Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (the growth of fish and other aquatic animals) and hydroponics (the growth of plants without soil) in a cyclic environment.
In aquaponics, plants are grown on growth beds and fish are placed in aquariums. The water in the fish tank containing fish poop is fed into the growth bed, where billions of naturally occurring beneficial bacteria break down the ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate. Plants absorb these nitrates and other nutrients to help them grow.
The roots of the plants clean and filter the water before it flows back into the tank for the fish to survive. Fresh, clean and oxygenated water is recirculated back to the tank and the cycle will begin again.
Advantages of Aquaponics:
- Aquaponics is a sustainable and intensive production system.
- It provides two possible incomes from fish and plant production.
- Aquaponics is water efficient.
- It doesn't require soil or large tracts of land.
- Do not use fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals as they may affect the fish in the system.
- Aquaponics doesn't involve soil, so it eliminates the onerous task of weeding and digging.
- Aquaponics allows you to grow food year-round by regulating temperature and using a greenhouse during growth.
- Products harvested from aquaponics are organic and chemical free.
Disadvantages of Aquaponics:
- It can be expensive to set up and build.
- Routine maintenance is required.
- It requires knowledge about fish, bacteria and plant production.
- It needs reliable power.