Aquaponics: Establishing Your Very Own Eco-System
It sure is wonderful if we could nurture both fish and organic vegetables at the same time. Well the name for that is aquaponics. It is a system of growing fish and plants in an environment that is mutually beneficial for the two.
Generally speaking, aquaponics is a two-way system built to help one nurture fish and plant altogether. Aquaculture and hydroponics are merged together. Aquaponics is the growing of fish and hydroponics is the growing of plants that do not thrive in soil such as in clay balls or in gravel. It may sound so simple but there’s basically an intricate relationship going on between the two systems.
What happens is that plants will allow the recirculation of water while filtering it in the process. The fish manure on the other hand serves as organic fertilizers for the growing plant.Thus, a mini-ecosystem is the outcome. This is ideal for places with scarcity of water because you don’t have to constantly water the plants due to the re-circulation process.
Freshwater fishes are ideal to grow in this man-made ecosystem. While some might prefer ornamental fish and some prefer edibles, either way they go, they will save money.
Let’s get into the nuts and bolts of what happens in an aquaponics mini eco system. Basically, the fish produce wastes that are treated with bacteria. Then a conversion occurs with the bacteria in the manure- ammonia to nitrites to nitrates. The plants would serve as a sieve that filters the wastes thus pumping back clean water. This cycle goes on and the water is re-circulated.
So what do you need to be equipped with before setting up your own aquaponics systems?
Of course, you’d have to consider the fish tank first and foremost. You must choose a fish tank that has ideally enough space for your fish to swim around and your plants to grow. A clearance is required so that the oxygenation process goes smoothly.
The plants should thrive well in a watery environment, it should adapt to the lack of soil water. An example of a good vegetable is lettuce. This basic system may not be conducive to other soil-less plants like carrots, so it is imperative that you know the type of plant that is suited to such environments.
Aquaponics is a system that works like an aquarium water pump; filtering the water and pumping it back. A break in the unit breaks the balance of the entire system. You need to feed the fish and make sure the plants are well hydrated. Some of the water is lost through evaporation. You need to consider that to maintain life in your eco system.
However, setting up the whole system is not as simple as it seems. If you have no idea about agriculture and plumbing, you might as well call an expert. This is because there are a lot of aspects to consider.
There are a lot of places all over the world that use aquaponics to grow fish and organic vegetables.[] Large scales of fish tanks are grown in many households particularly in Australia. Aside from the basic steps, the only concern you need to think about is how you can implement it. Seeking assistance from the experts should help you manage it effectively, though it may take some time. Just pop up some agriculture and plumbing books, consult some experts and you’ll be one step closer to building it.
Tags: food, garden, aquaponics