Aquaponics: Setting Up Your Own Mini Eco-System
Wouldn’t it be nice to grow fish and organic vegetables together? The good news is, you can- with aquaponics. This system features an environment that is advantageous to both plant and fish.
Generally speaking, aquaponics is a two-way system built to help one nurture fish and plant altogether. It is comprised of a merging of aquaculture and hydroponics. Aquaculture is defined to as the growing of fish whilst hydroponics be the culturing of water plants-plants that do not grow effectively when placed in pots. However, it’s not as simple as it may sound because these two systems undergo a complicated process.
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.This results in a real-life ecosystem. This type of system is conducive for places which have scarce water because the water used in the fish tanks are re-circulated thus water is conserved.
Freshwater fishes are ideal to grow in this man-made ecosystem. You can cut costs in growing fish with this system, either you want it for display or eat them for dinner.
Here are the details to how this system works. 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. Then your plants would act as a sifter and filters the wastes and produces clean water for your fishes to breathe upon. 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. There should be enough space for oxygenation.
You should grow plants the adapt well in a surrounding that do not have enough land. 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.
The aquaponics system is basically two units, a pumping unit and a filtering unit that works as one. 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 must do both; feed the fish and maintain the water level so that you can eat fresh fish meat and vegetables.
Now it would sound extremely simple to set up a fish tank but there’s more to this system than meets the eye. You need to have background on agriculture, on plumbing and so on to successfully consider all the factors that affect the whole system.
Aquaponics has been adapted by many countries nowadays. Aside from the basic steps, the only concern you need to think about is how you can implement it. It’s not easy but you can always learn from the experts. Just pop up some agriculture and plumbing books, consult some experts and you’ll be one step closer to building it.