Aquaponics is an effective answer to the most simple need of modern living: a clean and sustainable source of food. Not everyone has a large space that can be devoted to a traditional vegetable garden and that dearth of usable land prevents many folks from even trying to farm their own food. Aquaponics eradicates this difficulty as it can produce an abundant quantity of food in a small amount of space. Aquaponics is an instance of "vertical farming" that enables components to be built upwards taking advantage of 3 dimensions of space. It's also a real instance of "soil less" gardening that gets rid of the requirement for arable land altogether.
Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (farming of fish) and hydroponics (soil less farming with the usage of a water-based, nutrient rich medium). It mixes the best of both systems enhancing the productivity of the aquaponics farmer. Here's a breakdown of what happens in an aquaponic system:
- Freshwater fish like tilapia are raised in holding tanks with a basic aeration system to help oxygenate the water.
- The fish are fed with pellets or organic/natural fish food and produce waste. The waste from the fish collects in the water along with detritus and new fish food.
- Constructive bacteria form in the tank and consumes the waste products finally manufacturing nutrient elements that assist photosynthesys in plants.
- Some of the water from the holding tank is pumped out to growing beds that contain the plants which are currently being cultivated.
- The plants consume the nutriments present in the water from the holding tanks enabling development and also purifying the water.
- The purified water from the growing beds is transported back to the holding tanks typically by a gravity feed.
The fish benefit from the purified and oxygenated water and the cycle is repeated again and again . Due to the nutrient heavy water, the plants grow incessantly and as the purified water is returned to the holding tank the fish also prosper and grow.
The harvest from an aquaponics system can happen year round and can supply a well-balanced food supply of fruit, vegetables and fish. Some people prefer not to eat the fish from the holding tanks, in which particular case, they can choose to raise ornamental freshwater fish like goldfish and koi as pets. The fish will still produce the waste material wanted to keep the system running, and at the same time, they'll have an aquarium with pretty fish in it.
For individuals who want both the protein and veggies from their aquaponic system, the harvest can be composed of fruit, vegetables and fish. The types of eatable fish that may be raised in the holding tanks include Tilapia, Crappie, Walleye, Bass and Pacu. All these species are excellent eating fish and favored by diners. Species that are compatible can be mixed in a single tank adding to the variety of the flavors that may be produced. The decision of which fish to raise is at last driven by private choice, local regulations, available space and climate.
An aquaponics system can start out with only a few goldfish in a home aquarium and be simply enhanced by adding more or larger holding tanks and larger growing beds. In a well cared for aquaponics system the fish will reproduce and grow as well as the plants making the entire system self sustaining. Some of the more successful aquaponics farmers are even able to convert their past-time into a money making business and sell at least part of their crop to bistros, merchants and shoppers .
Bob Long is a system engineer who enjoys fishing, professional sports and gardening. He maintains websites on a variety of topics. If you want to learn more about aquaponics visit his sites Aquaponics Fish and Tilapia Farming