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Using Aquaponics to Produce Food in a Sustainable MannerModern day aquaponics is essentially the rebirth of age old practices to farm vegetables, herbs and fish in a self contained eco-system. It is an eco-friendly way to naturally produce quality food for home use or for sale. This scaleable farming method is experiencing renewed interest worldwide with many small home growers and large operations employing the process as a means of producing sustainable fish and plant crops. Are rising food costs and the recent scares involving e-coli and salmonella containantion leading you consider growing your own food at home? If so, you're not alone. Some 43 million U.S. households are expected to try their hand at food gardening this year, including the Obama family and 21 percent will be newcomers looking to green their thumbs for the first time, according to the National Gardening Association. Growing your own food may not be as difficult as you think. If you have limited space, aquaponics is one method certainly worth exploring. Many people I know are today raising fish and growing plants with aquaponics and enjoying the taste and benefits of eating wholesome food. |
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Aquaponics Using Plants and Fish - An Introduction Aquaponics (sometimes mistakeningly spelled as aquaphonics) is the name given to the synergistic combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. The appeal of aquaponics is that in combining the two activities the potential negative aspects in each are dealt with in a viable and sustainable manner. In other words, the sum of the two when combined has greater benefits than the individual activities alone. The process makes use of waste products from growing fish as a natural nutrient source for plants. Nutrient rich fish water from the fish tanks is pumped into the plant growing area - which can be simple gravel beds, trough type tanks, hydroponics NFT tanks, or drip feed systems. Whatever the type, plants growing in the system extract the nutrients from the water, nutrients that the fish provide. The plants clean the water of excess nutrients, the water is then oxygenated by simple means and is reused again and again in the fish rearing tanks. This practice makes efficient use of what would otherwise be considered organic waste. There is minimum effluent runoff from this type of farming. Plants and bacteria in the growing beds use nutrients from the fish effluent and in return purify the water for the benefit of the fish. Fertilizers normally required for hydroponics production are not needed, the integration of plants and fish actually necessitates that NO chemical pesticides or medications be used. A well designed and properly operated system will use about one tenth of the water required for normal vegetable growing and reduces the water needed for single usage fish farming by 95% or greater. The system can be quite simple and revolutionary because it generally does not make use of complex technology normally required for high tech aquaculture, hydroponics, or both.
Plants and Fish Crops Lettuce, chives and other leafy crops were first raised using aquaponics. Commercial growers and researchers have also had excellent success with growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and a variety of peppers. Flowers including lilies and even roses and many other crops, have been produced using aquaponics. Tilapia, a fresh water fish that is hardy and fast growing, is most commonly raised fish in aquaponics. Numerous other freshwater fish, such as crappie, bass, carp, brim, goldfish and koi are being raised in aquaponics. More intense commercial operators are experimenting and developing hybrid systems to raise trout, char and salmon, such systems are more complex and require higher levels of technologies and management for rearing environment control. Simple less conplex aquaponics systems that are designed to feed a family or a small group can be successfully installed in a shed, garage or greenhouse. If you intend to raise fish ensure that you check with local authorities to determine if there are restrictions on the type of fish in your area.
Aquaponics in part time Aqua Farming Aquaphonic farming is an excellent way to grow your own supply of fresh herbs, vegetables and fish year round. A basic simple system can be made at home and consists of a tank of fish connected to one or more growing beds. It can be constructed small enough to fit into a garage, spare room, or kitchen, one or more systems could fit into a shed or home greenhouse. The instructions for constructing and operating a simple home made aquaponics system is available free in our aqua farming knowledge library. For those who prefer to get going faster, complete ready to assemble expertly designed systems are also available to purchase online from the North Aqua Land and Sea Store. Hobby scale aquaponics systems are becoming more attractive to people that desire to grow some of their own food in a natural manner that they control. This process has a considerable following among gardeners, acreage farmers and urban groups. Numerous internet discussion groups have been formed for information and a good quantity of magazine articles have been written on the subject. Additional information and resources on small scale aqua farming is available in our Hobby Farming section. Commercial Aquaponics Farming The integration or polyculture of plants and fish is also practiced on a commercial scale. Any number of larger systems could function in commercial fish farms, greenhouse operations, existing barns or city warehouse space. Besides offering the ability to produce and sell multiple crops, aquaponics systems can also be used to reduce water requirements and mitigate waste issues at commercial aquaculture farms. These factors also help to increase the number of locations acceptable to establishment of farms in areas closer to market centers. Visit our knowledge Library and download the reference document titled Recirculating Aquaculture Tank Production Systems - Integrating Fish and Plant Culture. It provides excellent information on commercial scale aquaponics. It was produced by the Southern Region Aquaculture Center and available for free distribution. Our article on recirculation aquaculture systems provides a further explanation of the water saving technologies and the environmental benefits of land based aquaculture tank farm designs. Many larger scale farms that practice aquaponics also use similar lighting, environmental and temperature control systems as those commonly found in hydroponics grow systems. In many warmer climates structures similar to those used in commercial greenhouse operations are also used in housing the equipment while allowing light transfer from the sun. The tanks used to grow the fish crops come in many forms and sizes including circular and rectangle tanks constructed from plastic, fiberglass, concrete steel or even wood that has been lined with PVC or similar type liners. Stainless steel is used at certain locations in constructing some equipment components. A Farming Practice that is Helping to Create a Greener World Although the operating methods involved in Aquaponics have been practiced for many years, the emergence of these self contained food production systems is seen as a fairly new concept in today's society. Call it new or old, it is without a doubt a practice that is receiving considerable interest due to an ever increasing need for fresh wholesome food and an acute global awareness that sustainable eco-friendly agricultural practices should be the rule of growth in farming rather than the exception. Aquaponics technology is a gardening method that is considered by many to be the future of organic farming. This short introduction to Aquaponics is intended to provide basic information on what Aquaponics is. If you are looking for more detail including system design, fish and plant types that can be grown etc., then check out the other sections of this site to gather additional information. We have also listed below suggested books on the subjects of Aquaculture, Fish and Aquaponics that you can browse and order from the links below, or visit our web store. Home Aquaponics Systems Ready To Assemble Earth Solutions offers several different sized ready to install systems. (Images above) The Earth Solutions Farm In A Box™ are self contained Aquaponics systems that allow you to grow organic fish and vegetables conveniently and efficiently at home. Six different sizes of systems are available to satisfy the needs of a beginer or the more serious minded. These units also make great teaching tools, at home or in a classrom, providing both teachers and students with hands on sustainability, biology, and earth science education. Three of the most popular models are listed below and available through our Land and Sea Store. Beginner? you will find that this system meets many of your needs. Aquaponic System Farm in a Box - Little Tokyo For Hobby fish and edible plants - try this One. Aquaponic System Farm in a Box - Charleston To grow both edible fish and plants year round try this system. Aquaponic System Farm in a Box - Atlantis  Aquaponics use in sustainable fish and plant farming by Robert Freeman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Canada License. Based on a work at www.northernaquafarms.com. |
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Similar subjects: What is aquaculture? What is Hydroponics? How do Water Recirculation Aquaculture Systems work? |
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