What is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics refers to a cultivation production system that couples aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish, crayfish, snails or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water), in which the nutrient rich aquaculture water is fed to hydroponic grown plant.
The localized self-sustaining ecosystem mimics nature’s nitrogen cycle, providing organic nutrients to it’s plants, while simultaneously cleansing the fish-water of toxic ammonia nitrates. This symbiotic relationship between fish and plants is the most sustainable form of agriculture, utilizing a true closed-loop system that requires just a fraction of the resources that other methods use, while producing up to 10 times as much output!
As global climate change rapidly progresses, over-fishing, water pollution and drought are an immediate threat to the world’s food supply. There has never been a more important time to learn about the eco-friendly practices of aquaponics!
What can I grow with aquaponics?
Some of the most common crops grown include lettuce, basil, chives, mint, tomatoes and peppers. Although, essentially any plant can be grown with aquaponics, including cannabis!
While aquaponics is rich in nitrogen, the cannabis plant demands a high level of phosphorus and potassium in the flowering stage, often requiring organic nutrients to be added to the grow.
Won’t added nutrients harm the fish?
As not all nutrients are present in aquaponic water culture, many types of plants need additional organic fertilizer to aid their development. A common method to provide essential minerals to the plants without spiking an algae bloom is the use of a Duel Root Zone (DRZ). The concept of a DRZ is designed to create a secondary layer above the grow-bed consisting of soil, which allows the dosing of organic nutrients, while avoiding seepage into the aquaponic system.
How do I get started?
Cycling begins when you first add ammonia to your system. Ammonia is a compound made of nitrogen and hydrogen, which is derived from fish waste or outside sources. Ammonia build-up is toxic to fish and will soon kill them unless it is broken down into a less toxic form of nitrogen. Unfortunately, nitrogen as found in ammonia is not readily taken up by plants. As such, It is recommended to use a method known as fish-less cycling to avoid casualties when first establishing an aquaculture.
Overtime bacteria cultures known as nitrites will begin to develop, consuming the added ammonia. However, nitrites are still toxic to the fish, nor will the plants uptake this form of nitrogen. It is only when the nitrites are converted to another form of bacteria, nitrates, is the cycling process complete. Once nitrates are detected in the water you are ready to introduce fish and plants into the system.