Aquaponics System: A New Way in Providing Organic and Healthy Foods

Aquaponics, a food production system which combines the aquaculture and hydroponics systems, has now becoming an alternative in providing natural food. Aquaponics is interesting since it allows you to raise aquatic animals (fish, prawns, crayfish, etc.) and plants at the same time by creating a symbiotic environment for both the fish and the plants. As you raise fish, these aquatic creatures will release wastes such as ammonia, mineral, nitrate, and algae that need to be filtered in order to prevent your fish from getting intoxicated by these dangerous wastes. When you cultivate plants in the water, you will be able to use the wastes from the fish for feeding your plants. This way, you will raise healthy fish as well as fresh organic plants for better taste and health.

Which plants or fish you can grow with Aquaponics?

You can almost grow anything with your aquaponics system. You can choose to grow vegetables (lettuce, cucumber, green onions, silver beets, cabbage, pepper, squash, leafy greens, etc.), herbal plants, fruits (strawberry, melon, etc.), or legumes (beans, peas, etc.). Meanwhile, there are also great selections of fish you can opt for the system such as Tilapia, Trout, Chinese Catfish, Large mouth Bass, Striped Bass, Bluegill, Small mouth Bass, Crappie, or decorative fish like Goldfish or Koi. Basically, the choice of the fish type can be adjusted with the climate and environment where you live.

How to start aquaponics system installation?

For starting your own aquaponics system at home, you won't need a lot of investment. You can make the system inside or outside your house. You won't also need advanced aquaponics tools as it is possible to do the entire process manually. There are a lot of instructions and guides about aquaponics you can find from many sources. However, if you still don't have any clue where to start, you are suggested to find help from Aquaponics4You program.

What is Aquaponics4You?

Aquaponics4You is a set of program aimed at assisting you in building your own aquaponics system. Aquaponics4You consists of 2 video tutorials and a 33-page long manual which includes simple instructions, diagrams, and images. All the step-by-step instructions in the videos and the book are easy to understand and will help you to model, construct, take care of, and improve your own aquaponics garden from scratch. Some helpful information you can find from Aquaponics 4 You manual include the list of material you will need and certain points to consider. Additionally, you will also find instructions on how to source components, build the system, nitrify bacteria, test and optimize the system, as well as add water, plants, and fish into the aquaponics system.

Click here to get started

Quality Living With Fish Aquaponics

There have been so many developments in areas of fish farming and agriculture in the recent past. Some of them have done wonders to the development of agriculture and fish farming, and some did not live up to the expectations. When something fails people normally point fingers at the system only and not on the method of approach. Every system has its own merits and demerits. A fish aquaponics system is not an exception.

The recently developed organic farming known as aquaponics is going to revolutionize the method of farming in the years to come. The process of getting started with an aquaponics system really demands proper guidance. An immature way of handling this system may not fetch you the desired results.

An aquaponics system can be described as a combined process of the farming of the aquatic organisms like fish and growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions. In other words, it is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. Both these processes take place simultaneously, and this system addresses the negative aspects of aquaculture and hydroponics in the best possible manner. The highly nutritious fish effluent is a perfect blend of all the nutrients for the optimum growth of plants. The cleaning and purification of the water are being done with the help of plants and the medium in which they grow. Once the filtering process is over, the water will recycle to the fish tank. The same process can be repeated without disposing the water.

There are three basic types of an aquaponics system:

1. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

The main advantage of the NFT system is that the plant roots are exposed continuously to adequate supplies of water, oxygen and nutrients. The defect lies in the fact that it has a very little buffer against interruptions in the flow.

2. Grow Bed Method

A deep container with a vast surface area is being used as the platform for growing. These systems are often designed to provide water to the plants intermittently.

3. Raft Or Deep Water Aquaponics System

This is meant for large scale, industrial purposes. Though it is a highly productive method, intensive biological and mechanical filtrations are essential to keep the water clean.

Though you have the freedom to grow any type of fish in aquaponics, you will have to give proper attention to the biological and economic attributes. You will have to select fish species that are capable of reproducing in captivity, and extreme care will have to be given to select fish species that have a long shelf life. Other major factors include adaptability to artificial feeds, well known culture requirements, market demands, high degree of tolerance in crowding and high density conditions, adaptability to multi-species farming and strong resistance power to diseases.

Biological filtration and mechanical filtration are the two primary types of filtration employed in an aquaponics system. Biological filtration ensures water quality, and the mechanical filtration extract the solid waste to keep the dissolved oxygen level under control. This organic and integrated soil-less system with low operational costs, has become a favorite method among those who are passionate about organic farming. Wouldn't you say an aquaponics system promotes quality living?

Perfect Aquaponics Designs for Your Own Aquaponics System

With this new technology in aquaculture, called aquaponics system, your aquaponics design and plan must be primarily geared towards achieving balance. Without balance, your system will not get the benefit of having clean water to achieve the appropriate environments needed for both fish and plants to survive. Plants will not also receive the right amount of nutrients to grow and thrive if you missed this important aspect.

There are several important parts that are crucial to the way aquaponics works in order to maintain the balance of nature. These three integral parts of the system are the fish, plants and bacteria. If these three work harmoniously, the result is great harvest and safe food production.

On the other hand, if these three integral parts are out of balance, it could be a major problem not just in the system, but also to the plants and fish. Some people who failed to maintain the balance of bacteria level in the fish tank have found aquaponics system to be more expensive and require high maintenance needs than any other methods of culturing aquatic animals. But if they only pay close attention to the simple, step by step guidelines of aquaponics design, it would have been easier and more economical for them. Aside from the great benefits of keeping your system functioning, it is eco-friendly and able to produce high quality fruits, vegetables and fresh fish you can hardly find at any supermarket.

To maintain the balance of your system, one important thing you must consider is the design. By planning what type of aquaponics design is applicable for you, you can surely identify the things you need to maintain the balance of the system.

For you to get started with the design of your aquaponics system here are some of the aquaponics designs which may fit to your space and your sense of style:

1. The flood and drain method. It is the simplest method where the grow bed is set above the fish tank. The water is then pumped from the fish tank to the grow beds, in which it will keep on flowing and water that drains will flow back towards to the fish tank.

2. Two pumps-sump tank and water pump design. It is somewhat complex but it flows naturally. This two pump sump tank design works by pumping water from the fish tank to the grow beds and to a sump tank. Inside the sump tank, the tank is operated by a floating valve to pump the water inside the tank back to the normal fish tank every time the switch is on.

3. The continuous flow design. It is a method where the water is pumped from the fish tank to the plant beds surface. It filters water on its way down from grow beds and continues to flow back to the fish tank. It has a slight disadvantage because since the water flows continuously, it only allows few nutrients to be absorbed by the plants.

Although some of the designs have cons that you need to deal with, the overall benefits you get from the varying aquaponics designs is enough to keep your system balanced and well functioning. By knowing the proper maintenance and monitoring needs of the system, you can achieve the harmony of fish, plants and water and be able to harvest excellent quality of food in due time.

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.

For detailed instructions about how to start up your Aquaponics system, check out Aquaponics plans.

The practice of adding salt in Aquaponics

Many people add salt to their aquaponics system and you may be thinking of doing the same. The practice of adding salt in Aquaponics has its pros and cons, and if you decide to use salt you should do so carefully.

The main purpose of adding salt in Aquaponics is for disease control; salt acts like a natural anti-bacterial agent. In addition, a small amount of salt improves the mucous covering on a fish’s body, and this improves the resistance of the fish to diseases and parasites. Salt may also help to prevent fungal infections. If you opt for salt addition, use pure sea salt and avoid table salt. If you can’t find any pure sea salt, swimming pool salt is a viable alternative.

However, adding too much salt will kill the fish and stunt plant growth. Therefore, when adding salt, you should do it only in calculated amounts. A good rule of thumb is 1 to 2 ppt (parts per thousand) of salt to water. Some plants and fish will tolerate higher levels, but if you are a novice in Aquaponics systems, you should stick to this amount. Remember, that as time passes, the concentration of salt in the system will change. Evaporation of water, water taken up by the plants, etc… will lead to an increase in salt concentration. It is therefore important that you monitor salt concentration regularly, and you can do so by using an apparatus called a refractometer. You can buy cheap refractometers for just a few dollars and they will do the job.

Many people will have a separate small tank that they use for sick fish, a kind of quarantine tank. This is a good idea as it prevents the spread of disease to other fish and allows you to give medication only to the sick fish and not to the whole system. If you keep such a tank, salt can be very useful, as salt will enhance the fish’s immune system. You can use higher concentration of salt in your sick tank – up to 10 ppt for a few hours to a few days. Make sure to keep the tank well oxygenated.

As mentioned already, different fish have different levels of salt tolerance, so to be on the safe side check with your local fisheries department for levels of tolerability of the species you are growing. In addition, remember that even if the fish you are growing are very tolerant to salt (for example tilapia can be grown in a salt concentration of up to 20-30ppt), the plants will not tolerate high concentrations. It is safer if you stick to 1-2ppt.

Discover how to optimize your aquaponics system, and therefore maximize yields while minimizing costs, in Aquaponics plans.

the two main components of an Aquaponics farming system

The aquaponics grow bed is one of the two main components of an Aquaponics farming system, the other being the fish tank. The grow bed houses the plants and the bacteria responsible for breaking down the fish waste and turning them into nutrients for the plants.

In an aquaponics system, water is pumped from the fish tank and into the grow bed. Bacteria breakdown fish waste into nitrogen, which is taken up by the plants and used to grow. The clean water is then returned into the fish tank. Through this process, an Aquaponics system uses just 10% of the water that traditional agriculture requires.

With regards to the ratio of grow bed to fish tank, here’s how you can calculate it. Fish density should be kept at no more than 1 pound of fish per 3 gallons of water. Now, for every 6 gallons of water, you should have about 1 square foot of deep grow bed (about 12 inches deep). This is to ensure an adequate fish waste to plant biomass ratio. Therefore, you will be having about 2 pounds of fish for each square foot of deep grow bed area. However, note that this is a maximum number. If you are just starting out, it is safer to opt for one fish per 5 to 10 gallons of water. As a rule of thumb, use a fish tank to grow bed ratio of 1:1 (by volume).

It is safer to have a higher grow bed: fish tank ratio than the other way round. If you have too little grow bed, there won’t be enough bacteria to break down the fish wastes as they accumulate, and soon enough the fish and plants will start dying. You should use a grow bed that is about 12 inches deep and definitely nothing less than 9 inches.

When setting up your system, the water level in the grow bed should be about 1 inch from the top, as the top of the plants should not be wet. In addition, this will ensure that there is no direct sunlight on the water, which would in turn cause an algae bloom. Therefore with a 12 inch deep grow bed, you will be looking at about 10 to 11 inches of which are submersed.

An important aspect of a healthy grow bed is dissolved oxygen, as oxygen is essential for proper bacteria (and fish) growth. Plants also require good oxygen levels on their roots. Ideal dissolved oxygen levels for an aquaponics system are those above 6 parts per million. To ensure healthy dissolved oxygen levels, you should incorporate water stone aeration and some water jetting action; you can incorporate the latter in the way the water returns back to the fish tank from the grow beds.

Learn all there is to know about setting up an Aquaponics grow bed in Aquaponics plans.

backyard aquaponics grow bed is gravel

Aquaponics is an excellent way of growing food in your own backyard. A small, simple backyard aquaponics set-up can produce enough food to feed your family and have extra to give away to friends!

All you need for a backyard aquaponics system in a tank for the fish, a hydroponic grow bed for the vegetables, a pump, tubing, and a submersible heater if you live in colder areas (depending on the fish you choose).

An excellent growing medium for a backyard aquaponics grow bed is gravel, as it provides support for the plants, acts as a filter, has good water flow characteristics and yields good plant growth. Choosing gravel as the growing bed medium will save you from having to buy filtering elements. The best gravel to use is one with a size of about 1/3 to 3/4 of an inch in diameter. If the gravel is much smaller it can clog and obstruct the water flow. You don’t want it too large either, as it will not filter the water and will not provide support for the plant’s roots. The gravel will also provide an excellent habitat for the bacteria, which are a crucial component of an aquaponics system. Get smooth, round gravel that is gentle on the hand and on the roots.

If you set-up the system properly, you will need just one pump for the whole set-up to run efficiently.  Such a system involves placing the grow beds on top of the fish tank, so that you only have to pump water from the tank to the grow beds. The water will then flow back to the tank via gravity.

Heating of the water is not required if you choose your fish wisely, however, maintaining a uniform water temperature will speed up growth of both fish and plants. Thus though you may be spending more on electricity, you will have higher yields, and actually it will be more profitable. The reason why plants benefit as well is because the bacteria in the water will be more efficient at converting wastes to nutrients, and the plants will therefore have more nitrogen available to them. Note that water heating is a requirement if you are growing fish that have optimal temperature ranges that are different from the temperature in the area of your setup. Water heating is also required if the temperature of the aquaponics system’s location fluctuates a lot, as this will stunt or kill the fish.

It is a good idea to have a good pH testing kit at hand, as it is tantamount that the pH of the water stays around 6.7 to 7.0. Fish can tolerate pHs up to 8.0, but plant growth will suffer at high pH. On the other hand, plants can tolerate pHs as low as 4.5, but fish will start to die at pHs under 6.5. Therefore, a pH range of 6.7 to 7.0 is optimal to both fish and plants.

Discover how to be successful at Aquaponics farming in Aquaponics plans.

Benefits Of DIY Aquaponics

Aquaponics is an efficient and fun way for anybody to start growing plants and keeping pet fish. Now you might be wondering what the connection between plants and fish is. Well basically fish waste or excrement provides plants with everything they need to grow. Aquaponics is a type of Hydroponics which is basically plants growing directly from water instead of being planted in the ground. The water that the plants are grown in is full with all the nutrients that they need to grow effectively.

The nutrients within that water come from fish. If you have ever owned fish before you will know how dirty their water becomes after a week or so if there is no pump. Now fish do not like swimming in their own waste and with a DIY aquaponics system you can solve both problems. An aquaponics system will pump the dirty fish water which is full of nutrients up to the plants. Then the plants roots will cleanse the water before it is returned to the fish tank.

So you will have a lot of happy fish and your plants will grow much faster. It's a no brainer really. And DIY aquaponics systems are not that hard to make. But you must make sure you do it correctly otherwise the time and cost of maintaining the system will not be right. DIY aquaponics systems that are made correctly take next to no time to maintain and cost very little energy to run.

So now I would like to just point out all the benefits of DIY aquaponics then I will point you in the right direction to get started. The main benefit to having a DIY aquaponics system is that you will be able to grow a lot of plants in a small area. If you grow your own food like tomatoes for example then you will be able to grow a load of very tasty tomatoes in a smaller area than you are most likely using now. That leads on to another benefit that I wanted to mention, and that is the taste of any vegetables that you grow from aquaponics. I can assure you that organic food grown from aquaponics tastes much better than veggies that you grow in soil or get from a store.

So we know that some of the benefits of DIY aquaponics are faster growing plants and tasty organic food, but what else is there?

• The aquaponics system circulates cleaning itself as it goes which means very little cleaning and maintenance is required.
• It costs very little to get into and the energy required to run an aquaponics system is very little so you will have small gardening expenses.
• No soil means no weeding. Once again you will not have to waste time and energy weeding.
• No need to water your plants or clean out your fish tanks. The aquaponics system takes care of this so you do not have to.
• It's very easy to get into and get started with creating a DIY aquaponics system. Very little technical knowledge is needed.

Aquaponics is a joyful and great way to grow your plants or organic foods. You will also have the pleasure of knowing that you have some very happy fish.

If you are looking to get started in aquaponics then please visit DIY Aquaponics Plans for more information on building your own aquaponics system.

When Will I Harvest My Vegetables?

If this is your first time with aquaponics, then you are probably very exciting to start enjoying the food you have grown yourself. Obviously, vegetables and fish require some time to grow fully, although this will depend on the species of plants and fish you have in your system. Aquaponics is a natural system and no chemicals or additives are used to speed up growth of either vegetables or fish. Hence, they will take up their natural time to grow and mature, ensuring the best quality and taste.

When purchasing plant seeds, check out the information on the package – it will tell you how long the plant normally takes to be ready for harvesting. Now, if this is the first time you are setting up the Aquaponics system, you won’t be able to plant the seeds immediately. This is because the wastes from the fish will need about 3 months to be turned into nutrients by the bacteria. However, if you want to start planting immediately, you can supply the nitrates into the water yourself.

Once you have planted the seeds, the plants will grow at their natural rate. Remember that you will be growing organic vegetables, free of artificial additives. The best-growing plants in an aquaponics system will be the same ones that grow best in your area (depending on the climate, etc…). Of course, you may grow plants which require very different climatic conditions than those in your area (e.g. some plants grow best in the cold or in the heat), however, in this case you will need to heat or cool the area accordingly.

A large number of plants can be grown in an aquaponics farming system, mainly with the exception of root vegetables. However, for most above-ground plants, aquaponics is an ideal set-up to grow these. Very common plants grown in these systems are herbs and green leafy vegetables, as well as plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, chili, red salad onions, celery, broccoli, beans, and cauliflower. Common herbs grown in aquaponics farming include parsley, watercress, basil, sage, and coriander.

If you are running an aquaponics system for profit (i.e. to sell the vegetables and fish), then the species you choose to grow will also depend on the current demand and prices in your area. Most people find that they can charge higher prices for the same foods than those found in supermarkets, because organic home-grown foods attract a premium. Many start out with aquaponics as a hobby, and it ends up being an important source of income!

Discover all the tips and tricks for growing vegetables and herbs using an Aquaponics system in Aquaponics plans.

Kinds of Aquaponics Fish for a Perfect Aquaponics System

Fish are the highlight of the aquaponics system. It is not only useful for providing rich nutrients for the plants to grow but it also provides you with clean, fresh, protein-rich fish to eat for you and your family. Not only it serves as a great food, the tank full of fishes carrying attractive colors will also serve as a great spot to lurk around for people who visits your home.

Choosing the best aquaponics fish is a daunting task to some especially to those who are still new to it. However, you don't have to worry about it because keeping fish in the tank for aquaponics system is very simple and practical compared to aquarium fish-raising if you already have the idea on what you need to consider when making a choice of fish for your tank. As long as you follow the simple guidelines for growing fish and cultivating fruits and vegetables, from its fingerling stage of life until it is ready for harvest and consumption, aquaponics is will never be a difficult task.

Here are the lists of aquaponics fish and a few details about them:

1. Carp. It is one of the best species that's perfect for aquaponics system. It is the most widely cultured aquaponics fish throughout the world especially in Asia. However, due to its capability to reproduce fingerlings at a higher rate, it has become a noxious species to the natural waterways.

2. Catfish. There are lots of catfish species that's best for an aquaponics system. Channel catfish is one of them. Catfish is a meaty, popular, and most widely farmed fish for aquaculture in the US and in many regions in Australia. It does not have scales but has whiskers analogous which are the same to that of a cat - hence its name "catfish".

3. Tilapia. It is a well-known cultured fish in every parts of the world. It is excellent for aquaponics system for several reasons. It is fast growing, easy to breed, and can withstand cool temperatures. It has an omnivorous diet and its meat is a great source of protein for the humans. There's one thing about this fish, though - it cannot breed in very warm waters. If you place them in cool environment, you can surely harvest great amount of tilapia since they breed faster and grow faster. But because it breeds at a very rapid rate just like the carp, tilapia species are considered pests to some other countries abroad.

4. Silver perch. It is a kind of fish that is native to Australia. This species can grow very well in different conditions. Like tilapia, silver perch are omnivorous and loves to eat green scraps like duckweed. However, unlike other types of species, perch is not fast growing. It takes 12 to 18 months for perch from fingerlings to grow into a plate size fish.

5. Barramundi. Barramundi is one of the most majestic species of edible fish which yields a decent harvest. It is mostly grown in the aquaponics systems in warm months every year. It is the kind of fish you can harvest with delicious, tasty, clean and crispy meat if harvested fully grown. Growing Barramundi will entice other people and make them want to grow theirs too.

These are the types of the most popular aquaponics fish that you can grow aquaponically. There are still a lot of easy-to-grow species of fish that are not mentioned above which you can raise as an aquaponics fish. What's important is that you know the guidelines in choosing the fish, the dos and don'ts in growing your own aquaponics fishes and be fully satisfied with your fish product harvests.

Basic Requirements for Aquaponics Commercial Farming

The idea of giving aquaponics a commercial value is its proven and tested benefits. Aquaponics is a combination of two farming methods for food production - aquaculture and hydroponics. The term is derived from "aqua" from aquaculture or fish farming and "ponics" from hydroponics or soil-less gardening.

More and more people are becoming successful in aquaponics commercial farming. Compared to the traditional fish farming and gardening, aquaponics commercial farming is more advanced in terms of maintenance and expenses. Aquaponics method of farming can deal with fish and plant production on a very large scale.

This allows you to grow plants and fish in the system with the highest harvest potential in an environment-friendly way. The controlled environment of the system provides you the best conditions for the crops and fish to grow abundantly. By combining the two methods of fish farming and plant cultivation, you can make multiple food production not just for the family but for the community as well.

A greenhouse style of environment is needed for this aquaponics commercial farming. Greenhouses or glasshouses are best described to be a structure made-up of plastic or glass that functions to cover the crops in the system. With right temperature in a greenhouse, the environmental condition to produce large crops is greatly enhanced especially if you meet all requirements.

What Are things needed for Aquaponics Commercial Farming? 

· The System Design.The designs of your aquaponics must closely mirror the circulation of the two systems as a whole. Aquaculture and hydroponics method must work hand in hand in a balanced system. Plants function as filter units for the tanks to supply purified water for the fish while fish water provides bacteria, ammonia and other nutrients highly needed for the plants to reach optimum growth.

· The environment.Make sure that all of your systems are on temperature level suitable for the fish and plants to thrive. For aquaponics commercial, the glasshouse or greenhouses are the best structure that can maintain the proper temperature needed for the fish and plants. If it is for a backyard aquaponics, you can utilize the shades you have at home just to make sure that your system is not exposed to direct sunlight.

· The Right Species of Fish.The best species of fish that are recommended for aquaponics are those varieties of fish that can survive in varied water conditions. This includes tilapia, cud, carps, barramundi, perch, and catfish. But tilapia is highly recommended because it can grow and produce fingerlings well even with a sudden change of water temperature.

· The right plants.Most recommended plants for aquaponics system are the leafy vegetables including spinach, cabbage, broccoli, celery, lettuce, and veggie fruits like tomatoes, bell peppers and other herbs.

· The Right pH of water.The pH level in water needed by plants is not exactly the same with what the fish need to thrive, so you need to balance the pH needed for both parts. It is recommended that you should maintain the 6.7 to 6.9 pH of water to meet the need of the plants and fish.

If you can meet all of these requirements, you can now start your own aquaponics commercial business and be the one of those successful entrepreneurs to reap the benefits of this new innovative farming system.

What Is Aquaponics and How Does It Work?

Aquaponics is a combination of the aquaculture (growing fish) and hydroponics(growing soilless plants) system that mutually benefits both environments. Aquaponics does not use any chemicals and requires only 1/10 of the water that would be needed to grow plants in the garden or field. It also only needs a fraction of the water that is used for fish culture (aquaculture).

The waste produced in the fish tanks is treated by natural bacteria that converts the waste, largely ammonia, first into nitrite and then into nitrate. The fish waste absorbed by plants is pumped to a bio filter system as a nutrient solution for growing the plants (grow bed). The only external input to the system is food for the fish. Both systems complement each other as a single unit, not as separate units.

Once the system is established the water stays pH balanced and remains crystal clear. The water is recycled with a small amount of water added weekly to compensate for what is lost by the evaporation.

What are the benefits of an Aquaponics system?

An Aquaponics system can produce vegetables and fish for the family consumption all the year round.

Removes the backbreaking task of digging in a typical vegetable garden.

There is no weeding necessary.

No need for extra chemical nutrients or fertilisers necessarily in a normal garden.

Reduces the use of pesticides in the garden.

Reduction in the amount of water needed -- generally only needed to top up due to evaporation.

Eliminates waste products having to be discarded as these are used to fertilise the plants.

What plants will grow in a Aquaponics system?

There are many plants that are suitable for any Aquaponics system including vegetables and salad etc.

The major group that cannot be grown are root vegetables.

A good guide is to find out which above ground plants grow in your particular area of the country, then it is worth trying them in your Aquaponics system.

In general it has been found that plants in any Aquaponics system, with the nutrients from the fish, grow much faster than plants in a traditional garden.

The most common plants grown in an Aquaponics system are herbs and Green leaf vegetables and salad. other plants such as tomatoes, cucumber, chilies, peas etc can also be grown. Herbs like Basil, parsley, watercress, sage etc are ideal for they Aquaponics system.

It is always worth trying any of your favourite plants and you could be pleasantly surprised by the results.

What fish are best for an Aquaponics garden?

Tilapia is one of the most common fish to be used in a Aquaponics garden, but there are many other types depending on whether you want them to be for food or just to provide nutrients for the growing vegetables. Such fish as silver perch, trou, catfish, goldfish, Bass, Bream etc will all provide nutrients for the Aquaponics garden.

What fish food do I need?

The type of fish food will greatly depend on the type of fish you are using in your Aquaponics garden.

It is always recommended that you find out all you can about the particular type of fish by either going on Google or purchasing a book about them. The type and quantity of food will also depend on the amount of output you would expect from the Aquaponics garden.

What factors determine a successful Aquaponics garden?

The first and main factor in having a successful Aquaponics garden is to ensure that the fish are maintained in a healthy state. All fish need oxygen to survive and flourish and therefore a good aeration system is essential.

The temperature of the water is also quite critical for fish to survive. Any abnormal rise or fall in temperature can cause problems to the fish. It should be checked to see what temperature is optimum for the type of fish you have.

The PH of the water should be between 7 to 7.5 which is neither acid or alkaline. If the PH rises or falls then it is essential that the cause should be quickly rectified. This could be that the fish are being overfed and the uneaten fish food is decomposing and collecting at the bottom of the fish tank.

Both macro nutrients and micro nutrients are essential for the plants to grow in an Aquaponics garden. Most of these nutrients come from the fish waste, which is a result of the fish eating the fish food.

Plants need these nutrients to grow and if there is any shortage of nutrients then there is a possibility that the plants will not taste as good or grow as fast.

Testing the water at regular intervals will ensure that you will correct any problems long before they have had any chance to do any real damage. It can tell you if you are feeding the fish too much, if there is sufficient oxygen in the water, if it is at the right temperature etc.

What water can be used in the Aquaponics garden?

Although both freshwater and saltwater can be used in the Aquaponics garden, the most common is freshwater. Using saltwater would limit the number of different plants you can grow.

If you use tap water it should be checked for chlorine content and this removed before adding fish. The clearer the water the easier it will be to keep a watchful eye on the fish and any build up of any sediment at the bottom of the fish tank.

Does the Aquaponics garden need to be situated indoors?

An Aquaponics garden can be set up indoors or outdoors in the backyard.

If it is set up either in a greenhouse, garage or even in the house, you will have the added advantage in that it will be protected from the weather. If it is set up outdoors then it will have to cope with rain, snow and even hot sunshine which can make it uncomfortable for the fish and development of the plants.

Having it indoors could make it more expensive, with added lighting and heating etc. but giving you a much more control atmosphere.

Can the Aquaponics garden be run as a hobby?

The best thing about Aquaponics gardening is that it can be adapted to any size you want from a backyard system to a small indoor fish tank where you already have a few goldfish.

Aquaponics gardening has the advantage of being an ideal hobby for either children, people who go out to work or the retired. You can make it take up as much of your time as you want and develop it to what time and energy you want to spend on it.

It is one of the most creative hobbies for children in that it teaches them about looking after fish and how food is produced.

How much work is involved in running an Aquaponics garden?

Once the Aquaponics garden is set up there is very little that needs to be done to keep it running in a viable state.

The first job is to feed the fish, this needs to be done at least once a day.

Checking that the aeriation system is working correctly. This rarely needs any attention and as long as a good stream of bubbles are rising to the surface, it should be ok.

Planting your seeds or bulbs and checking that they are growing.

Harvesting produce when it is ready.

Testing the water at regular intervals to ensure that the PH is satisfactory.

Topping up the water as necessary

Building An Aquaponics System

Building an aquaponics system involves combining aquaculture with hydroponics – in essence you are setting up these two methods of farming and joining them together. Although this may seem like a feat, in reality setting up a successful aquaponics system is fairly simple if you have good instructions and an understanding of the basics of such as system.

To keep life simple, you should first do some planning before starting the construction of this system. The most important things you need to consider are location, method of aeration, choosing the fish, choosing the plants, and pot placement.

With regards to location, this will obviously depend on the space you have available – whether it’s in the house, in the garage or in the garden. You can set up an aquaponics system practically everywhere, but then you will need to adjust it accordingly. Mainly, you will need to ensure that the temperature of the location is suitable (if you’re placing it outside and you live in a cold area you will need to think about insulation) and that there is sufficient light (if it is inside you will need to have large windows or else set up artificial lighting). In addition, if you are placing the system outside, make sure that you will not get harmful substances getting into the water – you may need to cover and protect appropriately.

Next, think about aeration systems. Your fish will need oxygen to live and thrive, and generally you will need to have a sort of pumping mechanism – although there are ways to achieve good aeration without any pumps or equipment. However, this will depend on the species of fish you’ll grow. This leads us to the next point to consider: which species of fish to choose. Different fish will have different requirements (some are easier to culture than others); in addition, there are regulations on which fish you can keep, so make sure you check the laws of the state you live in. Some common fish in aquaponics systems include carp, trout, catfish, tilapia, and Murray cod.

Choosing what plants to grow is generally simpler, as plants tend to be more tolerant of different environmental factors. Hence, the main thing to consider when choosing plants is personal preference – in other words, what would you like to have freshly growing in your own home?

The final, and equally important aspect to consider before starting construction of the aquaponics system is pot placement. Ideally, the pots should be at waist level, so you won’t have to bend over to harvest and check the plants. In addition, you’ll be able to place the fish tank directly underneath the pots, saving you space.

To read more about how to build an aquaponics system easily and cheaply, check out Aquaponics plans.

4 Tips to Manage a Great DIY Aquaponics Farm

An aquaponics system is a great way to raise plants and even fish at the same time. Lots of commercial organic farmers and home gardening enthusiasts are looking for tips on DIY aquaponics. This method is based on hydroponics (growing plants in a soil-less growing medium) but it also incorporates the use of fish in the system. The fish help to purify the nutrient solution that the plants grow in and they also help to keep algae under control. Besides, you'll always have a fine catch of fish in addition to a crop of fruits or vegetables from your garden.

Keep the following tips in mind when you plan your DIY Aquaponics garden:

- Start with a small garden so that your initial mistakes can be kept very minor. This will enable you to decide which hydroponics system works best for you. Once you become comfortable with it you could always scale up the size of your garden.

- Select the best possible fish for your DIY Aquaponics garden. Make sure that you buy them from a good source and that they are absolutely healthy. You'll find that most problems in the system occur if the fish are not healthy.

- Do not buy a DIY Aquaponics kit that requires a huge initial expense. This will bring down the profitability (and fun!) of your gardening exercise. Lots of people make their gardens out of easily available materials, most of which don't even need to be bought from a store. Of course, once you've gained familiarity with the system you could always buy expensive materials.

- Be sure to use food grade plastic containers to store your fish in. Many plastics contain harmful chemicals that leach into the liquid over time. If you are planning to grow organic produce then you have to avoid this at all cost. These chemicals can also cause the fish to die.

An aquaponics garden is a great way to earn money from your garden because the quality and quantity of the produce is very good when compared to conventional farming. It is cheaper to run in comparison to a hydroponics garden since you won't need to buy large quantities of expensive fertilizer. The fish will produce plenty of droppings that will nourish the solution in which the plants grow. Also, this style of agriculture is surprisingly easy to manage once you have installed it properly.

Aquaponics is the new way of modern farming. It is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. That means you can grow plants and fishes on one aquaponics system.