My OperaWhat Is Aquaponics?
Sunday, March 11, 2012 8:22:44 AM
Aquaponics SystemAquaponic systems can be built in different sizes from small indoor or outdoor units to large commercial units, using almost the same technology.
If the climate permits or if you are growing in a greenhouse, you can grow crops in an Aquaponic system the whole year.
On a hobby scale, Aquaponics has the potential to catch on quickly. A home aquarium, with ornamental or food fish, can be combined with a mini garden, growing herbs, vegetables or flowers.
More and more backyard gardeners are setting up systems to grow hundreds of pounds of fish and all the fresh vegetables a family needs.
Building an aquaponics system can be easy if you learn how to build an aquaponics system the right way the first time. A basic, and very productive system does not have to cost much money and can be built with basic tools and easy to find materials. Here are a few of the basics of how a common system is built.
The most common type of aquaponics system will be built around two main pieces of hardware. This will be a tank for the fish, and usually a shallow tank or grow bed for the plants. There are tanks specially made for this, but you can often find make do tanks or large containers that will work just fine, and may even cost less.
The fish tank could be an aquarium or any large container that will hold water and is made from a non toxic material. This will usually be placed near the ground. The tank for the plants is usually placed above the fish tank. This not only puts the plants at a comfortable level for working with, it also makes the plumbing easier, allowing the water to return back to the fish tank by gravity.
You will need a water pump and some pipe or hose to pump water from the fish tank to the grow tank. Then a return pipe that allows water to flow back to the fish tank. This pipe will need to be set at the proper level in the grow tank so water will spill into it while maintaining the right water level.
It is very important that plenty of oxygen is supplied to the water. This can be done with an air pump and air stone. Or the return pipe can be built to pull air into water as it drains the tank. Any good aquaponics guide should show you how to do this. A battery powered backup air system is highly recommended in case of a power or primary pump failure.
Now you will need to decide if you want a grow medium like gravel or clay pellets to grow your plants in, or to use a floating raft. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. A floating raft is more simple, inexpensive, lighter, and easier to move. A growing medium can provide better anchors for larger plants and also make a great place for the bacteria to live that are essential to transforming the fish waste into plant nutrients. A good aquaponics guide should be able to help you decide what will be best for you.
Aquaponics is a wonderful way to grow fresh organic vegetables and fish. Many home gardeners and commercial farmers are getting spectacular results with these systems.
On a hobby scale, Aquaponics has the potential to catch on quickly. A home aquarium, with ornamental or food fish, can be combined with a mini garden, growing herbs, vegetables or flowers.
More and more backyard gardeners are setting up systems to grow hundreds of pounds of fish and all the fresh vegetables a family needs.
Building an aquaponics system can be easy if you learn how to build an aquaponics system the right way the first time. A basic, and very productive system does not have to cost much money and can be built with basic tools and easy to find materials. Here are a few of the basics of how a common system is built.
The most common type of aquaponics system will be built around two main pieces of hardware. This will be a tank for the fish, and usually a shallow tank or grow bed for the plants. There are tanks specially made for this, but you can often find make do tanks or large containers that will work just fine, and may even cost less.
The fish tank could be an aquarium or any large container that will hold water and is made from a non toxic material. This will usually be placed near the ground. The tank for the plants is usually placed above the fish tank. This not only puts the plants at a comfortable level for working with, it also makes the plumbing easier, allowing the water to return back to the fish tank by gravity.
You will need a water pump and some pipe or hose to pump water from the fish tank to the grow tank. Then a return pipe that allows water to flow back to the fish tank. This pipe will need to be set at the proper level in the grow tank so water will spill into it while maintaining the right water level.
It is very important that plenty of oxygen is supplied to the water. This can be done with an air pump and air stone. Or the return pipe can be built to pull air into water as it drains the tank. Any good aquaponics guide should show you how to do this. A battery powered backup air system is highly recommended in case of a power or primary pump failure.
Now you will need to decide if you want a grow medium like gravel or clay pellets to grow your plants in, or to use a floating raft. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. A floating raft is more simple, inexpensive, lighter, and easier to move. A growing medium can provide better anchors for larger plants and also make a great place for the bacteria to live that are essential to transforming the fish waste into plant nutrients. A good aquaponics guide should be able to help you decide what will be best for you.
Aquaponics is a wonderful way to grow fresh organic vegetables and fish. Many home gardeners and commercial farmers are getting spectacular results with these systems.
