Self-Sustaining Closed Crayfish Ecosystem

Crayfish Crew: Harris Pride, Tel Schieler, Samuel Tatum

BSEN 5510: Ecological Engineering

Abstract Design & Features Sustainability & Cost Analysis

To understand the interactions present within an ecosystem, a closed system was designed to A two-tank design was chosen in order to treat and recycle nutrients within the system. One tank We believe that our tank, although having a higher biomass and volume than the other designs,
support and sustain Procambarus clarkii and its related organisms. The objective of this experiment would serve as the crawfish dwelling tank and the other as a bioreactor tank. The bioreactor was is a more sustainable and cost-effective design. Our tank is very simple to build and is built with
was to produce a sealed tank that could recycle nutrients for a given crawfish mass for as long as designed to ensure good quality of water by using constant light and different plant species (local cheap materials. The most expensive aspect of the tank is the aquarium tank itself, and after that
possible. Attention in tank design for crawfish health was focused on physical structure (abiotic and non-local), algae and microbes from pond water to remove nitrogen and resupply oxygen. The the light is the second most expensive aspect. The total cost was almost half of the budget and it
conditions) and water quality (biotic factors). The abiotic conditions included tank divisions and hiding bioreactor contains native aquatic plants, soil, and pond water in order to drive some of the sustained two crayfish weighing in at 50.7 g at the close of our testing. If recreating this design,
places, water movement, and local pond sediment. Biotic factors were introduced in local and non- biological processes necessary for crawfish health. High plant biomass may be added to the the cost could be dropped lower by eliminating the expense of the caulk since it was not used in
bioreactor tank to increase oxygen production, but not increase ammonium production from excess the final design. Another thing to consider if building this design from scratch is that many of the
local plant inclusion, and from microbial life from pond water, plants, soil, and those present on P.
waste generation. Both tanks are under separate constant light sources, but the bioreactor tank light materials used were recycled or locally collected, so the cost of these materials would have to be
clarkii. The above conditions allowed for a crawfish mass of 50.7g to be supported for a 7-day closure
source is stronger. Water is drained from the surface of bioreactor tank back into the dwelling tank. accounted for. Overall this design could be built for approximately $50 (the budget) if you already
period.
The crawfish tank was designed to be two levels in order to keep the crawfish away from each have an aquarium tank and light.
other due to their aggressive nature. The dwelling tank was equipped with PVC for hiding. Divisions
Table 3. Materials used and their costs. NOTE: Caulk was not used
were introduced by adding two horizontal acrylic sheets so that the crawfish may be separated. This in the final design
also allowed the crawfish to elevate themselves above the water level, which was often observed. Materials/Biota Source Budget
Around 40g of hornwort was placed in the living tank for the crawfish to consume and for additional Timaik 80 GPH Pump Amazon $7.99
oxygen production. A pump connects the dwelling tank to the bioreactor in order to move the Sealproof Food Grade Vinyl Tubing Amazon $5.99
oxygen poor, ammonium rich water into the bioreactor tank. Aquarium Tank Provided ---
The two-tank system was considered the best option for supporting a healthy crawfish population Acrylic Sheet Recycled ---
by maintaining good water quality. Before the one-week closures there were 1-day and 2-day trials in 5-gal Plastic Bucket Recycled ---
order to ensure the microcosm is capable of sustaining the crawfish. These shorter trials allowed for PVC Piping Recycled ---
small modifications to be made to the system and for comparison of tank conditions over time. Rubber Stopper Recycled ---
Caulk Walmart $4.99
PVC Glue Recycled ---
Figure 1. Procambarus clarkii
Hot Glue Owned ---
Figure 2. Our ecosystem including crawfish
Plastic Screen (filter material) Recycled ---
tank and bioreactor
Flora & Fauna Collected Locally ---
Plant Light Provided ---
Objectives & Constraints Sand & Gravel
Litmus Paper
Provided
Amazon
---
$5.50
Figure 6. Weighing the mass of life
The objective of this experiment was to produce a sealed tank that could recycle nutrients for a Ammonia Test Kit Amazon $9.45
(crayfish) our system supported.
given P. clarkii mass during a minimum trial period of 7 days. Once the tank was closed, no materials DO Analyzer Provided ---
were allowed enter the tank for the remainder of the trial period. Procambarus clarkii ecology was Total Cost $28.93
considered in order to get a better understanding of the components necessary for the crawfish to
thrive. To achieve this, the design goal was to maximize crawfish health by creating conditions that Figure 4. Schematic of the two tank design Figure 5. Inflow (left) from the dwelling tank and filtered outflow
simulated their natural habitat. This was done by focusing on the physical structure (abiotic
conditions) and water quality (biotic factors) within a 10-gallon tank.
with the major design components (right) on opposite sides of bioreactor tank
Tank Design Results
The focus for abiotic conditions was to provide tank divisions and hiding places to simulate crawfish
tunnel and minimize stress. Water movement and local pond sediment were also incorporated to
mimic a stream habitat. Biotic factors were introduced in local and non-local plant inclusion, and from
microbial life from pond water, plants, soil, and those present on P. clarkii. Microbial and plant
System Performance
inclusions were designed to cycle nutrients within the system so that levels would remain normal. Table 1. Data collected before and after the 7-day closure
Careful consideration was given to dissolved oxygen and ammonium concentrations since these were
supposed to be the most likely forms of toxicity.
A budget of $50 was allowed for additional required items. Not included in the budget were most of
the abiotic factors such as the fish tank, lights, lid, and some the tank sediment and rocks. The
objective was to completely the project under budget by designing a tank and monitoring system as
efficiently as possible. Figure 7. During closure (7-day) P. clarkii feeds near the Figure 8. After 7-day closure, plants are alive and growing in
pump intake filter bioreactor and a snail is present

General Approach Table 2. Data collected before and after the 1-day closure and the 2-day closure

In order to design our tanks we needed to understand crayfish ecology and how they interact with
their environment. While researching we found that crayfish like to have a lot of roaming space like a
creek bed. We planned to design a tank with two levels and made the second level out of an acrylic
sheet. Another aspect of crayfish behavior that we needed to prepare for was their territorial nature.
In order to prevent the crayfish from fighting with one another we made small dwelling out of PVC for
the crayfish to hide in. One of the most important challenges we had for our design projects was to
ensure the water in the tank stayed at suitable levels in order to ensure our crayfish's survival during Figure 9. Dwelling tank after 7-days of closure with pump Figure 10. During closure (7-day) P. clarkii uses divider to
Another important aspect of a closed ecosystem, other than designing it, is the monitoring of the go above water level
the seven-day closure. We decided the best option was to make a two-tank system. This system and filter (right) and bioreactor outflow (top middle)
performance of the system. We completed this by taking measurements for pH, dissolved oxygen
required two separate tanks, one called that dwelling tank which the crawfish lived in and a bioreactor
(DO), ammonium (NH4+), and temperature before and after each closure. The values we collected
that contained a certain amount of plants under constant light. The idea for this system was the old
water would be pumped out of the dwelling tank and into the bioreactor. Once in the bioreactor the
water would gain oxygen and other nutrients due to the plants undergoing photosynthesis. Finally, the
were then compared to the 'ideal" conditions for crayfish survival. After analyzing the data most of
the water conditions stayed closed to ideal. The only measurement that consistently exceeded ideal
References
levels was the ammonium levels. Ammonium can be very harmful in aquatic environments, it attacks
water was pumped out of the bioreactor and back into the dwelling tank. We hoped that this system
the gills of aquatic animals and can lead to their death. However this rise in ammonium levels did “Choosing the Proper Flow Rate for Your Aquarium.” 2018. Live Aquaria. Doctors Foster and
would allow for nutrient cycling of the water and help to ensure the survival of our crayfish. Smith. https://www.liveaquaria.com/article/135/?aid=135.
not kill our crawfish on the 7-day closure. While the crawfish did survive the ideal level for
ammonium is zero. It would be a good idea to find ways of reducing the ammonium levels within the Croll, S. L. and Watts, S. A. (2004), The Effect of Temperature on Feed Consumption and Nutrient Absorption in Procambarus clarkii and
Procambarus zonangulus. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 35: 478-488. doi:10.1111/j.1749-7345.2004.tb00113.x
tank.
Gutiérrez-Yurrita, Pedro & Montes, Carlos. (1998). Environmental factors controlling crayfish Procambarus clarkii activity in the Donana National
Park freshwater marsh. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part C, Pharmacology, toxicology & endocrinology. 120. 713-721.

Huner, J. V. 2011. Procambarus clarkii (red swamp crayfish). CABI Invasive Species Compendium. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/67878

Wells, C. D. (2014, November 19). Mutualism of the Month: Crayfish and cleaner-worms. Retrieved December 2, 2018, from
http://feedthedatamonster.com/home/2014/11/19/mutualism-of-the-month-crayfish-and-cleaner-worms
Figure 3. Preliminary design of tank second level.