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Controlled Ecological
Mouse Support System
Hydroponics

How It Works:

CEMSS Hydro-Brita SystemBradley HydroponicsMaking use of the unique design of a common plastic drinking water filtration system, (left), the CEMSS hydroponic growing trays sit "inside" the nutrient solution tank, which is slightly wider all around and about twice as deep. Removing the filter holder leaves a depressed "socket" just the right size for a 1.5" PVC straight junction pipe. This had a 1/2 hole drilled in the side to accomodate a 90 degree plastic pipe fitting, which is connected to a small submersable pump. The pipe fitting is attached to a long PVC tube with hole drilled evenly along the sides, (above left), for a controlled release of solution, (Above right; from Bradley Hydroponics of Corvallis, Oregon).

An initial layer of course cinders is laid down to cover the solution delivery system, and to make it easier for the solution to drain back when the pump cycles off. The finer-grained Santiam Mars Soil Simulant fills out the tray. A sandwich of fine mesh screen between a pair of thin PVC pipe sections tops the unit off as an over-flow drain, to capture any stray chunks of the Soil Sim.

Hydro-Brita with Water
Nutrient Delivery		 Hydro-Brita with Bottom Layer
Bottom Layer		 Hydro-Brita with Santiam Mars II Soil Sim
Santiam Soil Sim		 Hydro-Brita Flooding
The Flooding Begins		 Hydro-Brita Overflowing
Floating Fines
Several times during the day, a digital timer turns on the pump, which pumps the nutrient solution up, into the growing tray from below. This is known as "sub-surface irrigation." The pump runs for about one minute, enough time to fill the spaces between the volcanic cinders with solution. An overflow drains off excess solution over the side to wash down accumulated mouse droppings that have fallen through the wire floor, into a 12 vdc grinder. This is then piped back into the storage tank via an anerobic bio-filter that converts ammonia into nitrogen compounds that the plants can use. After the time cycle, the timer turns off the pump, and the liquid drains back by gravity into the storage tank.

Dwarf Wheat at 4 WeeksEvery hour for five minutes, a small air circulation fan system will switch on as well, moving warm & moist oxygen-rich air from the growth chamber through the HVAC unit for cooling and dehumidification, then into the mouse hab, displacing the carbon dioxide, which is forced back in to the growth chamber by a pair of small 'button fans'. A sliding door separates the mouse hab from the growth chamber. The mouse will be allowed access at night, with a wire cage surrounding all but the fruiting heads of the crops, (right, at 4 weeks of growth) allowing the mouse to "harvest" its food while not killing the plants.

The MSOR/OPEN CEMSS Module uses hydroponics supplies from Bradley Hydroponics of Corvallis, Oregon.