Aquaponics - The Blissful Union of Fish and Plants

By raising fish or aquatic animals, called aquaculture, combined with the cultivation of plant life within an aquatic environment, aquaponics is gaining more awareness today and has shown evidence of its success both currently and historically. This method of aquaculture is becoming increasingly utilized and developed because of its environmental benefits, as well as its economical savings. The joining of these two elements, fish and plant life, creates a mutually beneficial relationship of biology and organic vegetables. This combination is referred to as symbiotic relationship.

Generally, the most successful aquaponic environments combine fresh, warm water fish with leafy vegetables such as spinach or lettuce. Bell peppers, tomatoes and fruiting plants, as well as plants with extensive nutritional needs tend to thrive in well stocked fish environments. Aquaponic fish can be of the ornamental species, including koi or goldfish, or they can be raised to eat such as bass, tilapia or carp. Similarly, both plants and edible vegetables can be chosen with aquaponics.

Aquaponic gardening enables the fish to live in clean water purified by the plants and the plants to, in turn, enjoy the nutrient rich water from the fish waste. This symbiosis, "syn" meaning "with" and "biosis" meaning "living", is the relationship between two or more organisms co-existing within the same environment. Aquaponics strikes an ideal balance between organisms, having each benefit from the other and, thus, creating an optimal end product. The waste generated by the fish is organic, consisting largely of critical nutrients for plant life to thrive. Consideration of the type of food you feed the fish will determine the quality of waste and, ultimately, the end product. The fish food source should be specific to each individual fish species. Any remaining amount of fish waste is referred to as 'by-product' and collects at the bottom of the aquaponic habitat. This can be treated and recycled via a sump pump. The proper treatment and disposal of the effluent, or wastewater, will result in producing among the purest of organic vegetation.

Aquaponic aquaculture environments provide flexibility in location of development, which allows for indoor aquarium or mini system environments, or stacked tubs using the 'trickle effect' of water, as well as within a pre-existing body of water. This level of flexibility enables food development virtually anywhere in the world. Restrictions due to land fertility are no longer a factor and infestations are much more limited and managed. When due care is taken in the development of aquaponic systems, the end result becomes a sustainable organic food source. The balance between fish and plant creates an environment that allows both to benefit.

Natural outdoor ponds or pots are often chosen as an ideal space to contain an aquaponic water garden. The freshwater fish work well in aquaponics and may include trout, cod, tilapia, and barramundi. Crops tending to thrive in this environment are tomato plants, leaf vegetables, melons, peppers, legumes, berries, and herbs. These work especially well to purify the waste created by the fish, thus creating a mutually beneficial union.