How to convert hydroponics to aquaponics?

Hydroponics is a subset of hydro culture .It is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only, or in an inert medium, such as gravel.
Aquaponics consists of two parts:
a) The aquaculture part of raising aquatic animals &
b) The hydroponics part of growing plants.
Aquaponics, refers to any system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (growing plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. In normal aquaculture, excretions from the animals being raised can accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity. In an Aquaponics system, water from an aquaculture system is fed to a hydroponic system where the by-products are broken down by nitrification bacteria into nitrates and nitrites, which are utilized by the plants as nutrients, and the water is then (when purified) re circulated back to the aquaculture system.
As existing hydroponic and aquaculture farming techniques form the basis for all Aquaponics systems, the size, complexity, and types of foods grown in an Aquaponics system can vary as much as any system found in either distinct farming discipline.

This is how Aquaponics Works:
1. First of all fish are raised in a tank
2. Water from the tank is pumped to the plants
3. Bacteria convert ammonia and nitrite to nitrate
4. Plants absorb the nutrient rich water & then finally
5. Filtered water is returned back to the fish tank, clean

Aquaponics is Considered Sustainable because:
1) Waste from fish is used to feed the plants
2) Plants and fish create a polyculture producing 2 products
3) Water is re-used in the re-circulating system
4) Local food production, increases the local economy and deceases food transportation

Plants like Aquaponics? 
1) Warm water bathing the roots
2) Nutrients are constantly provided
3) Less effort required in putting out roots
4) No need to search for water or food
5) All the energy goes into growing UP not in growing DOWN
6) No weed competition and most important of all
7) No waste – hydroponics waste solution, aquaculture waste fish solids – Aquaponics all waste is used

Components of Aquaponics:
a) Fish Tank
b) Place to Grow Plants
c) Water Pumps
d) Air Pump
e) Irrigation Tubing
f) Filtration
g) Grow light
h) Fish & Plants

Some Aquaponics System Designs are:
a) Media-Based Growbed
b) Growing Power System
c) NFT (Nutrient Film Technique)
d) Towers
e) Raft System
f) VertiGro

The basic tenet of Aquaponics is that the fish are fed with a low value organic product (usually fishmeal, or plant products), which they convert into animal protein. The waste from the fish is then converted (by bacteria) into soluble nutrients, which are absorbed by the horticultural crop, and this ‘cleaned’ water then returned to the fish tanks.
Modern hydroponics increasingly demands a precise control of the nutrient content of the solution, but in Aquaponics this is not possible.

Tips for gardener: Organic alternative to kill weeds

Weeds can be your worst enemy when it comes to caring for a vegetable garden.

There are many ways to get rid of weeds or prevent weeds, but some of the

chemicals used in some methods can harm the environment or health. Consider

using Slayer products organic weed instead. These safer alternatives to herbicide

can help you without putting yourself or others at risk.Remove or kill weeds as

soon as you notice them growing in your garden. Failing to get rid of weeds can

cause your plants to produce less during the harvest season, or wither and die.The

most common form, natural to get rid of weeds is to pull them out. Control

products using conventional garden weeds or herbicides can help you solve your

problems with weeds, but some of them are dangerous to animals and humans.

Some herbicides can even penetrate deep into the soil and contaminate the water

supply of your farm or in the neighborhood.Using organic methods for killing

weeds:Organic gardens offer a perfect opportunity to grow herbs, fruits and

vegetables, using earth-friendly methods. The organic gardening process means no

artificial ingredients such as chemical pesticides based, are applied to the garden or

lawn. Moreover, these gardening principles are easily applied to the whole set-up

garden and promote the growth of virtually any plant life.Weeds and

pestsGardeners can take full advantage of safe and natural ways to get rid of most

species of garden pests. Many natural pesticides help eliminate the most common

pests to attack the plant life. A solution of water and vinegar can solve many pest

problems. In addition, a variety of herbs can be used in the process of controlling

pests.A simple natural pesticide includes spraying a diluted mixture of water and

natural soap. This is very effective in eliminating infestation of aphids. Once they

start cleaning aphids from the leaves, the plants should be given over a spray with

clean water. Another natural choice including a combination of garlic and onion

mixed in water. This may act as an insect repellent in general.

Furthermore, instead of using artificial pesticides to control the population of

unpleasant weeds, a gardener can use a variety of natural alternatives. Use

household vinegar is also a high effective tool in weed killing. Combine 15%

cooking vinegar with water to create a mixture of simple spraying. Apply this to

the plant life during periods of intense sunlight. This will kill the weeds without

causing any damage to the plants.Finally,Fertilization is another way to use organic

materials  to create a fertilizer to promote the health of the garden and lawn. The

organic fertilizer is based on the composting and mulching processes to allow a

variety of materials to decompose naturally.To maintain soil quality, it is

recommended that the top 5 or 6 inches are grown. This will help keep the majority

of the nutrient to a level that can benefit the health of plant life. Furthermore, good

quality organic mulching material should be applied to any type of exposed soil.

Organic gardening practices help maintain beautiful and healthy garden in the most

natural, effective and safe as possible to help secure a healthy garden protection.


To read about how to build an aquaponics system easily and also cheaply, check out Aquaponics4You.

How to shade your Aquaponics plant?

Aquaponic system is a combination of two principles, hydroponics and aquaculture. Both of these principles play an important role in the successful implementation of a system. The system can be simple or complex, depending on the approach used. A simple approach is when you start on a small scale with small lake. Today you are about to learn how to set up a mask or a shade for your plant aquaponics system.

Shades Aquaponic are an important aspect of aquaponics when growing plants and fish to an income that you do not want to see your hard work undermined. This section gives you ideas about what you should consider when building a shelter or shade for your aquaponic system.

Aquaponic systems require two different areas. On the one hand the fish, which typically dark and the second for the plants, which must have a good light.

Another aspect is the use of pesticides it is almost impossible, so an environment that will need a barrier for insects.

The third consideration is that which keeps the water temperature of the aquaponic plant,is also very important that this system is the area where the shading Aquaponics installation of the utmost importance.

Now, what are some of the things a shadow or shade  necessary to maintain the plants and fish happy and make your life much easier.

Consider the  end side curtain shade cloth which are supported in order to allow a good air flow while still providing a barrier for insects. In a small system, this can be a manual winch. In commercial systems of a hoist as recommended which can be further linked to an automatic controller to adjust the curtains on the basis of the internal temperature.

Consider planting material for aquaponics. Which will be a small percentage of light and helps with roll up the sides of the curtain while the cooler environmnet. If you  are outside of the tropics it is so clear that it is a better choice.

Having access to both ends, gives you great access to both  aquaponics plants and aquaponics fish. In a small aquaponics system, you can zip-up doors. In a commercial aquaponics system you would probably be better off with doors. If you're in a high insect area you may need to consider an airlock for bugs at bay.

Make sure the sides are so buried when the doors are closed it provides a reasonable barrier for insects.

The setting up of a support structure with a PVC plate 10 mm mounted on a stallion sealed with each other. The design implementation starts by a support structure. Provide double protection against moisture and score cuts in the outer layer to introduce the planting of these cuts.

Place the containers and planters at appropriate places, and place the plants as garden design. You can also grow different flowers, fruits and vegetables without soil. Most vertical garden themes combine using hydroponics and aquaponics style with utility.

Irrigate the plants regularly. Many and skyscrapers rooms with different use of sun exposure units to control automated irrigation and nutrients injections.

Monitor and measure the intensity of sunlight at different locations of the vertical garden during the design phase. Fit artificial lighting in places where  the sun's light seems not to be enough to receive. The artificial lighting is essential to produce wavelengths  which are required for the growth of the flora and improve the beauty, projecting the colors and textures of leaves and flowers

Fish prefer the shade. Your aquarium should never be in direct sunlight, which leads to an increase in the number of algae in their tanks. This in turn can lead to the death of the fish due to lack of oxygen.

Finally, you can consider a lid on top of the aquarium or let some plants grow floating in the aquarium area to provide shelter or masks and hiding places for fish to make them feel protected.

To discover the way to get the best yields and fish growth rates, check out Aquaponics 4You.

snails- how to get rid of it from your garden?

Can you control a worm royal garden pests because they chew through their plants, flowers and vegetables. Fortunately, there are many options available - natural and otherwise - to get rid of snails from your garden.

Method 1: snail natural repellents

Cheating beer: One of the most popular and effective ways to get rid of snails is beer  cheating, saucers, bowls or buckets (depending on the size of the problem!) Of cheap beer in your garden and leave it overnight.
Slugs are attracted by the smell of beer and up the plate / cube, where they are intoxicated by alcohol, they fall in and drown.Try using copper:Copper is widely used by gardeners for conducting the drills. A copper are used in one of two ways:
You can copper tape to a nursery to buy and wrap around the perimeter of your garden or flower bed, or you can simply spray copper coins around the base of the plants to be protected.
Copper repel slugs due to a reaction between the metal and produced by screw moves mucous membranes.
Sprinkle crushed eggshells: Use another effective method many gardeners to repel snails to sprinkle crushed eggshells in the soil around the plants in danger of extinction.
Another way of preventing snails in garden is by using Eggshells,which must avoid edges that are uncomfortable with soft body of the worm, so step over it to get the plants.
This is a particularly green way to repel slugs and eggshells contains a lot of calcium, which nurtures their land.
Encourage predators of snails: One way to deter snails WHO is promoting other garden creatures snack snails.
These include frogs and toads that can be charged using ceramic toad houses in your garden. Turtles, snakes and salamanders are probably also like snails, and most birds (especially Robin).

Method 2: Change the routine gardening
Change your watering schedule. The snails prefer moist soil, because it is easier for them to travel, and can move faster.
Simply pour your plants dry in the morning rather than the afternoon or evening, you can be sure that the floor is a bit of the night.
Often the floor. Often the working of your plants and flowers with a fork rake or cultivator is a good idea because the ground killing all worm eggs. This may, in the future  help to significantly reduce snail populations.Grow plants to protect the worm.
Certain flowers, plants and herbs are believed to be filthy worm. These include flowers like freesia, lilies, azaleas, foxglove, Tansy and hibiscus and herbs like mint, rosemary, fennel, parsley and basil.

Method 3: Use of Pesticides
Use iron phosphate. Molluscicides iron phosphate is used to kill snails. It is the main ingredient of a commercial slug repellent (eg Sluggo Plus) and since it is only harmful to the snail, a much better option for those with children and pets
Write garlic spray. Crush the garlic and mix with water. Leave for several hours to allow the garlic to "marinate". In a spray of water and can spray the flowers, plants and herbs for a natural repellent slug.

To discover the way to get the best yields and fish growth rates, check out Aquaponics 4You.

Adding salt to Aquaponics system

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.

Salt for aquaponics system

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 20-30 ppt), the plants will not tolerate high concentrations. It is safer if you stick to 1-2 ppt.

To discover the way to get the best yields and fish growth rates, check out Aquaponics 4You.

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