Aquaponics is a method of growing crops that combines hydroponics and aquaculture. Hydroponics is soilless plant cultivation, while aquaculture is the farming of aquatic animals like crustaceans and fish. Although an aquaponic system may resemble a hydroponic system at first glance, the difference is that instead of relying on a nutrient-rich solution in a main reservoir, the system obtains nutrients from a live fish tank directly.
How Does Aquaponics Work?
Aquaponics is a system where the roots of plants are hydrated by the water from fish tanks, while the fish waste serves as a natural fertilizer for the plants. Additionally, the plants act as a filter, making the water safe and clean for the fish. The system recirculates the water from the fish tank to the grow beds filled with plants, where the plants absorb the nutrients dissolved in the water.
Aquaponics replicates the ecological systems present in freshwater sources such as rivers and streams, creating a mutually advantageous association between plants and animals.
Despite sounding straightforward, there are various factors at play in an aquaponic system. With three living organisms involved, including the plants, the fish, and the bacteria in the water, it’s crucial to maintain the pH balance regularly to cater to each one’s specific requirements. For instance, fish waste can create excessive acidity levels, which can adversely affect nutrient absorption by the plants and ultimately lead to system failure. Therefore, it’s essential to match plants and fish based on variables like pH and temperature as nature would in the wild. Aquaponic growers may use compatible pH adjusters and even introduce red worms to aid in breaking down and evenly dispersing waste to the plants.
Types of Aquaponics
Aquaponics, similar to hydroponics, necessitates the utilization of growth media in lieu of soil to provide necessary support for plants and safeguard their roots. The growth media in aquaponics functions as a platform for beneficial bacteria to flourish in the grow bed and assist in filtering the waste produced by the fish tank. Although expanded clay pebbles are a pricey but productive lightweight aggregate option, other alternatives like gravel, shale, and porous lava rocks can also be used as media. The appropriate media selection hinges on factors such as the type of plant, system size and type, pH level, and cost.
The method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water, with the plant roots suspended in the water, is called Deep Water Culture.
This aquaponic technique is called raft-based growing. A foam raft is utilized in a channel filled with fish tank water that has been filtered to eliminate solid waste. Plants are positioned in holes on the raft, their roots suspended in the water, absorbing nutrients from the channel. This method is frequently employed in commercial ventures or for plants that have lower nutrient requirements and grow rapidly, such as salad greens.
Bed that is used for media filtration.
By means of this method, plants are grown in beds of planting media that are inert and can be expanded clay pebbles or shale. These beds are positioned either on top or adjacent to the fish tank, offering the plants both biological and mechanical filtration. Biological filtration denotes the conversion of ammonia – originally present in fish waste – to nitrates, whereas mechanical filtration is concerned with the elimination of solid waste. To implement this approach, the water is pumped from the tank and channeled through the media bed, allowing the plants to absorb the essential nutrients. The water is subsequently returned to the tank fully filtered.
Media aquaponics is the preferred method for home and hobby scale systems, and it is also commonly used for larger operations to grow fruits, leafy greens, and herbs.
Aquaponics implemented in a vertical manner.
Vertical aquaponics employs the technique of piling plants one on top of the other in a tower, where water is infused with nutrients and drips down through a wicking material to feed the roots of the plants. The water then falls into a receptacle under the system, either a trough or a fish tank. This technique is ideal for saving space and yields a higher volume of food with limited square footage.
The method of growing plants in a narrow channel of water that continuously flows over the plant roots is known as Nutrient Film Technique.
The Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) is effective for crops such as herbs, leafy greens, and strawberries, which do not require significant support. The technique involves planting seeds in perforated troughs, usually PVC piping, and suspending them from walls or ceilings to save area. Roots extend straight into the water below without contact with any soil.
What Is A Media-Based Aquaponics System?
The popularity of aquaponics has been increasing due to its efficient system of growing crops and raising fish simultaneously in a closed-loop environment. Among small-scale home growers, the media-based aquaponics method is a well-liked growing approach.
Media-based aquaponics systems are a preferred choice for those venturing into aquaponics. They are uncomplicated in their design, take up minimal space, and have a low initial outlay, making them popular among DIY enthusiasts and novices. This piece offers comprehensive information on media-based aquaponics systems to assist you in deciding if this technique is suitable for your needs.
How Does a Media-Based Aquaponics System Work?
Also known as flood and drain, the media-based system involves a grow bed that is filled with grow media such as expanded clay pebbles, gravel, or lava rock where vegetables are planted. The water originating from the fish tank is then pumped into the grow beds to allow plants to benefit from the nutrients produced by the fish.
The plant roots in the grow bed have immediate access to the water and utilize the nutrients to flourish. Moreover, these roots purify and refine the water before reintroducing it to the fish tank where the fish are accommodated.
Certain aquaponics systems that rely on media implement a flooding and draining technique, whereby a bell siphon is utilized to drain the water once it fills up to a certain capacity. The cycle is a consistent and ongoing process that furnishes the plants with vital nutrients without any requirement for fertilizers. Various irrigation practices in grow-beds introduce water through a constant flow, which may either be on a single side of the bed and out the other or spread evenly through a drip irrigation setup.
Components of a Media-Based Aquaponics System
The critical requirements for the substances utilized in the media-focused system are outlined.
- Grow media must have a large surface area for bacterial growth.
- Materials must be neutral pH and inert (non-toxic).
- Must have good drainage properties.
- Easy to work with.
- Durable and cost-effective.
- Lightweight
Fish Tank
To ensure your fish thrive and survive, it is crucial to choose the right fish tank. Your fish will be living in this environment and have specific needs that must be met. For that reason, there are several key factors to consider when deciding on the ideal fish tank.
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Water circulation can be influenced by the shape of the tank, making tanks with poor circulation quite hazardous. While any tank shape can be used, aquaponics experts suggest that round tanks with flat bottoms be used. A round tank can facilitate uniform water flow and move solid waste toward the middle of the tank. Tanks that display artistic designs with numerous curves and bends may create pockets of water where there is no circulation. Due to these pockets, waste can accumulate, leading to fatal anoxic conditions for the fish.
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It is recommendable to go for fish tanks that are white or have a light color. This is because it offers clear visibility of the fish within the tanks. Moreover, with the white tanks, sunlight is reflected back, which maintains a cool environment for the water.
Grow Bed
The grow bed is a vital element of the media bed system as it serves as the area where plants are nurtured. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure the optimum condition of the grow bed.
- made of food-grade materials that will not leak unwanted chemicals into the water or affect the water’s pH.
- Strong enough to hold the water and growing media.
- Able to withstand different weather conditions.
- It can be connected to other components easily through simple plumbing parts.
- It can be placed near the other components.
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A rectangle is the typical form for a media bed, while bigger ones need stabilizing to avoid collapsing. Nonetheless, we need to avoid exceeding the width that hinders the farmer/operator to reach halfway across.
Size and depth
For a media-based grow bed to be successful, it must be appropriately sized in relation to the number of fish it will contain and have sufficient filtration to accommodate the nutrient-rich water. The depth of the grow bed is crucial in determining which vegetables can be grown. To promote optimal plant growth and a thriving ecosystem within the bed, the recommended depth for a grow bed is approximately 12 inches.
A good starting point when choosing a grow bed for small aquaponic systems is to adhere to the 1:1 ratio. This suggests that the volume of the grow bed should be equal to that of the fish tank, but it is not a strict requirement.
Grow Media
In a media-based system, a variety of materials can serve as grow media, but they must meet certain requirements. The media must be organic and possess enough surface area to promote bacterial growth and water flow to the plants’ roots. Additionally, the medium should have a neutral pH to maintain the water quality. It is advisable to wash the media thoroughly prior to placing it in the grow bed to eliminate any harmful particles that may pose a threat to the fish.
Different choices of grow media are available.
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The most affordable and easily accessible growing medium is ¾” gravel, which is ideal for providing support to taller plants and avoids clogging, unlike smaller pea gravel. However, gravel’s weight and ineffective water retention can make it difficult to establish necessary bacteria in your system.
Pebbles made of clay.
The highly effective growing medium, LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate), is created by processing clay balls at high temperatures. These lightweight clay pebbles effortlessly shift when planting, yet offer ample support for small to medium plants. Furthermore, they are non-degradable, non-toxic, and pH neutral. Although more costly than other mediums, clay pebbles are a worthwhile investment due to their reusability, weightlessness, and pH neutrality, making them long-lasting.
Rock that has been formed from lava.
As lava rock is formed naturally, it cools down abruptly, leaving no scope for air to escape and resulting in an advantageous trapping of air. Consequently, the trapped air causes the rock to be extremely permeable, increasing its surface area and providing abundant habitation for nitrifying bacteria. Additionally, since lava rock is weightless and has a neutral pH, it does not disturb the equilibrium of your system. However, beware of its sharp edges and use it cautiously.
Bell Siphon
In a media-based aquaponics system, a bell siphon is a crucial element that manages the water flow of the entire system and facilitates the transfer of water from the media bed to the fish tank with great efficiency.
Water Pump
To maintain your aquaponics system, it is crucial to have a suitable and effective water pump that can continuously circulate water and provide nutrients to both the fish and plants. If the water pump you use is unreliable and fails to distribute water evenly throughout the system, it could result in a breakdown of your aquaponics system.
The Three Zones Of Media-Based Aquaponics System
The media-based aquaponics system comprises of three grow bed zones that serve varied purposes within the system.
Zone 1
The topmost layer of the grow bed, up to a depth of 1-2 inches (5cm), is referred to as the Surface or Dry Zone. Its primary function is to block out light and prevent direct contact with the water, which would result in the growth of algae. Since the beneficial bacteria are vulnerable to excessive sunlight exposure, this zone acts as a protective layer to shield them. Additionally, this area also acts as a barrier against evaporation by keeping the wet zone shaded from direct sunlight.
Zone 2
The root area serves as the site of plant growth and activity, while Zone 2 pertains to the 4-6″ (10-15cm) perimeter of the cultivation bed that undergoes periodic flooding and draining.
During the flood and drain process, the water flow distributes moisture, nutrients, and solid waste from fish to the surrounding area. When it’s time for draining, the drain components facilitate complete water drainage. This efficient removal ensures the provision of oxygen-rich air into the roots of the plants.
When the flood and drain method is not employed, this region serves as the conduit for water to pass through the substance. Within this vicinity, solid waste is reduced and broken down by the worms, resulting in the release of nutrients throughout the entire setup.
Zone 3
The permanent wet area in the last 2″ (5cm) of the grow bed is known as the solid collection and mineralization zone. Within this zone, small solid waste is accumulated and the most active organisms responsible for mineralization are found. Through the breakdown of the waste into smaller fractions and molecules, the plants are able to absorb nutrients via mineralization.
