Achieving self-sufficiency with an aquaponics system is within your grasp, but it is essential to take certain factors into account when dealing with living organisms. Discover the crucial aspects of setting up your system and caring for the fish in this article.
In recent years, there has been a growing desire among many individuals to have an aquaponics system at home. This is understandable as such a system offers the potential for self-sufficiency. However, it is important to be aware of the key considerations such as selecting the appropriate setup for your environment and ensuring that the fish are provided with a suitable habitat.
Aquaponics involves both raising fish and growing plants, unlike hydroponics. These two systems work together seamlessly, creating a closed cycle that requires minimal effort from the operators. Unlike a vertical farm, which requires manually adding nutrients, the fish excretions regulate the nutrient content of the water. While maintaining proper water quality for the fish is important, the care and fertilization of the plants can be left to the fish acting as assistant gardeners.
By employing this method, a fish farm can operate with efficiency while simultaneously providing for a vegetable garden. The vegetables serve as a filter and purification system for the pool water, whether they are grown in soil culture or hydroponics and extract nutrients from the fertilized water. This results in a passive recycling of water by the plants, which leaves the fish with relatively clean water. While the water cycle is nearly closed, monitoring of the water quality remains crucial for the well-being of the fish.
Aquaponics merges the advantageous features of highly efficient food-growing methods and also minimizes the land required for farming.
Which setup is suitable for which situation?
To begin with, it is important to acknowledge that the fundamental setup remains similar. There needs to be a basin or tank for the fish, along with a suitably sized bed for planting. Additionally, the two components should be joined by hoses and operated by pumps. While hydroponics afford many different ways of growing plants, whether it be in water, mist, or soil medium, aquaponics often relies on expanded clay due to its excellent water conductivity. In terms of fish, the amount of space available determines the selection of species or “aquaculture.” Conversely, almost any hydroponic system can be selected for plants.
How To Build Your Own Vertical Aquaponics System
Following these steps is all it takes to begin reaping the benefits of your efforts, and it’s not a challenging task.
The following items are required:
- 4-inch diameter pipes; approximately 20ft
- 4-inch diameter elbows: between 4 and 6
- 4-inch T connectors: between 4 and 6
- 100-gallon container
- Aquarium Tubing – approximately 20ft
- 4-way splitter- for the 1-inch pipe.
- Plastic cups
- Scraps of cloth
- Electrical tape
- Aquarium pump capable of moving 400 gallons per hour
- Filter
It should be noted that practically any fish is suitable for this particular system. Nevertheless, as a beginner in the realm of aquaponic vertical towers, it might be advisable to opt for tilapia, provided that the climate in your location permits it. These fish are known for their resilience and affordability.
When it comes to plants, the most suitable choices are vegetables with leaves, herbs, and even tomatoes (which require a significant amount of nutrients and are usually more successful in a well-developed setup).
These plants won’t hog space and overshadow others around them, yet they’ll still yield an ample harvest as they mature. Plus, they make great companions if you desire a diverse crop.
Step 1 – The Pipe Work
The size or quantity of your aquaponics towers will depend on the specific amount of 4-inch pipe used in their construction.
To begin, it is recommended to make eight pieces that are each one foot in length. For six of these pieces, you can utilize a hole saw to create two holes that are evenly spaced.
At this point, you may create a 1-inch aperture in one of the 12-inch sections that lacks a round aperture. This is where the water will flow back into the aquarium.
Step 2 – Putting the Pipes Together
Arrange your pipes in this sequence: A 90° piece followed by a 1 ft piece, then a T junction, another 1 ft piece, another T junction, another 1 ft piece and ending with a 90° section.
If you repeat this task, you will have the ability to utilize the two additional pieces with an “&” symbol and ft measurement (one of which contains a drainage hole) to connect all of the pieces into the form of a rectangle.
To connect these pieces, utilize electric tape or a comparable alternative. Ensure that all T junctions are oriented in the same direction, i.e. upward. The openings on the pipes must face upward as well, except for the drain hole, which should be on the interior of the rectangle.
Step 3–Add The Upright Pipes
Your DIY vertical aquaponics system will provide you with substantial space and area for growth.
Take 4 sections of the 4-inch diameter pipe, with a length ranging from 2 to 3 feet, depending on the available vertical space for the vertical aquaponics system, and cut them.
In your PVC aquaponics system, these pipes will fit into the T junctions just like four chimneys.
Prior to proceeding with the next step, it is necessary to create openings in your vertical aquaponics system that you have constructed yourself. To accomplish this, take your 1-inch hole saw and bore 5 holes into one side of the pipe, ensuring they are uniformly spaced. Rotate the pipe 90° and drill another set of 4 holes, making certain that its position is set in between the previous set of holes. Repeat this process as you rotate the pipe and continue to create 5 holes followed by 4 until all sides of the pipe have been filled with perforations that alternate.
Perform the same steps with the remaining 3 vertical aquaponics pipes which serve as the primary growing holes. It is important to note that each pipe may have approximately 18 to 25 holes, each of which cultivates a plant. In total, the 4 pipes can accommodate up to 100 plants.
Step 4 – Position Your Vertical Aquaponics System
The moment has arrived to choose the location for your vertical aquaponics system. In case you utilized an IBC tote, it should have a frame already. Alternatively, you might have opted for a different container or two 50-gallon drums.
Ensure that the containers you use to house your fish are suitable for food and have been thoroughly cleaned before placing your fish in them.
After that, place them where you want and ensure that they are adequately reinforced if needed.
Considering your access to the fish tank is crucial as you may have to inspect your fish, provide them with food, or take them out if a problem arises.
To maintain the proper balance of your vertical aquaponics system, it is crucial to block sunlight from entering the water by using a dark cover or painting the fish tank. Neglecting this measure may lead to the growth of algae and harm the balance of the system.
Step 5 – Add The Vertical Garden
To install the PVC aquaponics vertical towers, ensure that they are evenly placed on the fish tank. Distributing the weight of the planting pipes throughout the tank is crucial to prevent problems arising during plant growth, as concentration of weight in one area can be problematic.
When the system is situated outdoors, it is important to take into account the impact of wind; since the pipes are relatively lightweight, it is undesirable for them to be moved by the wind, and you may need to create your own clamping system to keep them in place.
It would be a great idea to insert a small portion of aquarium tubing into the drain hole that was previously formed with a one-inch diameter.
It is recommended that the aquarium pipe be oriented downward to prevent any potential water flow problems.
Taking into consideration that your PVC towers have a slight angle is necessary to guarantee that the water will flow towards the drainage hole, thus ensuring its return to the tank.
Step 6 – Add Cups
Although the vertical holes do not require cups, failure to use them in the horizontal ones results in either the plants being washed away or their roots causing blockage in the pipes.
To avoid this, it’s necessary to puncture six holes on the bottom of the plastic cups and place them inside the horizontal openings.
Step 7 – Grow Media
For the plants to thrive, they require a growing medium that enables them to access the water’s nutrients. To achieve this, you must obtain Rockwool or pond filter foam, which can be easily wedged into the vertical tube openings. Your seeds may be inserted into the foam or a tiny hole can be fashioned for that purpose.
It’s advisable to suspend burlap sacks or a similar material within your vertical tubes prior to their insertion, as this will soak up the water, decelerating its movement through the pipes and facilitating its descent back into the fish tank.
During this procedure, the foam absorbs the slower water, allowing seeds or small plants to obtain the required nutrients for growth.
The burlap will provide the roots with something to attach to, ensuring that each plant remains stable and preventing root obstruction of the pipes.
Step 8 – The Pump
Investing in a reputable pump of good quality is essential, as its failure could result in the death of fish and plants. It is advisable to spend extra money to acquire a dependable pump.
It has been previously stated that the pump must have the ability to pump 400 gallons of water per hour to maintain proper aeration and circulation. However, if your vertical aquaponics system is particularly tall, you may require a stronger pump.
Located in the fish tank, the pump ought to be elevated from the base to prevent the fish from getting trapped while swimming underneath.
To connect the pump, you will require some of your aquarium tubing. The pump should come with an adapter that is suitable for 1-inch tubing.
Afterwards, you can send it up to the uppermost part of your upright structure. To achieve this, you must divide the pipeline using a sequence of connectors in order for the water to reach the top of every column. Ideally, a 4-way splitter is recommended to assure that water distribution is equal among the vertical columns.
In the event that it is not feasible, you could divide it into two parts and further divide each side into two equal portions to ensure uniformity.
It is recommended to add water to the tank and check the system to prevent any water leakage caused by a faulty connection.
A useful suggestion is to heat up the pipes using hot water prior to attaching them to a joint, which will make it easier to slide them on and ensure a secure seal.
It should be noted that if two 50-gallon barrels have been chosen, one barrel must have the pump while the other one should have the return drain. Additionally, connecting the two barrels with pipes is necessary to allow water to circulate throughout the entire vertical aquaponic system.
To ensure the fish in one barrel always have sufficient water, it is recommended to position a pipe at an elevated point in the return barrel. As a result, whenever the water level in the other barrel decreases, it will be replenished from the first barrel through the connected pipe.
Step 9 –Fish & Plants
Once you’ve reached this stage, you can go ahead and pour in the water and leave it for a while to settle before introducing the fish and plants. However, this is the most time-consuming part of the process since it can take multiple days to de-chlorinate the water.
Before introducing fish, it is essential to verify the pH levels, ammonia, nitrates, and temperature.
For best results, it is recommended to introduce a few small fish initially to increase the ammonia levels and facilitate the growth of bacteria that will convert the ammonia into nitrates for the benefit of the plants.
Afterward, you will have the opportunity to introduce additional fish and plants.
