Aquaponics is a system of Agriculture, practiced around the world, as a sustainable and improved way to grow small crops. The system involves seedlings being grown in artificial soil, having nutrients come through from fish, stored in a tank below the crops. The fish fertilize the plants via their waste and the system cycles around, back to where the fish clean the plants waste and clear the water. The benefits of Aquaponics systems are that farmers and ordinary people at home can raise fish to eat and grow a salad on top.
Figure 1 (Right) shows how Aquaponics works. Aquaponics is basically aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water and artificial soil) sown together. The fish faeces and waste create ammonia which is toxic to both the fish and the plants. Bacteria in the water convert this ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates. This water is pumped over to the plants. The nitrates can be used for food for the plants, so the plants absorb the nutrients, cleansing the water. The now clean water is sent back to the plants, where the cycle will repeat (see Figure 2 Below). Another cycles exist in this system, composting red worms. The red worms convert the large chunks of dying plants, e.g. leaves into vermicompost, edible for fish. This system works in a cycle, with plants giving nutrients to the fish, who give nutrients back to the plants.
What Fish Can You Use?
The fish used for Aquaponics aren't restricted as much as plants, (only plants with small root systems are used in Aquaponics, usually herbs) meaning you can choose out of this brief list for what fish you want:
Edible Fish
Tilapia
Catfish
Bluegill
Trout
Red-Claw Clayfish
Silver Perch
Non-Edible Fish
Koi
Goldfish
(Most Other Large Pet-Shop Fish Will Work, But Inquire With Your Local Pet Shop For Information)
Make sure to check what temperature levels each fish is suited to live in.
Tilapia
Catfish
Bluegill
Trout
Red-Claw Clayfish
Silver Perch
Non-Edible Fish
Koi
Goldfish
(Most Other Large Pet-Shop Fish Will Work, But Inquire With Your Local Pet Shop For Information)
Make sure to check what temperature levels each fish is suited to live in.
What Plants Can You Use?
The plants used for Aquaponics have more complications to them. Size matters hugely for plants, because only small rooted plants can be grown in an Aquaponics system, (usually herbs). The pH for plants in Aquaponics also restricts some plants, because only neutral plants can be grown, reasons being that most fish won't like acidic water and neither will the bacteria or the worms.
Aquaponics systems can be placed inside or in a greenhouse, not outside. The greenhouse heats the plants and gives them added sunlight, whilst a greenhouse keeps the heat stable for the fish.
Aquaponics systems can be placed inside or in a greenhouse, not outside. The greenhouse heats the plants and gives them added sunlight, whilst a greenhouse keeps the heat stable for the fish.
