Aquaponics integrates hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil, with aquaculture, the practice of breeding aquatic animals such as fish and crustaceans. Although an aquaponic system might resemble a hydroponic system at first glance, it doesn’t utilize a primary reservoir brimming with a nutrient-rich solution. Instead, the nutrients for plant growth are supplied from a tank of live fish.
Aquaponics can be advantageous for any hydroponically-grown plant, with popular options being tomatoes, peppers, leafy lettuce greens, and herbs. Freshwater fish farming is a standard practice in aquaponics. Achieving success necessitates balancing elements such as temperature, pH, and nutrient levels between the plants and animals. Tilapia is frequently chosen for systems because of their adaptability to varied settings, resilience to diverse water conditions, and ease of breeding.
How Does Aquaponics Work?
In aquaponics, plant roots are hydrated by water from fish tanks, which are also fertilized naturally by fish waste. The plants, in turn, filter the water, ensuring its safety for the fish. This is achieved by recirculating water from the fish tank through grow beds filled with plants that absorb the water’s dissolved nutrients.
Aquaponics creates a mutually beneficial relationship between plants and animals by replicating the natural aquatic ecosystems present in rivers, streams, and other bodies of water.
While it may seem uncomplicated, there are various other elements involved in this process. In an aquaponic system, there are three living organisms present including plants, fish, and bacteria in the water, each with distinctive pH requirements. It is essential to monitor the pH level regularly to prevent it from becoming too high or too low. Fish waste can lead to the water becoming too acidic, hindering efficient nutrient absorption by the plants and causing damage to the entire system. Therefore, it is crucial to consider factors like temperature and pH when choosing the appropriate fish and plants, imitating how nature operates in the wild. To maintain this delicate balance, skilled aquaponic growers may use pH adjusters as well as red worms, which can aid in breaking down and evenly distributing waste to the plants.
Types of Aquaponics
Aquaponics, similar to hydroponics, utilizes growth media instead of soil to provide plant support and root protection. The growth media in aquaponics also acts as a vital habitat for beneficial bacteria to grow and filter fish tank waste within the grow bed. Although costly, expanded clay pebbles are a lightweight and effective aggregate and other options include gravel, shale, and porous lava rocks. The optimal growth media selection is dependent on system size, plant type, pH level, cost, and aquaponic system type.
A hydroponic method in which plant roots are suspended in a nutrient-rich water solution is called Deep Water Culture.
This type of aquaponic system is referred to as raft-based growing, where a foam raft is utilized in a channel containing filtered fish tank water sans solid waste. The raft holds plants in holes, enabling roots to draw nutrients directly from the water. It is commonly used in commercial setups or for fast-growing plants with lower nutrient requirements, like salad greens.
Bed Media
Plants are grown in planting media beds made of inert materials like shale or expanded clay pebbles, which are situated adjacent to or on top of the fish tank. This method provides plants with both biological and mechanical filtration. Biological filtration involves the transformation of ammonia, which is naturally generated by fish waste, into nitrates. Meanwhile, mechanical filtration pertains to the elimination of solid waste. The water from the tank is drawn by a pump and conveyed through the media bed, allowing the plants to draw nutrients from the water before it is fully filtered and returned to the tank.
Media aquaponics is the preferred system for most home and hobby growers, as well as for larger-scale operations that cultivate fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Aquaponics utilizing a vertical system.
Vertical aquaponics is a technique where plants are arranged in a tower, allowing for one plant to be on top of another. The system includes a wicking material to transfer water from the top to the roots of the plants, before flowing into a lower trough or fish tank. This method is effective in saving space, and growers can produce a significant amount of food with limited square footage.
The Nutrient Film Technique is a method for growing plants in a thin film of nutrient-rich water.
The nutrient film technique, commonly known as NFT, is ideal for growing plants such as strawberries, leafy greens, and herbs that do not need much support. The plants are positioned in openings drilled into slim troughs such as PVC pipes, enabling the roots to hang straight into the water. This technique also permits the systems to be suspended from ceilings or run along walls above other plants, making it an effective space-saving solution.
How to Raise Tilapia in an Aquaponics System
Aquaponics is an advanced method that combines hydroponics and aquaculture to reap benefits from both. Research has proven that no chemicals are necessary for aquaponics. It uses only a small portion of the water necessary for field plant production and fish farming. Were you aware that numerous advantages arise from implementing tilapia into an aquaponic system?
Tilapia Species
Being conscious of the fact that various types of tilapia exist is crucial. Selecting the appropriate one for your arrangement can be based on their physical appearance or behavioral tendencies.
Tilapia cannot thrive if the water temperature falls below 55°F or 12°C, causing them to become stressed and inhibiting their growth. Therefore, if this low temperature is common in your region, it’s advisable to consider other types of fish.
In order to preserve growth, it is advisable not to expose tilapia to temperatures exceeding 86°F or 30°C. It is important to note that different species have specific temperature requirements.
By using this mini-guide, you can determine which type of tilapia is the most suitable for your needs.
Tilapia that dwell in the Nile river.
The most frequently cultivated type of tilapia in aquaculture is Oreochromis niloticus, also known as Nile tilapia, due to its rapid growth rate. These fish thrive in temperatures between 27 and 30°C (80-86°F).
Tilapia that is colored blue.
The blue tilapia, also known as Oreochromis aureus, is the second most rapidly growing type of tilapia, but their actual color is not always blue. They mostly resemble the Nile tilapia. The blue tilapia can adapt better to frigid conditions than other species. If you live in a colder region, it is recommended to consider blue tilapia as a suitable option. Their ideal water temperature ranges from 20-22°C (68-71°F).
Tilapia, both white and hybrid varieties.
The white tilapia is a hybridized version of the blue tilapia, so it is important to conduct research on the particular breed you are acquiring. Depending on the location and method of its breeding, the fish may exhibit either rapid or sluggish growth.
It is essential to verify if the plant you choose for your aquaponics system grows quickly since that is likely to be your preference.
The grey/white colored white tilapia resembles the Hawaiian gold tilapia in its appearance.
One notable distinction of this variety of tilapia, aside from its hue, is its ability to survive in temperatures as low as 50°F before perishing. However, it still prefers warmer environments and may enter a dormant state in colder temperatures, but this trait makes it more resilient.
Tilapia Feeding
A crucial concern to address when considering the keeping of tilapia in aquaponics is: what is the dietary requirement of tilapia?
Your primary duty is to provide them with food and ensure that the water is at a suitable temperature. In their natural habitat, they would consume diatoms and an abundance of blue-green algae. Nonetheless, you will strive to limit the growth of algae in your aquaponics setup for the benefit of your plants.
To ensure the optimal functioning of your system, it is recommended that you source organic food specifically designed for tilapia. While a variety of fish feeds are available in the market, most have been formulated using waste products by farmers.
The truth is, certain foods are made up of fish bones that have been ground up and leftovers from agriculture, and this is suboptimal nourishment for all fish types.
Selecting organic tilapia food means that the requirements of the fish are prioritized, and the food is then prepared with the finest ingredients to guarantee optimal nourishment.
Your system could have a significant impact. Choosing the proper fish food can aid in the rapid growth of your tilapia to full size in just 240 days. If the conditions are incorrect, your tilapia might never even weigh a single pound.
Tilapia Breeding
The significance of ensuring that your tank is appropriate cannot be emphasized enough. Even though tilapias are comparatively delicate, they assist in maintaining tank cleanliness and supplying an abundance of nourishment for plants.
It is crucial to keep the temperature within the range of 80°F, which requires vigilant monitoring.
A common error among tilapia users is to constantly alter the water’s pH in an attempt to rectify it.
If your plants are adaptable, it’s advisable to allow the water to regulate itself. Tilapias exhibit varied pH levels based on their diet.
These guidelines are essential for all tilapia fish. Additionally, they will be beneficial in preparing the fish for reproduction.
- When ready for breeding lower the water temperature to the late ’70s. This will prevent them from breeding at first. Keeping the tank dark also helps.
- You can then select the fish you want to breed; don’t let them just breed as they feel like it. Breeding fish stop growing and the males become very aggressive.
- You may prefer to select the breeding candidates by placing them in a separate tank to observe them first.
- When you’re ready, keep the ones you want to breed in a separate tank and warm the water to 85°F.
- Then add light; make sure the tank lights are on for at least 12 hours although you’ll also have to make sure this doesn’t interfere with any growing or flowering cycle in your plants.
- Add a substrate to the base of your breeding tank; this is for the female to lay her eggs in. Gravel is a good option for this.
- As soon as the fry appears, remove the mature fish and put them back into your aquaponics system (let them get used to the temperature difference first). The fry won’t be preyed on and can be added when they are a little bigger.
Pros Of Tilapia In Aquaponics
- Easy To Harvest – Tilapia is always easy to harvest when used in aquaponics. It is often a good idea to purge the fish during harvest time. For this process to be performed, it is expedient to put them in a separate tank. This will help the tilapia’s digestive system to be properly cleaned. In most cases, you will find people withholding feed for 3-5 days when using tilapia for aquaponics before harvest time. Ensure water is often exchanged during the time of withholding feed from tilapia. This will help to reduce temperature and as well as improve water quality. Putting all these together will help to easily harvest tilapia in an aquaponics system.
- Good Development/Growth Rate – Tilapia aquaponics will always lead to a good development/growth rate for this type of fish. Studies have shown that 2-4 ounce tilapia fingerlings can attain about 0.75 lb by the end of the growing season. Experiencing a good development rate is highly important. This is because you will have the opportunity of producing the same amount of nutrients with a smaller amount of fish for the plants.
Cons Of Tilapia In Aquaponics
- Temperature – It’s both a pro and a con. You could use tilapia in colder climates but you need to be willing to pay your heating bill which can be huge. It’s better to use trout in colder climates.
Where can I buy live tilapia?
Before purchasing tilapia online, it is crucial to conduct thorough research to ensure the quality of the product matches its depiction.
You might find it preferable to go to your local fish store and check out their inventory.
Remember that purchasing fingerlings is a more cost-effective option than buying fully grown fish. Another option is to acquire a male and female and begin cultivating your own stock.
