AQUAPONICS

Introduction

Aquaponics is a fairly new system of food production, but it is rapidly gaining popularity due to its many advantages, especially in the context of the rising food prices. In this short introduction to aquaponics, we’ll explain what Aquaponics involves and mention some of its many advantages.

Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (the growing of fish) and hydroponics (the growing of plants in water without soil). This integrated system works so well because the two form a symbiotic relationship;  and nutrients and resources are recycled between the two. The fish provide waste, which the bacteria turn into plant nutrients, providing the plants with food and the fish with clean water. Indeed, bacteria is the linchpin which keeps the whole system running.

With regards to the set-up, it is actually very simple. You have the fish tanks, in which you grow fish, and on top of the tanks sits the grow bed. The grow bed is the surface in which the plants are rooted and is the location of most of the bacteria in the system. The grow bed can be made of different materials, but a common one is gravel. Gravel is ideal because it filters the water and provides support to the roots. In addition, it has a large surface area and can house a large number of bacteria.

In an Aquaponics system, water is pumped from the fish tank to the grow bed, where the bacteria reside. The bacteria break down the fish waste and convert it to nitrates, an excellent fertilizer. The plants take up the nitrates and some of the water, and in the process filter the water. The water is then returned cleaned to the fish tank via gravity.

Aquaponics has many advantages. It is the most sustainable and cost-effective method of food production. It saves you money, and provides you with fresh organic food from your own backyard. It doesn’t take much space and can be located anywhere: in the backyard, in a spare room, in the garage, etc… It is very flexible, as you can grow a large variety of vegetables and fish. It is environmentally friendly, as no water is wasted and it produces no harmful by-products. Aquaponics is also much easier to run than a conventional soil farm or fish farm – there is no weeding, no watering and no addition of fertilizers and harmful pesticides.

Furthermore, an Aquaponics system is very easy to scale up, and indeed many people end up doing it for profit. This is because the food produced by Aquaponics farming has minimal costs and fetches high prices (as it is organic) and therefore the profit is significant.

Aquaponics is the most sustainable form of form food production. With a small Aquaponics set up, you can easily generate enough food to feed your family. No special equipment is needed, and indeed practically all of it can be bought cheaply at your local hardware store or even constructed at home. Let’s take a look at the Aquaponics equipment you’ll need to start this wonderful venture.

We’ll first start with the fish tank, and this is the largest component of the system. The larger the tank, the more fish you’ll be able to grow and the more nutrients for the plants that will be generated. If this is your first attempt with aquaponics, it is sensible to start small. However, you should get as a minimum a tank that can hold 50 gallons of water (about 190 liters). You can easily construct a tank yourself by using recycled bathtubs, half barrels etc… If they’re not water-tight, simply line them with EPDM pond liner. The tank will be heavy to move, so just put it in its intended location from the start. You can locate your aquaponics system anywhere as long as it’s shielded from harmful chemicals. In addition, it shouldn’t be in direct sunlight, as this would cause an algal bloom. Click if you want to know more


Equipment

The next piece of Aquaponics  that you’ll need to think about is the grow bed. The grow bed is where the plants will be rooted and where the conversion of fish waste to nutrients by bacteria will be taking place. The size of the grow bed you’ll use will depend on the size of the fish tank: the more fish you’re growing, the more waste that is generated, and the more nutrients that will be available for the plants. Generally, a volume ratio of 1:1 grow bed to fish tank is recommended. The Aquaponics grow beds should be about 12 inches deep, in order to provide sufficient support for the plants and to provide enough space for the bacteria to thrive.

The grow bed should be filled with an appropriate medium, a popular one being gravel. Requirements for a good medium is that it is inert (does not affect the pH of the system) and that it does not decompose. Avoid limestone as this leaches calcium carbonate which increases the pH of the water.

In an Aquaponics system, water is pumped from the fish tank to the grow bed, and then returns to the fish tank via gravity. For this, you will need a water pump and pipes. Many aquaponics farmers use a timer-operated pump, setting it to switch on for 15 minutes every 45 minutes. This helps to oxygenate the water. When buying a pump, get one that can pump the entire volume of the tank in an hour – this will depend on the volume of your tank. Larger tanks need larger pumps. Click if you want to know more

Plant Nutrients

In Aquaponics, the sole source of plant nutrients is fish waste. As unbelievable as this may seem, with a properly managed Aquaponics system, plants can thrive on this source of nitrogen. The key is to have a healthy bacterial colony growing in the system, which will convert the toxic fish waste into harmless nitrates which are an excellent fertilizer for the plants. The bulk of the bacterial colonies will be in the grow bed medium, often gravel.

In a newly set-up Aquaponics system, the bacteria will need some time to colonize the medium. This is why a process called ‘cycling’ is used. There are two methods of cycling your system – using fish right from the start or putting the fish in only when the bacteria have established themselves. The first method takes 4 to 6 weeks, while the latter is quicker and can be done in about 10 days. Cycling without fish (using ammonia) is also safer.

An important aspect in the system that is needed to ensure a steady supply of plant nutrients is pH. If this is not optimal, an accumulation of toxic materials will build up, and nutrient generation by the bacteria will be halted. In addition, pH outside the range will make it harder for the plant roots to take up nutrients and can harm the fish. Try to keep your pH at around 6.7 to 7. If your pH is outside the range, get commercial pH regulators to increase or decrease the pH. Alternatively use vinegar to lower the pH and calcium carbonate or baking soda to increase the pH.

Although some Aquaponics farmers use nutrient supplements, in a properly managed system supplements are never required. In addition, if you use supplements you need to be very careful, as some can harm the fish. As long as you keep the pH at 6.7 to 7, and the water well oxygenated, the bacteria will provide more than enough nutrients for your plants.

The only substance that it may be beneficial to add is salt. Salt is often added to Aquaponics systems at 1 to 2 ppt (parts per thousand; meaning 1 kilo to 1000 liters of water). Adding salt increases the resistance of the fish to disease and infections, because it has a positive effect on the mucus layer of the fish. If you decide to add salt, it is important to keep the concentration below 2ppt and to use pure sea salt – not table salt.

To discover how to boost your plant’s growth and ensure the highest yields, refer to Aquaponics

Grow Bed Media and Water

In this article we will talk about Aquaponics grow bed media and water, two crucial components of an aquaponics system. The grow bed medium is the plant’s habitat while the water is the fish’s habitat. The two are interconnected and if there are problems in one, they will manifest themselves in the other.

There are many grow bed media to choose from, ranging from simple ones to ‘bioengineered” branded ones. A very popular and effective one is gravel, which also happens to be very cheap. Gravel is ideal because it provides good support for the roots of the plants and filters the water well. In addition, it proves to be a good habitat for the beneficial bacteria, which will be busy turning fish wastes into plant nutrients. Get round gravel, and it should be big enough not to clog but small enough to provide good root support. The plant roots need good water circulation and oxygen, and if the medium compacts too much, this won’t be possible. Good medium size for Aquaponics is around 0.5 to 0.75 of an inch in diameter.


If you opt for another type of medium, you need to ensure that it has some important properties. It should be chemically inert and it must not influence the pH of the water. For example, limestone leaks calcium carbonate and this will push the pH up. Gravel, lava rock, and most river stones are pH neutral. Similarly, the medium should not decompose, as this will affect the pH levels and potentially clog the systems. Decomposing materials can also leak substances in the water that can harm you fish. Avoid soil, peat moss, sawdust or wood chippings.

It is important that the medium you choose is porous, as this will allow for good air and water circulation and will give the bacteria plenty of surface area to colonize. You should also make sure that the medium is easy to handle; it should be gentle on the hands and on the plant’s roots.

Now, something about the water. You want the water to be pure, free of chlorine and other chemicals and as close to pH 7 as possible. Municipal water will be of high pH and will contain chlorine. However, all you have to do is to fill your tank and let it sit for two or three days. The chlorine will evaporate off by itself. If the pH of your water is too high, you can buy aquarium pH regulators, or else add in some vinegar or iron sulfate fertilizer. Add small quantities at a time and test. On the other hand, if the pH of the water is too low, get an aquarium pH regulator, add in some baking soda or calcium carbonate. Again, add in small quantities at a time and test. You final pH should be between 6.7 to 7.

Get all the information and insider secrets about setting up a successful Aquaponics system in Aquaponics 4 You.

Feeding Your Fish

Feeding your aquaponics fish is one of your daily tasks when running an Aquaponics system. It is vital for the fish and in turn essential for the production of plant nutrients. In this article we’ll talk about the what, when and how to feed your fish. We’ll also talk about using auto-feeders for the ones among you who like to automate life!

Most fish are not picky on feeding schedule; indeed in the wild there is no such thing as regular feeding. They will adjust their metabolisms and growth rates according to food availability. So if you want to grow fish quickly, simply feed them often. However, be careful with crowding because a population density which is too high will make the fish labile to disease outbreaks. With regards to the actual amounts of feed per feeding session, you should give them as much feed as they can eat within five minutes.

Many automatic feeders are available, differing in complexity and price. However, you can get simple cheap ones which will do the job just fine. You should set the feeding times at once or twice daily, possibly more if you want to grow fish quickly and have a low stocking density. Using an automatic feeder does not mean that you can stop checking on you system daily, because if you do, you won’t know if anything goes wrong with the system.

With regards to the actual feed, most people opt for commercial feed, which is an excellent choice. Commercial fee is either of the omnivorous or carnivorous type and these will differ in their quantities of protein. Check with your local fisheries department for the most suitable one for the particular fish species you are growing; though most fish thrive well on both. Feed also comes in different pellet sizes – you should get the small ones for young fish and larger ones as the fish grow bigger.

Many Aquaponics farmers grow their own fish feed to drastically cut costs. The most commonly grown of such feeds is duckweed, a fast growing plant that is rich in protein. You can grow this in a separate tank or pond. To provide more protein, you can also grow worms and black soldier fly larvae. You can also feed your fish some garden scraps. For example, most omnivorous fish will enjoy bland-tasting plants and vegetable, such as lettuce. Be careful that the plant-food you give to the fish is not covered in pesticides or other harmful chemicals.

To learn more about how to take care of your Aquaponics fish and plants, check out Aquaponics 4 You.

Commercial Aquaponics: Top Tips

Many start out with Aquaponics as a hobby, and quickly scale up to do it on a commercial scale once they realize how profitable it is. Start up costs are low, because you can build the system yourself using materials found that your local hardware store. Running costs are also minimal, because nutrients and resources (such as water) are recycled between the plant ecosystem and the fish ecosystem, and the two sustain each other. Profits are high, because fresh organic vegetables and fish fetch good prices.

 Here are our top tips to get you started in commercial Aquaponics:<

 1. Research the local market.

 This will dictate what vegetables and fish to grow. You want to choose the ones with a high demand, high price, and possibly low competition. Of course, do not choose a fish/vegetable species that requires climatic conditions that are very different from what you have in the area. For example, tilapia require warm temperatures, and if you live in cold areas you’ll have to spend significantly on heating to grow these; a better option would be trout. In addition, you may consider growing fish to sell them as pets instead of food: in many areas there is a considerable demand for goldfish, for example. 

Same when it comes to plants: in some areas, you’ll find that it is more profitable to grow herbs instead of vegetables. In addition, it is usually profitable to grow off season produce, but this will require heating (and hence heating costs). It’s all about finding the optimal balance to maximize profits. Do your research properly. 

2. Find your customers. If you sell directly to the consumers, you’ll get to keep all your profits, but it can be a hassle. Instead, you can get a deal from a local grocery/fish monger and you can sell all you produce to them. However, you’ll have to give them a lower price than what you’ll give to direct clients. If you are selling fish as pets, consider placing an advertisement in your local newspaper. 

3. Start small, think big. No matter how thorough your research, only when you’ll actually start your venture you’ll get to know all the things involved and the profit margin. Therefore, you should start small, as this will give you the flexibility to adapt. It’s also easier to run a smaller system, and if you are new to Aquaponics you’ll have some learning to do to run it efficiently. In addition, when you’re just starting out, things will go wrong and it is easier to fix them on a small scale than if you are running a massive Aquaponics farm.
 

Learn how to make it BIG with aquaponics farming in Aquaponics 4 You.

Fishless Cycling

Aquaponics fishless cycling is a method of starting up your Aquaponics farming system without using fish. When you first start an Aquaponics system, there will be no bacteria. Bacteria are crucial in the running of the system, as they are responsible for breaking down toxic fish waste and transforming it into nutrients for the plants. In traditional cycling, you put your fish into the newly setup system, and they will start generating ammonia (fish waste).

 Eventually, nitrosomonas bacteria will colonize the system, and these will break down the ammonia into nitrites (which are still toxic). Another species of bacteria will then colonize the system – nitrobacter – and these will break down the nitrites into nitrates, which make excellent plant fertilizer. The problem is that colonization by bacteria takes time, and in the meantime ammonia and nitrites can build up in the water to toxic levels, harming and possibly killing the fish. Aquaponics fishless cycling avoids this problem, as fish are introduced only after the bacterial colonies have established themselves.

To carry out Aquaponics fishless cycling, you need to buy a source of ammonia – generally found in Cyclic Kits. Next, add in the ammonia to the fish tank’s water until you get a level between 2 to 4ppm (parts per million). For fish tanks smaller than 100 gallons, add half a teaspoon of ammonia at a time, and test. Consult the mixing instructions on the ammonia you buy, as different types of mixtures have different strengths. If you overshoot, and you get a reading higher than 4ppm, simply remove some of the water and add in fresh water to dilute the ammonia strength.

Once you get a level of 2 to 4ppm, you should test the water every day for ammonia, nitrites and pH levels. When ammonia levels start dropping, add some more to keep a level of 2 to 4ppm. Once nitrates appear (at least 5ppm), stop adding ammonia. Shortly after, the ammonia and nitrite levels should drop to below 0.5ppm. What this happens, the cycling is over and you can safely add the fish. During the cycling process, try to keep the temperature of the water to about 77 to 86°F and the pH to around 7 to 8, as this will speed up bacterial growth.

Aquaponics cycling without fish is safer than when you use fish, and much quicker. Typically, with the fishless method you can get your system up and running in just 10 days, compared to the 4 weeks it would take if you opt for cycling with fish.

Get step-by-step guidance on setting up and starting up your Aquaponics farm in Aquaponics 4 You. 

Starting Up Your System

The perfect balance and synergy between the fish and plants in an Aquaponics system depends on the bacteria which breakdown fish waste and transform it into plant fertilizer. Starting up your Aquaponics system involves making sure that the bacteria grows and thrives in your system, and you will need to give it some time before the population of bacteria can support fish and plant growth. As soon as you put fish in your tanks, they will start producing ammonia (in their wastes).

Nitrosomonas bacteria in the air will populate the water surface, and start converting the toxic ammonia into nitrites. Nitrites are still toxic, but their presence will attract nitrobacter bacteria. These will colonize your system and convert the nitrites into nitrates, which are harmless to the fish and excellent fertilizes to the plants. When this happens, you will be able to detect nitrates in your system, and the concentrations of both ammonia and nitrites will drop below 0.5ppm.

 This will signal that your system is now up and running! This will generally take about four to six weeks in total. A method of starting up the aquaponics system which is becoming increasingly popular is the ‘fishless’ one, where you do not use the fish as the initial source of ammonia. Instead, you start up the system without any fish in the tank and add artificial ammonia.

 To do this, you should buy Cycling Kits, which will give you all the tools you need to start your system. Then, you add the fish once the system is up and running and the bacteria are thriving (i.e. when the levels of ammonia and nitrites drop to below 0.5ppm). This method is safer, as there is no danger of having fish dying due to initial ammonia spikes. 

 If you are using the ‘fishless’ method, you can also speed up the process by modifying the other parameters. One of the main ways to do this is to use higher temperatures (typically 77 to 86°F), as bacteria multiply more rapidly at these temperature ranges. You can also use a pH of about 7 to 8 to speed up bacterial growth and oxygenate the tank as much as possible, for example by using air stones and some kind of water jetting action. In addition, you can also buy bacterial colonies, which will definitely speed up the process. 

Alternatively, get some filter material or gravel from an established, disease-free aquarium as this will be rich in the bacterial colonies we want. You can also get some rocks and pebbles from a river or lake, but be careful of the risk of introducing disease and parasites.
Get step-by-step guidance on setting up and starting up your Aquaponics farm in Aquaponics 4 You.