To maintain an aquaponics system, three living organisms are necessary: plants for producing vegetables or fruit, fish to create an ecosystem or for consumption, and nitrifying bacteria. However, is sunlight essential for the survival and flourishing of these organisms in aquaponics? Let’s explore this further.
Does aquaponics need sunlight to thrive in 10 seconds…
The plants in your aquaponics system require a minimum of 4-6 hours of sufficient sunlight daily in order to thrive. However, instead of sunlight, artificial light can be used as a substitute. On the other hand, although the fish in your system do not necessarily require sunlight to grow, they do need alternating periods of light and darkness each day in order to thrive. Without these periods, the fish will cease eating and become inactive.
Do aquaponics systems require sunlight to thrive
For an aquaponics ecosystem to function, three living organisms are necessary. Each organism depends on the others in order to establish an optimal environment for growth and flourishing. These three living organisms comprise of:
- Fish: The aquaponic fish which live in the aquaculture part of this ecosystem or fish tank. The fish produce excess nitrogen in the form of ammonia and ammonium either excreted from their gills or in the form of waste as faeces. This is the beginning of the nitrogen cycle.
- Beneficial bacteria: Beneficial bacteria which are known as nitrifying bacteria convert or oxidise the nitrogen, which is in the form or either ammonia (NH3) or ammonium (NH4+), into into nitrites (NO2-) and then into nitrates (NO3-).
- Plants: The aquaponic plants that grow either vegetables or fruit take up the excess nitrogen from the ecosystem in the form of nitrates which is an essential part of plant growth and is necessary for photosynthesis.
Do aquaponic fish need light or sunlight?
Although sunlight or any other form of light is not necessary for the growth of your fish, most fish need alternating periods of light and darkness. If your fish do not receive adequate light, they may stop eating, become less active, or develop health issues.
There are those who suggest that it’s best to completely avoid having sunlight on your fish tank, as it promotes the growth of algae. Nevertheless, it is important to ensure that your fish receive daily light, which can be achieved through the use of artificial light instead of direct sunlight.
Does nitrifying bacteria need light or sunlight?
The growth of beneficial bacteria or nitrifying bacteria does not depend on light, and light can actually hinder the growth of these nitrifiers.
Keeping the beneficial bacteria, especially Nitrobacter, in the dark is crucial as these bacteria are responsible for converting nitrites into nitrates. Ultraviolet light has the potential to eradicate bacteria, which underlines the importance of ensuring their protection.
Do aquaponics plants need sunlight or can plants use artificial light for photosynthesis?
As previously mentioned, aquaponics plants require nitrates (NO2-) in order to obtain nitrogen. Nitrogen is present in all living cells and serves as a vital element for plant proteins and chlorophyll. Consequently, the absence of nitrates inhibits plant growth and hinders the production of flowers, vegetables, and fruit.
In the process of photosynthesis, which enables plants to produce their own food, sunlight acts as the crucial ingredient. Chlorophyll is essential for this process.
The process of photosynthesis involves step by step reactions that convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen.
- Carbon Dioxide (6xCO2) + Water (6xH2O) ==>(SUNLIGHT)==>Glucose (1xC6H12O6) + Oxygen (6xO2)
If you are unable to position your aquaponics system in direct sunlight, will artificial sunlight be effective instead in order for your plants to grow well in the system?
Can you use artificial light for photosynthesis for aquaponics plants?
Yes, it is possible to utilize artificial light for the process of photosynthesis in aquaponics plants. Photosynthesis relies on the presence of photons to facilitate the chemical reaction, and photons are produced by sunlight as well as any other form of light.
The effectiveness of growing plants using man-made light depends on the type and color of the light emitted, as it also generates photons.
Aquaponics lights for plants
Modern-day LED lights, especially LED grow lights, are good for indoor plants and will work well for aquaponics plants. But of course, the downside of using artificial light instead of sunlight is the added cost to your aquaponics system of powering these lights.
LED grow light’s role in an indoor aquaponics system
The system is comprised of two main elements: the aquaculture sub-system, which includes fish and other aquatic microorganisms, and the hydroponic sub-system, which consists of hydroponically-grown plants. At first glance, it may not seem like there is a strong connection between the aquaculture system and LED grow lights. However, in various aquaponics farms, whether they are large greenhouses covering vast areas or small vegetable gardens in compact spaces, the value of LED grow lights in facilitating plant growth in this system is recognized.
LED grow lights are a highly effective method to add additional lighting or completely substitute sunlight in an indoor growing area. Based on practical application results, LED grow lights offer numerous advantages for plants in an aquaponics system. These benefits encompass accelerating the vegetable harvest cycle, extending the amount of daylight available, preventing plants from reacting to changes in daylight, providing consistent, high-quality lighting throughout the year, and more.
Why LED grow lights are acknowledged by aquaponics farmers
1) Farmers have noticed that people have a stronger desire for vegetables during the winter season compared to other times. Thus, the vegetable hydroponic greenhouse serves as a crucial source for supplying vegetables during this period and receives significant support. This greatly aids in addressing the problem of vegetable shortage in winter. However, the aquaponics system, which is a subset of hydroponics, encounters the same issue as other greenhouses when it comes to lacking natural lighting, particularly during the short days and long nights of winter. Sunlight becomes scarce for these greenhouses, even if they are equipped with high-transparency glass skylights. The light intensity during winter is not as strong as in summer. Consequently, if vegetables do not receive additional light to supplement their photosynthesis needs, they will grow slowly with long, slender leaves, which is unfavorable for farmers seeking to profit from the winter vegetable supply.
Furthermore, LED grow lights have the capacity to facilitate farmers in achieving early market readiness for vegetables, as well as enable an increase in the frequency of harvests and the ability to plant throughout the year. Concurrently, the utilization of LED grow lights serves the purpose of controlling vegetable yield, color, and quality, while also enhancing the generation of certain nutrients, sweetness, and taste. This notable augmentation in revenue proves to be highly advantageous for aquaponics growers.
Additionally, LED grow lights can be customized to produce a specific spectrum, which is another reason why farmers are embracing this technology. Commercial growers understand the importance of long-term investment based on their practical experience. LED grow lights provide the advantage of extending the growing season and increasing income. By customizing the spectrum, LED grow lights emit photons that are highly utilized by plants for photosynthesis, resulting in less waste and greater energy conversion compared to traditional grow lights.
