Aquaponics is essentially the combination of fish farming, known as aquaculture, and growing plants in a water medium, also known as hydroponics. This merging allows for the benefits of both practices in one system.
Now, let’s delve deeper into the specifics.
Aquaponics consists of two primary components, forming a bio-integrated system.
- Aquaculture sub-system, consisting of fish or other animal aquatic cultures.
- Hydroponic sub-system, consisting of hydroponically-grown plants.
The magic of aquaponics happens due to the interaction between these two components through the cycling of water.
Fish waste, which contains water, supplies plants with the necessary nutrients for their strong growth. In exchange, plants absorb excess nitrogen, leading to the return of purified water to the tank.
The microbial community is a third important living community in an aquaponic system and is crucial for the complete story. Typically, the beneficial nitrifying bacteria are confined to a suitable biofilter.
You can create a closed, self-sustaining system that provides diverse plant and animal produce, as well as enjoyable growth, by combining and connecting these various living communities.
In order to comprehend aquaponics and the reasons for its development, it is necessary to examine the practice’s history.
How Does Aquaponics Work?
In what way does aquaponics overcome the limitations of both aquaculture and hydroponics, making it its main advantage?
Due to its inherent characteristics, aquaculture consumes substantial resources. Cultivating a significant quantity of fish requires a considerable body of water, which rapidly becomes overloaded with waste and detrimental chemicals, necessitating extensive water replacements.
On the contrary, pure water lacks sufficient nutrients, causing hydroponically grown plants to require artificial fertilizers, particularly crop plants, for their growth.
Aquaculture wastewater contains an abundance of nitrogen, which is a crucial nutrient for plant growth, along with numerous secondary elements.
This is the exact location where the ideal combination of aquaponics occurs.
- By producing excrement, fish enrich the water with many mineral compounds.
- Water is circulated through a biofilter – essentially a colony of nitrifying bacteria that turn ammonia and nitrites into plant-nurturing nitrates.
- Plants consume excess nitrates and other trace elements and utilize them for vigorous growth.
- Purified (and often oxygenated) water is returned to the fish tank, supplying fish with a healthy medium.
Continuing in a cycle, both fish and vegetables are consistently generated at high yields.
Aquaponic Nitrogen Cycle
Aquatic animals and plants are not the only organisms that play a crucial role in aquaponics, as you may have already observed.
The specific group of microorganisms responsible for enabling the nitrogen cycle in the aquaponic system are the beneficial nitrifying bacteria. These bacteria play a crucial role in the efficiency of aquaponics by driving the nitrogen process, which is currently not functioning. Their contribution is what makes aquaponics so effective.
There are two main reasons why nitrification is vital for aquaponics. Firstly, the utilization of nitrifying bacteria is crucial for successful aquaponic practice. Secondly, nitrification plays a key role in aquaponics due to these two reasons.
- Ammonia and nitrite buildup in water is toxic to fish. Mechanical filtration in fish ponds might remove the decaying sediment, but it can’t filter out microscopic particles or the compounds already dissolved in water. That is the task of biofilters – which contain the needed bacteria.
- Plants need nitrogen for growth. While they are able to use both ammonia and nitrates to perform their growth processes to a certain extent, nitrates are more desirable as they are easily assimilated by their roots, and are “user-friendly” to all types of plants.
History of Aquaponics
Since the beginning of agriculture, flooding river plains have been renowned for their fertility. The largest and most productive human communities emerged in the floodplains of major rivers, such as the mud-enriched delta of the Nile River.
Over time, individuals naturally began to take notice and analyze the mechanics underlying the phenomenon, eventually acquiring the knowledge to harness it for regulated manufacturing.
The Aztec civilization (1000 AD) is where the earliest evidence of aquaponics-like activity can be found. Initially, crops were cultivated on raft-like islands that floated in the shallow lakes, and eventually within specific canals. The islands were irrigated and fertilized using nutrient-rich water, waste, and mud. This method was referred to as “Chinampas”.
Aquaponics in Asia has developed as a distinct branch, thanks to the ample surfaces provided by the region’s main crop, rice, and rice puddles.
Contemporary aquaponic practice greatly differs from these early systems, despite having the same foundation.
The following are some key points from the history of modern 20th-century aquaponics.
- In 1969, John Todd, Nancy Todd, and William McLarney founded the New Alchemy Institute whose main project was to create a solar-powered, self-sufficient shelter. Besides the shelter itself, “The Ark” was designed to provide for the year-round needs of a family of four using holistic methods to provide fish, vegetables, and shelter.
- In the 1970s, Dr. James Rakocy and his colleagues at the University of the Virgin Islands did research on using plants as natural filtration systems within the fish farm system. The team developed deep-water hydroponic grow beds within a large-scale aquaponic system by 1997.
- After a successful experiment in 1978, William M. Lewis and his colleagues concluded that a combination of aquaculture, biofiltration, and plant fertilization yielded excellent results in tomato growing.
- In the 1980s, Mark McMurtry and Doug Sanders successfully designed the first known closed-loop aquaponic system, in which water from fish tanks irrigated cucumbers and tomatoes in grow beds with sand medium – the sand also worked as a bio-filter; the filtered water was recirculated into fish tanks.
Advantages of Aquaponics
Aquaponics’ efficiency is one of its main benefits. The system remains mostly self-sustaining and waste-free, making it cost-effective and eco-friendly. Additionally, for educators or parents, an aquaponics system can serve as an excellent educational tool for kids to understand ecosystems, food chains, nutrient cycles, and environmental balance.
One more amazing aspect of aquaponics is its ability to provide protein and vegetables for your meals. Although you can certainly engage in aquaponics using a traditional aquarium with decorative fish, many aquaponic gardeners opt for a more efficient approach by raising edible fish like tilapia. This choice is particularly reasonable considering that most individuals set up their aquaponics tanks in places like basements, garages, and greenhouses, which are not ideal locations for leisurely observing the tranquil movement of fish in an ornamental tank.
Disadvantages of Aquaponics
One possible drawback of aquaponics is that the fish might consume the vegetables growing in their tank before you have a chance to harvest them. Nonetheless, this is similar to the threat that traditional gardens encounter each year from various animals such as rabbits, squirrels, deer, and numerous others. Furthermore, depending on the type of fish you are cultivating, with aquaponics, you might even be able to retaliate by eventually eating the fish.
The world of aquaponics is both strange and wonderful. You may have initially thought it was magical, but hopefully you now understand that the potential for magic is just waiting to flourish in your backyard.
Types of Aquaponic Systems
Aquaponic systems can differ in complexity, filtration type, and other elements.
The sun pond, which is the most basic system for home-scale aquaponics, involves having a fish pond or tank where plants float on the surface of the water with roots submerged below. It is important to protect the roots if you are raising fish that eat both plants and meat, in order to prevent any damage caused by the fish. The sun pond technique is similar to the aquaponic method historically employed by the Aztecs.
The majority of advanced aquaponic systems typically consist of five primary components.
- Fish tank
- Plant bed
- Settling basin for solid waste
- Bio-filter for nitrification
- Water pumps for circulating water
The number of basic elements may differ in each design, considering that aquaponics has been created by numerous inventors worldwide, resulting in varying concepts.
The hydroponic system is what sets a particular aquaponic setup apart. The commonly used designs and methods for cultivating crops in hydroponic systems are:
- Media beds
- Floating rafts
- Nutrient film technique (NFT)
- Vertical towers
- Wicking beds
- Dutch buckets
It is intriguing to note that aquaponic systems are primarily designed by farmers, and it is anticipated that engineers and professional consultants will have a greater involvement in larger and more intricate aquaponic projects, particularly commercial ones. Multiple approaches can be merged in this endeavor.
What Makes A Right Fish?
Not every fish species is appropriate for aquaponic culture. The fish must possess the capability to:
- Thrive in crowded conditions.
- Be resistant to fluctuating dissolved oxygen levels, as well as nitrate saturation and pH fluctuations.
- Be resistant to diseases and parasites.
- Use nutrients efficiently, which leads to rapid growth.
- Be edible or ornamental.
Types of Aquaponic Fish
The following fish species have been proven to thrive in aquaponic setups.
Tilapia, when thinking in a sequential manner, rephrase the following text while keeping the meaning intact. Please refrain from introducing novel information or removing existing information: Tilapia.
Tilapia is widely held as the most commonly kept fish in aquaponics and has become synonymous with aquaponic aquaculture due to its adaptability in terms of size, durability, ability to tolerate various temperatures and water conditions, simplicity in reproduction, and neutral, tender meat.
Tilapia are renowned for their robust appetites and rapid growth. It is worth mentioning that they are also aesthetically appealing creatures.
Keeping the same meaning and without adding or removing information, rephrase the text step by step: Trout are a type of fish that are found in freshwater environments, such as rivers and lakes. They are known for their streamlined bodies, which allow them to swim quickly and efficiently through the water. One distinguishing characteristic of trout is their spotty or speckled pattern, which helps them blend in with their surroundings and evade predators. Additionally, trout are carnivorous, meaning that they primarily eat other animals, such as insects and small fish. They use their sharp teeth to catch and consume their prey. Trout are highly regarded among fishermen for their sporting qualities, as they are known to put up a strong fight when hooked. They are often a popular target for recreational fishing due to their delicious taste and their reputation as a challenging catch.
Trout are members of the salmon family and their highly valued meat stems from their preference for coldwater environments with temperatures around 15 °C, along with their need for a diet rich in protein and access to clean water.
Due to their strong inclination for colder temperatures, they thrive best in cold or temperate climates. Certain growers exclusively cultivate trout during the winter season. It should be noted that the limited selection of plants for cultivation is a result of the cool water.
The Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is the species that is most commonly kept.
The text cannot be rephrased step by step without the original text. Please provide the original text that needs to be rephrased.
The high tolerance of Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to fluctuating oxygen, nitrite, and pH levels, as well as their resistance to parasites and disease, make them an excellent choice for adding to an aquaponic system.
These fish that live at the bottom of the tank and have a stationary lifestyle are classified as low-density fish, and therefore they require sinking food. It is possible to cultivate them alongside species that swim in the higher regions of the water.
“Carp” remains unchanged.
Carp is likely the fish that is cultured on the largest scale globally.
In an aquaponic environment, it is possible to cultivate all three common species of carp, namely Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), and Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), together. This is because by doing so, they can effectively utilize all food sources and minimize the production of waste that is difficult to dissolve. These carp species are capable of surviving within a wide temperature range, from 4-34 °C (39-93 °F), although they tend to prefer temperatures in the upper half of the 20s°C range (approximately 77-84 °F) for optimal growth.
The text cannot be rephrased step by step as it merely states the term “Largemouth Bass.”
Despite being more sensitive than Tilapia, largemouth bass still has a high capacity to tolerate changes in dissolved oxygen levels and withstand high nitrate levels. Largemouth bass is well-suited for year-round existence due to its ability to thrive in various temperature ranges.
Ornamental fish are fish that are kept for aesthetic purposes.
If you’re not interested in using fish as a food source, ornamental fish like koi and goldfish are a good option for testing your system, particularly when you’re just starting out. Additionally, there is a demand for pet and ornamental fish in your area.
In Australia, Barramundi, Silver Perch, and Murray Cod are among the native species that are commonly grown.
In order to maintain the same meaning and rephrase the text about invertebrates while thinking step by step, one could say: Invertebrates, which include animals lacking a backbone, form the focus of this discussion.
While invertebrate farming is not common in aquaculture, adding aquatic invertebrates to a fish tank can bring great benefits. Prawns, for instance, help maintain a healthy system and speed up waste decomposition by consuming uneaten fish food, fish waste, and other organic material in the tank.
Vegetables to Grow In An Aquaponic System
In most instances, the plants suitable for hydroponic systems generally work well in aquaponic systems too. The preferred and prosperous options for cultivation are leafy greens and herbs. While cucumbers and tomatoes are also often grown, they might pose a slight challenge for novice growers.
Based on a 2015 survey, the plants that are most commonly cultivated by larger-scale producers are:
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- Salad greens
- Other herbs
- Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
- Head lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
- Kale (Brassica oleracea)
- Chard (Beta vulgaris subspecies cicla)
- Bok choi (Brassica rapa spp. chinensis)
- Peppers (Capsicum annuum)
- Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)
How to Set Up an Aquaponics Tank
Many people are surprised to discover how easy it is to set up their own aquaponics system, despite the perception that it is complicated and futuristic. To create your own system, all you need is a tank, a filter, lights, and an aerator pump. Additionally, you will require fish and plants, and depending on the fish species, a tank heater may also be necessary. Nonetheless, the energy requirements for running an aquaponics tank are relatively minimal, especially when compared to the amount of energy it generates through the production of fresh food.
Both popular ornamental fish and common seafood species, including tilapia and catfish, thrive in aquaponics setups. Aquaponics enthusiasts often choose tilapia and catfish as the more popular edible fish options, while koi and goldfish remain common choices for ornamental purposes.
When selecting fish for your aquaponics system, it is important to consider their preferred water conditions such as temperature, hardness, and pH level. Additionally, you should be mindful of their behavior towards plants in their surroundings. While most fish may only take a few bites, it is advisable to avoid species like the silver dollar fish, as they have a tendency to uproot plants.
Almost any plant can thrive in an aquaponics tank, with the exception of plants that prefer an acidic environment. It is important to note that these plants usually do not perform well in a typically pH-neutral aquaponics tank.
