Some people think that aquaponics is a new invention, but it isn’t really that new. The main principles of aquaponics are quite old and can be traced to the study of aquatic animal life and plant life in ponds, creeks, and other small freshwater bodies. However, it wasn’t until the early seventies when people consciously started to imitate the setup found in ponds and creeks.
Aquaponics strives to create a balanced system where fish, plants, and beneficial bacteria can co-exist in harmony. Each component of the system benefits from the presence of the other components. Fish need to eliminate waste, so bacteria are there to break down the waste. However, the water in the holding tank needs to be oxygenated and purified. That’s where the plants come in to help. Plants absorb the broken-down nutrients in the water and purify the water in the process.
Aquaponics combines the best facets of pond aquaculture and hydroponics to produce something truly unique: a system that produces almost zero waste and utilizes animal waste and food waste to nourish vegetables and fruits. Almost everyone is aware of the kinds of chemicals used in fish farms and regular agricultural farms in the country. If you want to nourish your family with chemical-free organic food, then you can do that from the comfort of your own backyard with just one aquaponic system.
The solar pond is the best example of a simple yet efficient backyard aquaponic system. A large barrel or plastic vessel is filled with de-chlorinated water and fish. The top part of the barrel is covered with a specially designed grow bed. Seedlings and seeds are transplanted into the grow bed. Slowly, the maturing root systems of the seedlings will reach the surface of the water. The fish, on the other hand, will continue to feed and excrete waste into the water. Beneficial bacteria will break down the feces and the excess fish feed in the water. The nutrient soup that will result after the bacteria are done with the waste in the water will then nourish the growing plants on top. In this setup, the roots of the plants are continually in contact with the water.
In a slightly larger setup, an elevated holding tank transfers water to the grow beds through a flooding mechanism. Excess water from the grow bed will then move to a sump pit. A motorized pump will then return the water to the holding tank to begin the cycle once again.
A single holding tank with about seventy fish can support up to eight individual grow beds with different vegetables planted in the grow bed media. According to studies, aquaponic vegetables grow four times faster than counterparts grown in a hydroponic system. Aquaponics is so efficient that even commercial producers in the United States, Canada, and throughout the world are using this technology to produce both edible fish and fresh plant produce.
