stability of the light transmittance of the observation components, and ensuring that the monitoring accuracy is not affected.

[0041] The specific implementation process is as follows: 1. System Setup Phase: After the system structure of Example 1 is installed, first remove the original sealing rubber parts in each key area, and clean the impurities and scale from the flange interface, joint sealing groove, and valve sealing cavity in sequence. Then, embed the three types of modified sealing rubber parts—nutrient-sensitive, hard water-sensitive, and anion water-sensitive—into the corresponding sealing positions to ensure a smooth fit without any offset gaps. Subsequently, install the appropriate observation components for each area. Specifically, for the aquaculture pond outlet and planting unit inlet areas, embed a high-transmittance acrylic transparent observation section in series. For the clear water pool return and diversion tower outlet areas, open a strip observation port on the joint shell and fix a transparent PC board. For the biochemical pool inlet and return channel interface areas, replace the valve end cap with a tempered glass observation window. After tightening all the connecting parts, check the sealing performance to ensure there is no leakage. This stage ensures the fit between the modified rubber component and the sealing surface by cleaning impurities from the sealing surface, preventing gaps that could lead to sealing failure. The precise positioning and installation of the observation components ensures that the observation range completely covers the rubber component. This achieves the effect of not needing to modify the original system's pipe and fitting layout during the setup process, making installation convenient, while ensuring that the sealing performance is consistent with the original system, laying the foundation for subsequent monitoring work.

[0042] 2. System Operation Phase: Start the system according to the operation in Example 1 to ensure normal water circulation. After the system stabilizes, observe the color changes of the corresponding modified sealing rubber parts in real time using the observation components in each area: When the rubber part at the outlet pipe of the aquaculture pond turns yellow, reduce the amount of feed and strengthen the inspection of the sewage system; when it turns dark yellow or orange, immediately clean up the uneaten feed and sediment and check the filtration system; when the rubber part at the return pipe of the clear water pond appears milky white and turbid, add a softener to the clear water pond; when white flocculent sediment appears, replace part of the clear water; when the rubber part at the inlet of the biological treatment pond turns light blue, adjust the pH value of the biological treatment pond to a suitable range of 6.5-8.5; when it turns pink or light brown, check the plant root rot and clean it in time. This stage leverages the stable water circulation and full contact between the water and the modified rubber components to ensure timely interaction between the responsive components and water quality indicators. By using color response rules based on specific chemical reaction gradient changes, it accurately corresponds to different states of water quality indicators, achieving real-time visual monitoring of water quality indicators. No professional instruments or sampling tests are required, and maintenance measures are highly targeted, avoiding blind maintenance and reducing losses such as fish deaths and poor plant growth caused by abnormal water quality.

[0043] 3. Maintenance and Replacement Phase: Monthly, gently wipe the transparent parts of each observation component with a soft cloth dampened with clean water to remove surface scale and microbial film. Simultaneously check the sealing condition of the observation components; if leakage is found, tighten bolts or replace sealing gaskets immediately. All modified sealing rubber parts should be replaced after 6 months of continuous use, in conjunction with routine system maintenance, regardless of color condition. If irreversible color changes occur in the rubber parts during use, or if the warning or abnormal color persists for 72 hours without recovery, immediately stop the system and replace the corresponding modified sealing rubber parts. The replacement steps are the same as the rubber part installation steps during the setup phase. This phase ensures the light transmittance of the observation components through regular wiping, avoiding impact on monitoring accuracy. Regular replacement of rubber parts compensates for the consumption of response components, ensuring monitoring sensitivity. Immediate replacement in case of irreversible color changes ensures monitoring accuracy. This achieves simple and convenient maintenance operations, requiring no professional technical skills. Furthermore, rubber part replacement is synchronized with routine maintenance, without adding extra maintenance procedures, ensuring long-term monitoring accuracy and system sealing performance, improving system operational stability, and extending the overall maintenance cycle.

[0044] The above description is only a specific embodiment of this application, but the structural features of this application are not limited thereto. This application can be used on similar products. Any changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of this application are covered by the patent scope of this application.

Claims

1. A fish-in-vegetable system, characterized in that, The system includes a breeding unit, a filtration unit, a planting unit, a purification unit, and a return unit that are connected in sequence to form a closed-loop water circulation system. In the closed-loop water circulation system, the water levels of the breeding unit, the filtration unit, the planting unit, and the purification unit are arranged from high to low, and the water flow of the breeding unit, the filtration unit, the planting unit, and the purification unit all rely on the water level difference to achieve natural gravity flow. A breeding unit includes at least two breeding ponds (1) arranged side by side. The breeding unit is located at the highest position of the system. Each breeding pond (1) is provided with a conical sedimentation hopper (2) at the bottom. The conical sedimentation hopper (2) is provided with a central drain outlet at the bottom. The filter unit is located at the outlet of the aquaculture unit, and the overall installation height of the filter unit is lower than the bottom height of the aquaculture pond (1); its inlet is connected to the central drain of the conical sedimentation hopper (2) through a pipe. The planting unit includes a planting unit (8) and a water supply pipe (6). The installation height of the planting unit is lower than the liquid outlet height of the filter unit. One end of the water supply pipe (6) is connected to the liquid outlet of the microfilter (5), and the other end is connected to the planting unit (8). By means of the natural water level difference between the filter unit and the planting unit, the filtered water flows into the planting unit (8) by gravity. The water supply pipe (6) is equipped with a water seal siphon drainage system. The purification unit is installed at a height lower than the water outlet of the planting unit. It is connected to the planting unit (8). Based on the natural water level difference between the planting unit and the purification unit, the treated water in the planting unit (8) flows into the biological tank (10) by gravity. The biological tank (10) is filled with biological filler (17). The clear water tank (11) is equipped with an aeration device (18). The return unit includes a diversion tower (14), a diversion pipe (15), and a second return water pipe (12). One end of the second return water pipe (12) is connected to the clear water tank (11), and the other end is connected to the diversion tower (14). A water pump (13) is provided on the second return water pipe (12) to pump the clear water in the clear water tank (11) to the diversion tower (14) to overcome the water level difference. One end of the diversion pipe (15) is connected to the diversion tower (14), and the other end is provided with multiple liquid outlets. Each liquid outlet is connected to a different aquaculture tank (1) to complete the closed-loop water circulation.

2. The fish-in-vegetable co-culture system according to claim 1, wherein, The filtration unit includes a vertical flow sedimentator (3) and a microfilter (5). The vertical flow sedimentator (3) is installed on the lower side of the aquaculture pond (1), and its inlet end is connected to the central drain of the conical sedimentation hopper (2) through a pipe. The inlet end of the microfilter (5) is connected to the liquid outlet of the vertical flow sedimentator (3) and the upper part of the aquaculture pond (1). Each aquaculture pond (1) is connected to the microfilter (5) through a first inlet channel and a second inlet channel. With the help of the natural water level difference between the aquaculture pond (1) and the filtration unit, the water in the aquaculture pond (1) can flow into the filtration unit by gravity without additional power. The first inlet channel is the central drain of the conical sedimentation hopper (2) connected to the vertical flow sedimentator (3) through a pipe. The liquid outlet of the vertical flow sedimentator (3) is then connected to the microfilter (5). The second inlet channel is the upper part of the aquaculture pond (1) directly connected to the microfilter (5) through a pipe.

3. The fish-invertebrate symbiotic system according to claim 2, wherein The aquaculture pond (1) is equipped with a Cornell fish pond drainage system, which includes a central drain outlet at the bottom of the aquaculture pond, a siphon pipe, a control component for controlling the water output of the siphon pipe, an anti-vortex plate, and a sludge collection chamber. The sludge collection chamber is located between the bottom of the conical sedimentation hopper (2) and the central drain outlet at the bottom of the pond. The anti-vortex plate is located above the central drain outlet at the bottom of the pond. One end of the siphon pipe is connected to the central drain outlet at the bottom of the pond, and the other end is connected to the vertical flow sedimentator (3).

4. The fish-invertebrate symbiotic system according to claim 2, wherein The control component is a manual control valve and / or an electromagnetic control valve equipped with a timing controller.

5. The fish-in-vegetable co-culture system according to claim 1, wherein, The water-sealed siphon drainage system consists of an adjustable bell jar assembly, a drainage pipe assembly, and auxiliary control components. It achieves automatic drainage only through the siphon power generated by the water level change in the planting unit (8), and can maintain the water level stability in the planting unit (8) without the need for an additional pump.

6. The fish-in-vegetable co-culture system according to claim 1, wherein, The purification unit includes a biochemical tank (10) and a clear water tank (11) connected in sequence. The biochemical tank (10) is connected to the planting unit (8) through a first return water pipe (9). Based on the natural water level difference between the planting unit and the purification unit, the treated water in the planting unit (8) flows into the biochemical tank (10) by gravity. The biochemical tank (10) is filled with biological filler (17), and the clear water tank (11) is equipped with an aeration device (18).

7. The fish-in-vegetable co-culture system according to claim 1, wherein, The planting unit (8) includes a set of medium planting troughs (81) and a set of floating plate planting troughs (82), with multiple planting troughs arranged side by side in each set.

8. The fish-in-vegetable co-culture system according to claim 5, wherein, The planting unit (8) includes a set of medium planting troughs (81), and multiple medium planting troughs are arranged side by side. The medium planting troughs (81) are filled with solid medium (83), and the solid medium (83) is one or more of soil, perlite, and vermiculite.

9. The fish-in-vegetable co-culture system according to claim 5, wherein, The planting unit (8) includes a set of floating plate planting troughs (82), multiple floating plate planting troughs are arranged in parallel, the floating plate planting trough (82) is provided with a breeding area (84), and a planting floating plate (85) is provided on the top; the planting floating plate (85) floats on the liquid surface of the breeding area (84), and multiple rows of planting holes (86) are opened on it.

10. The fish-in-vegetable co-culture system according to claim 1, wherein, Each outlet of the diversion pipe (15) is arranged along the tangent direction of the inner wall of the aquaculture tank (1) and is located in the upper part of the aquaculture tank (1) near the liquid surface.

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