Aquaponics is a farming system that combines hydroponic farming, where plants are grown without soil, with aqua farming, which involves raising fish. This technique is highly effective for simultaneously producing fish and plants. The waste produced by the fish in the aquaculture section will be separated into bacteria containing dissolved nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients will then be used by the plants to thrive. Removing the nutrients also enhances water quality, and it decreases water consumption by managing the release of liquid waste.
Aquaponic Fish Feed/Food:
There are various types of food options available for properly treating your Aquaponic fish. Some Aquaponic farmers choose to use duckweed, although it is not sufficient on its own as fish have specific preferences for their diet. Fishes require a combination of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and proteins in their feed. Providing food for wild fish is simple, as they consume insects and naturally growing plants in bodies of water. However, when it comes to pond or commercially raised fish, you need to supply them with pellets, flakes, insects, bloodworms, prepared foods, and cultured foods. Additionally, the type of feed you provide depends on the size and age of the fish you are raising. Young fish require a higher protein content in order to promote their growth.
You have the ability to cultivate worms and insects independently. Dragonflies, wingless flies, cockroaches, earthworms, bloodworms, black worms, and others can be nurtured by you. The protein content in these creatures varies based on their size.
Aquatic plants like duckweed, algae, water lettuce, and Azolla can be cultivated in a straightforward manner using a side stream system. While they can be grown with ease, it is important to provide appropriate care to prevent clogging of the aquaculture pumps. Additionally, these plants extract oxygen and nutrients from the water. Once they complete their life cycle, they quickly decompose. Therefore, the recommended approach is to dry these plants before incorporating them as part of the fish’s diet.
Fish farmers have a great interest in cultivating their own fish food, with some preferring to provide balanced nutrients and proteins to their fish through pellet foods. Pellets are a type of fish food that sinks in water, while flakes float on the water’s surface. Flakes stay on the water, expecting the fish to come up and consume them. This has the advantage of keeping the water clean, but the downside is that fish may inadvertently ingest air while eating the flakes, which can lead to health problems. On the other hand, pellets sink into the water, allowing fish to naturally consume their food. The advantage of pellets is that fish can eat them without swallowing air, while the drawback is that any uneaten pellets must be removed to maintain water quality.
Organic fish food of Aquaponics:
If you want to make your own organic fish feed, you will need the following items to prepare duckweed.
- A tank is required, which do not have any fishes in it. It should be connected to the Aquaponics system.
- You need pipes to connect the tank to the Aquaponics system.
- Duckweed is required. Take a handful of it.
- A wide-mouthed plastic bottle is required.
Preparation method of Aquaponic Fish Feed:
Step 1: Begin by placing the plastic bottle without fish in the center of the tank. Proceed to drill two holes on two opposite sides of the bottle.
In the second step, proceed to place a spoonful of duckweed into a container with water.
Step 3 involves ensuring that the water is entering the bottle and then flowing into the tank, with the aim of aerating the water without disturbing the duckweed excessively. It is important to set up the arrangement in a manner that results in the formation of bubbles when the water is added to the bottle.
In step 4, ensure to protect your duckweed from sunlight and maintain an average temperature to promote healthy growth. This is crucial when raising fish using Aquaponics.
If you have a garden at your house, there is a wide variety of food available for your fish. You can feed your fish various vegetables and fruits that come from the garden. Watermelon slices, apple slices, and citrus fruits such as oranges, as well as garlic leaves and pepper leaves, are particularly enjoyed by fish. If your fish are accustomed to eating pellets, it may take some time for them to adjust to these natural foods.
Types of Aquaponic fish and Aquaponic fish feed:
- Tilapia fish: These are warm-water fish that are omnivorous in nature. They feed on pellet food, duckweed, and other veggies in the Aquaponics system.
- Yellow perch fish: This type of fish is very good to grow in the recirculating systems. They prefer being in cool water and are very much adjustable to the changes in pH level of water. These fishes feed on the pellets and other veggies.
- Trout: These types of fish are very difficult to maintain in the Aquaponics systems. These fishes prefer being in cool temperatures and are also carnivorous in nature. They require high levels of dissolved oxygen. They generally feed on small fish. They can also survive on pellet fish food.
- Bass, Catfish, and Bluegill: These fishes are raised in ponds. These fishes are very sensitive to temperature, water pH levels, and quality of water. These fish feed on pellets and these are bottom feeders.
- Goldfish, Carp, and Koi fish: These fish very well grow in a pond. These are the fishes which should not be chosen for eating. Koi fish are completely fancy fish. These fishes feed on both flake food and pellet foods, bugs, and also the roots of the plant.
Making Your Own Fish Food
For those who engage in aquaponics, there is a group of individuals who are intrigued by the idea of establishing an entirely natural cycle, including the provision of fish food. However, for beginners, this may not be advisable due to the initial challenges of setting up a new system. Nevertheless, if your setup is small in scale or if you possess a strong drive, you have the option to incorporate this aspect.
To begin with, determine the precise dietary requirements of your fish species. It will be unproductive to feed plant-based food to carnivorous fish, especially if you aim to maintain a healthy fish population for breeding purposes.
In the aquaponics world, herbivores can consume a range of plant foods, and duckweed is highly favored. Duckweed refers to the small-leaved plant that floats on the surface of pond water. If desired, individuals can gather their own initial batch from a nearby pond, although pond supply companies often provide it for purchase to ensure a “cleaner” sample for starting.
To create a thriving duckweed ecosystem, start by adding an additional tank for the duckweed and ensure there is continuous aeration of the water. Using a shallow tank with a depth of only a few inches is sufficient. To harvest the duckweed, use a fine mesh net, which can also serve as your fish food. While it is possible to let the duckweed grow directly on the surface of your fish tank, this method lacks feeding control and can cause issues with your pumps due to the presence of floating plants.
If you have carnivores or omnivores, it can be challenging to acquire insects or worms. One popular method is to breed black soldier fly (BSF) larvae for the purpose of feeding fish. These larvae, also known as small worms or maggots, consume various food scraps found in your kitchen. Managing this process alone may pose some difficulties.
