What is Aquaponics?

What is Aquaponics? Aquaponics is really a fairly new system of foods production, but it is rapidly gaining popularity because of its many advantages, especially in the context with the rising food prices. In this particularshort introduction to aquaponics, we’ll explain what Aquaponics involves and mention several of its many advantages.

Aquaponics is combining aquaculture (the growing of fish) and hydroponics (the growing of plants in water without soil). This integrated system works so well as the two form a symbiotic connection; and nutrients and resources are recycled between two. The fish provide waste materials, which the bacteria turn straight into plant nutrients, providing the plants with food and also the fish with clean water. Certainly, bacteria is the linchpin which will keep the whole system running.

Based on the set-up, it is actually very easy. You have the fish tanks, where you grow fish, and together with the tanks sits the grow bed. The grow bed is the surface where the plants are rooted and is the location of almost all of the bacteria in the system. The grow bed could be made of different materials, but perhaps the most common one is gravel. Gravel is ideal as it filters the water and provides support for the roots. In addition, it has a large surface and can house a lot of bacteria.

In an Aquaponics system, water is pumped from the tank for your fish to the grow bed, in which the bacteria reside. The bacteria break up the fish waste and transform it to nitrates, an outstanding fertilizer. The plants take up the nitrates and a few of the water, and in the process filter the water. The water is then returned cleaned towards the fish tank via gravity.

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

Furthermore, an Aquaponics system is extremely easy to scale up, and even many people end up carrying it out for profit. This is because the food made by Aquaponics farming has minimal expenses and fetches high prices (as it is organic) and therefore the profit is significant.

Learn the best way to construct your Aquaponics System at low costs in Aquaponics 4 You.