IP Library Granted Patent US 12,290,033
Granted Patent B2
US 12,290,033 · App. 18/515,199 · Granted May 6, 2025

Aquaponics system with a terraced grow floor

Inventor: Nickolas S. Rodd (Deltona, FL)
Assignee: Underground Aquaponics PBC
A01G31/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,290,033
App. No.
18/515,199
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aquaponics system includes an aquaculture production system comprising multiple fish tanks and a grow floor configured as a terraced floor for growing plants and/or crops. The multiple fish tanks are configured and organized to rear fish from fry to adults. The grow floor has a continuous downward spiral toward one or more clean water tanks. The one or more clean water tanks receive water from the grow floor and deliver the water to the aquaculture production system by a pipe. The water circulates through the multiple fish tanks and a pump returns water to the grow floor. The aquaculture production system and the grow floor are arranged within an enclosed building with the aquaculture production system arranged below the grow floor such that an open space is created between the aquaculture production system and the grow floor.

Claims (34)

1. An aquaponics system comprising:

an aquaculture production system comprising multiple fish tanks and water collection tanks, wherein the water collection tanks include one or more clean water tanks, one or more rainwater collection and overflow tanks, and/or one or more sludge and pump tanks;

a grow floor having a terraced floor resembling a series of steps, wherein the grow floor has a continuous downward spiral toward a collection point, wherein the collection point receives water from the grow floor and delivers the water to the aquaculture production by a pipe; and

wherein the aquaculture production system and the grow floor are arranged at varying floor levels within an enclosed building, wherein the grow floor extends from a top of the enclosed building in a terraced fashion toward a bottom of the enclosed building.

2. The aquaponics system of claim 1 , wherein the enclosed building includes a roof structure and a bottom structure, wherein:

the bottom structure extends underground and is defined as having one or more walls; and

the roof structure includes multiple mast arms that are equally spaced, wherein the multiple mast arms extend vertically from the bottom structure before bending toward a center of the roof structure to connect with a circular beam.

3. The aquaponics system of claim 2 , wherein the roof structure includes glass panels and/or greenhouse covering panels, wherein the glass panels and/or greenhouse covering panels open at an angle to allow for air movement.

4. The aquaponics system of claim 1 , where an open space is created between the terraced grow floor and an area where the aquaculture production system is arranged, wherein an area of the open space is dependent on a starting height of the grow floor to the area of the aquaculture production system, wherein the open space is used for vertical farming, mushroom production, growing microgreens, plant nursery, office space, dry storage, cold storage, packaging and distribution, manufacturing, living area, sleeping area, bathroom(s), kitchen, mechanical room, and/or electrical room.

5. The aquaponics system of claim 1 , wherein the aquaculture production system is arranged on a ground floor level.

6. The aquaponics system of claim 1 , wherein the grow floor includes grow beds wherein the grow floor and grow beds together have a depth to accommodate grow medium and plants.

7. The aquaponics system of claim 6 , wherein the water is moved through the grow beds in a downward spiral following a pitch of the grow floor starting at a top of the grow floor.

8. The aquaponics system of claim 1 , wherein the aquaculture production system includes the one or more clean water tanks at the collection point, one or more fish breeding tanks, one or more juvenile fish tanks, and one or more adult fish tanks, wherein the water is distributed using pipes as such:

the one or more fish breeding tanks receive the water from the one or more clean water tanks, the one or more juvenile fish tanks receive the water from the one or more fish breeding tanks, and the one or more adult fish tanks receive the water from the one or more juvenile fish tanks.

9. The aquaponics system of claim 8 , wherein the water from the one or more adult fish tanks is distributed to one or more pump tanks which include a pump and where the water is supplemented with growth medium allowing for bacteria production and separation of solids, wherein the pump delivers the water to a top of the grow floor to circulate through one or more grow beds arranged on the grow floor, and wherein the water circulates into the one or more clean water tanks at a center of the grow floor, wherein,

the one or more clean water tanks circulate the water into the one or more fish breeding tanks through a pipe capturing water from a top of the one or more clean water tanks and depositing the water at a bottom of the one or more fish breeding tanks.

10. The aquaponics system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more rainwater collection and overflow tanks receive collected rainwater and water brought to the aquaponics system, wherein the collected rainwater and water from the one or more rainwater collection and overflow tanks is delivered to the one or more adult fish tanks.

11. An aquaponics system comprising:

an aquaculture production system comprising multiple fish tanks for rearing fish;

a grow floor configured as a terraced floor, resembling a series of steps, for growing plants and/or crops, wherein the grow floor has a continuous downward spiral toward one or more clean water tanks, wherein the one or more clean water tanks receive water from the grow floor and deliver the water to the aquaculture production system by a pipe, wherein the water circulates through the multiple fish tanks and a pump returns the water to the grow floor; and

wherein the aquaculture production system and the grow floor are arranged within an enclosed building with the aquaculture production system arranged below the grow floor such that an open space is created between the aquaculture production system and the grow floor, and wherein the terraced grow floor extends from a top of the enclosed building in a terraced fashion toward a bottom of the enclosed building.

12. The aquaponics system of claim 11 , wherein the enclosed building includes a roof structure and a bottom structure, wherein:

the bottom structure extends underground and is defined as having one or more walls; and

the roof structure includes multiple mast arms that are equally spaced, wherein the multiple mast arms extend vertically from the bottom structure before bending toward a center of the roof structure to connect with a circular beam.

13. The aquaponics system of claim 12 , wherein the roof structure includes glass panels and greenhouse covering panels, wherein the glass panels open at an angle to allow for air movement.

14. The aquaponics system of claim 11 , wherein an area of the open space is dependent on a starting height of the grow floor to a level where the aquaculture production system is arranged, wherein the open space is arranged into one or more floors dependent on the starting height of the grow floor, wherein the open space is used for vertical farming, mushroom production, growing microgreens, plant nursery, office space, dry storage, cold storage, packaging and distribution, manufacturing, living area, sleeping area, bathroom(s), kitchen, mechanical room, and/or electrical room.

15. The aquaponics system of claim 11 , wherein the aquaculture production system is arranged on a ground floor level, wherein the ground floor level is at a bottom most level of the enclosed building.

16. The aquaponics system of claim 11 , wherein the grow floor includes grow beds such that the grow floor and grow beds together have a depth to accommodate grow medium and plants.

17. The aquaponics system of claim 16 , wherein the water is moved through the grow beds in a downward spiral following a pitch of the grow floor starting at a top of the grow floor.

18. The aquaponics system of claim 11 , wherein the aquaculture production system includes the one or more clean water tanks, one or more fish breeding tanks, one or more juvenile fish tanks, and one or more adult fish tanks, wherein the water is distributed using pipes as such:

the one or more fish breeding tanks receive the water from the one or more clean water tanks, the one or more juvenile fish tanks receive the water from the one or more fish breeding tanks, and the one or more adult fish tanks receive the water from the one or more juvenile fish tanks.

19. The aquaponics system of claim 18 , wherein the water from the one or more adult fish tanks is distributed to one or more pump tanks which include a pump and where the water is supplemented with growth medium allowing for production of bacteria and separation of solids, wherein the pump delivers the water to a top of the grow floor to circulate through one or more grow beds arranged on the grow floor, and wherein the water circulates into the one or more clean water tanks at a center of the grow floor, wherein,

the one or more clean water tanks circulate the water into the one or more fish breeding tanks through a pipe capturing the water from a top of the one ore more clean water tanks and depositing the water at a bottom of the one or more fish breeding tanks.

20. The aquaponics system of claim 18 , wherein one or more rainwater collection and overflow tanks receive collected rainwater and water brought to the aquaponics system, wherein the collected rainwater and water from the one or more rainwater collection and overflow tanks is delivered to the one or more adult fish tanks.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2023
From: RODD, NICKOLAS S.
To: UNDERGROUND AQUAPONICS PBC
Reel/Frame 065702/0344 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63427320 · Nov 22, 2022
Related Publication 20240164351A1 · May 23, 2024
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