Bio-Engineering Work

Sustainable Farming

Disclaimer:
No editing of genome through artificial means (including, but not limited to CRISPR, Genome Editing, or bad husbandry practices) has occurred in the laboratory, or shall occur in this laboratory. Specimens are treated with love and respect, and provided realistic, or better than realistic conditions. We do not encourage poor breeding practices, taking on more specimens than may be maintained, and we do try to follow best practices in the industry.
This is not a side hobby, and is not lucrative. No money has been contributed from outside sources including the United States government. All specimens may be left with little to no notice for a period of a week plus due to Lead Scientist's need to find funding for the lab. Tanks are designed for sustainability. Specimens do follow circle of life procedures.

Stretch Goals

Determine hardiness of biological specimens during and after Asteroid collision with the planet.

Current Specimens Include:

12 B. Splendens
1 Blue Astrocidea Crayfish
2 Felis Catus
Lemna minor
8 Poecilia reticulata
1 Red Astrocidea Crayfish
1 Vanilla Astrocidea Crayfish

Specimen List not completed, all species not listed.

Image Credit:
Hannah Carter, starring Meowth (Felis Catus), Aars (B. Splendens), Seraphim (B. Splendens), Esthermite (Emotional Support Thermite, also B. Splendens), and multiple Corydoras aeneus.

Image Credit: Hannah Carter, 2026

Felinus Domesticus Managerious with her community workers.

Rescue B. Splendens

Image Credit: Hannah Carter

Sprouts 2/06/2026

Image Credit: Hannah Carter

Sprouts 2/10/2026

Image Credit: Hannah Carter

Sprouts 2/12/2026

Image Credit: Hannah Carter

Astrocidea Crayfish Data

2/9/2026:
White A. Crayfish has molted. Claws appear translucent. Appearance prior to molting included darker band above abdomen. Added Cuttlefish bone and extra clay pot to tank.

2/10/2026:
Added new specimen to tank. Red A. Crayfish. Added 8 strands of Dracaena to tank, unplanted.

2/11/2026:
Procured Lemna minor for specimens. Added 8 Poecilia reticulata to the tank as feeders for the ecosystem. Added 3 Algae wafers, 1 shake of Goldfish Food, 1 shake of Betta Buffet flakes, and 4 frozen cucumber slices. Water has cleared with addition of clay media in Aquatic Raised Planters. Performed water testing with appropriate waste bucket.

2/13/2026:
Performed water changes. Noted 1 Poecilia reticulata with broken back syndrome that has not been noted prior. Shall determine if more water changes necessary or if Poecilia reticulata arrived in said condition.

2/14/2026:
Added 2 Rubus Idaeus specimens to tank to test for Valentine's day. A. Crayfish do not show a particular affinity towards unblanched Rubus Idaeus.

2/16/2026:
Added 42 grams of cucumber to tank. Performed water change of 90 fl. oz. Tank still cycling. No more Poecilia reticulata with broken spine syndrome noticed. Looking for signs of ammonia stress, while Poecilia Reticulata are near top of tank in huddled fashion, none are gasping for air. Fish appear active. Concerns of ammonia poisoning while tank is cycling is low. Aeration is provided through pump system.

Crayfish Molt

Water Testing

Viasat the Crayfish

New Tank

Aquatic Raised Planters

2/10/2026:

Materials:

Garden Soil
Clay Potting Media
River Rock
Charcoal
Latuca Sativa (Buttercrunch Lettuce) seeds
4 Cups
1 Established Fish Tank

Creation:
Cups are filled with various amounts of Clay Potting Media, River Rock, Charcoal, and Garden Soil. On two cups, three slits were made in bottom of each cup. 3 seeds were placed in soil per seed packet instructions. These cups were gently placed on the back wall of the fish tank slightly in the water. The remaining two cups were watered with pour off from fish tanks. No chemicals are used to balance water condition in fish tanks. Fish are not treated and are not currently being treated with any water conditioner, level conditioner, or chemical treatments. None are currently needed.

2/11/2026:
Added 2 more planters with a different variation of Latuca Sativa (Parris Island Lettuce).

Image Credit: Hannah Carter, 2026

Aquatic Pipe System

Materials List:

PVC Joint
2-1/8 IN Quick Adjust Tube Cutter Husky
2 Rolls Blue Monster PTFE Thread Tape

2/10/2026:
Procured PVC pipes and Flex Seal to create self sustaining garden system. New water is added as biological specimen water changes are completed. Goal is to create aquatic based system for self sufficiency.

2/12/2026:
Procured more PVC for water outlet. Setting prototype with clean water. Prototype has pathos cuttings to set up. Working model will have actual edible plants. Pea and lettuce shoots are set to be added in 2 to 3 weeks.

2/13/2026:
Procured adjustable tube cutter for project. Some leaking observed overnight, leaking ceased immediately when pipe was corrected by pulling pipes toward joint. I do not know if Blue Monster PTFE Thread Tape is safe for consumption, I do not plan to eat or use it to seal tanks that should be food safe.

B. B. Splendens (Blinky)

I. B. Splendens (Inky)

P. B. Splendens (Pinky)

C. B. Splendens (Clyde)

B. Splendens

2/24/2026:
B. Splendens buckets had PURE Betta Beads added to them. Betta Beads have shrunken, and per supplier website, this is an indicator that the water hardness is not optimal for B. Splendens. Moved I. B. Splendens to established unplanted tank.

2/26/2026:
Disarmed CO2 canister that was probably fine and I am an engineer. Looked at gauge, gauge was in the red.

Pebbles (P. B. Splendens)

Image Credit: Hannah Carter, 2026

Koi (K. B. Splendens)

Image Credit: Hannah Carter, 2026

Diplomatic Betta

2/14/2026:
Procured 2 B. Splendens (with accompanying tanks) for observational science in accordance with this project's agricultural goals from a student relocating back to his country. Tanks were relocated from original homes to my observational laboratory. Care shall be taken to maintain prior owner's care regimine and in accordance with agricultural goals, ethical scientific observation shall be taken of specimens. Specimens are Pebbles (P. B. Splendens) and Koi (K. B. Splendens). The project is labelled Diplomatic mostly in jest. Data is sent to original owner in accordance with water change day(s). Added 2/16/2026 - Clearing Backlog.

2/22/2026:
Pebbles (P. B. Splendens) has tail deterioration. Tail deterioration does not look to be fungal in nature. Tail deterioration does look to be fin nip. Fin nip has been shown to be a symptom of stress/irritation. Cleared plants in area. Purchased proper materials (Aquarium Salt, Indian Leaves, etc) at initial time of procurement to help Pebbles recover from fin nip and prevent worsening. Leaves were trimmed.

3/8/2026:
Fin nip has been detected, I have been adding driftwood and tanin pinecones (also procured from prior owner) so that Pebbles might be calmed down. Sometimes they fin nip when they are stressed, bored, or anxious. There does not yet seem to be any sign of infection. It was said that Pebbles does have a history of fin nip that has been treated with aquarium salt. I do not think that this is necessary at this point in time, being a tad more experienced with bettas with large fins. I do not endorse fin cutting, and I would not necessarily breed this type of betta fin with a large fin betta. There is no curling like with my other boy, Ars Goetia, (who shall also not be bred to a larger fin size), and I do not think it needs to be addressed outside of general tank up keeping and cleaning.

Image Credit: Hannah Carter, 2026

3/15/2026:
Pebbles (P. B. Splendens) has developed Ich on the his left side.

Obligatory not sponsored. I am not looking to do this instead of Electrical Engineering. I received my Bachelors in Electrical Engineering as the farm life did not have a promising future where I was. Electrical Engineering has a large amount more portability. Often times small scale farmers require a paying day job to maintain their small farms.

Reading List

Anchor Aquarium. 2025. "Rapid Relief: 8 Powerful Ways to Lower Ammonia in Your Freshwater Tank Fast – The Ultimate Guide." https://anchoraquarium.com/lower-ammonia/.

Aquaponics by John Mason.

Aquarium Expert, The. 2025. "How to Bring Down Ammonia Levels in Aquarium: Effective Tips for a Healthy Environment." https://theaquariumexpert.com/how-to-bring-down-ammonia-levels-in-aquarium/.

Aqueon. 2021. "Betta Beads." https://www.aqueon.com/products/water-care/betta-beads.

Betta Care Fish Guide. 2024. "Betta Fish Water: Ideal Parameters & What Kind Is Best." https://www.bettacarefishguide.com/betta-fish-water-conditions-faq/.

Britannica. 2026. "Cultivation." https://www.britannica.com/science/gardening/Choice-of-plants.

Guppy Expert. 2026. "Guppy Bent Spine – Causes & Treatments." https://guppyexpert.com/guppy-fish-bent-spine/.

Profitable Livestock Farming. 2025. "Best Water Conditions For Fast Crayfish Growth." https://www.profitablelivestock.com/best-water-conditions-for-fast-crayfish-growth/.

WikiHow. 2025. "How to Set Up a Freshwater Crayfish Farm." https://www.wikihow.com/Set-Up-a-Freshwater-Crayfish-Farm.

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