Day Fifteen - 7/3

Events presided over by Dr. S. Stonedahl

Guest appearance by Dr. F. Stonedahl

What we did

    Ran permeameter tests and had the same slowing down issue we had observed with our cotton filters.  This was very discouraging and we need to figure this out soon...

    Removed the divides from the antfarm apparatus.  This went well, it minimally disturbed the sand.

With divides

    We added a measurement tape to the antfarm for scale in pictures.

WITHOUT DIVIDES, with the meter stick and a try at the funneling conductivity meter plan...

    We tried to figure out how the conductivity meter should be positioned for measurements.  We set up a ring stand and funnel system and decided Dr. Stonedahl would need to go shopping for plumbing parts, a bigger funnel, and more canning salt

New conductivity apparatus plan

We tried to re-position the camera and realized that Dr. Stonedahl's big tripod was useless.  We will try Dr. F Stonedahl's little tripod Monday and if that doesn't work, tape it to boxes.

    We measured the volume of water in the garbage can when filled to the "line" and mixed in dye and salt.  We mixed X grams of canning salt into the X L of water.   

Blue hands and mixing

 Caleb determining if solution is as dark as our test solution.

Caleb stirring....

    We ran a Netlogo simulation to get an idea for how long we needed to run the dye Monday, due to faulty K values we are not sure how accurate it is, but we have an idea.  We also measured how much water passes through the antfarm per time, which was used to calculate how much solution we should mix up.

   

We created these spoons yesterday, but we didn't photograph them until today.

Scooping spoon for removing excess small sand from cells

Scooping screen for removing bag sand from cells

    

On Monday we will:

Synchronize all watches, camera, conductivity meter, etc.

Set-up and test the time lapse camera

Put fresh batteries in the camera

Finish calibrating the conductivity meter

Figure out how to log data on the conductivity meter

Set-up the conductivity positioning equipment

Stir the solution

Use the conductivity meter to measure the Conductivity of the initial solution

Run a little DI water through the set-up:

    Turn down the pumping levels, try the sprinkler system.  Turn the pumps back up as needed, making sure not to turn them up high enough to disturb the system,

    Get a base value for how salty the solution is coming out of the sand.  Make sure that it is constant.     Keep running water through it until stable values are achieved.

    Start a real run:

    Check that the timelapse camera is capturing pictures.

    Switch the pumps from DI water to blue water and simultaneously start a stop watch timer. 

    STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF THE TIME LAPSE CAMERA.

    Monitor the situation to dump water, add solution, and stir solution as needed.  We will all bring our lunches, so we do not need a long lunch break and can stagger them.

    We are VERY EXCITED!!!!!!!!