Aquaponia: What is it and what is it for

Aquaponia is a Sustainable production system that combines aquaculture with hydroponics. It is an integrated approach where waste produced by aquatic animals, such as ammonia and other nutrients, are used as fertilizer for plant growth.

The basic aquaponia process implies the creation of a closed circuit in which the fish are raised in a tank or pond. As Fish feed and grow, generate nutrient -rich wastemainly ammonia. This ammonia is toxic to fish in high concentrations, but in aquaponia, the water of the tank is channeled towards a filtration system where it first becomes nitrites and then nitrates thanks to nitrifying bacteria.

Nitrates, which are valuable nutrients for plants, are used as food for plants grown in a bed of hydroponic culture, landless, where their roots are submerged in nutrient -rich water. The plants absorb nitrates as a source of nutrients And, in doing so, they filter and purify the water to return it to the pond enriched with oxygen.

• Food production: Aquaponia allows the simultaneous production of reed fish and vegetables. Fish provide proteins and other essential nutrients, while plants grown in the system offer a variety of vegetables and herbs for human consumption. This can help increase the local availability of fresh and healthy foods.
• Education and learning: Aquaponia is an educational and didactic system that can be used in schools, universities and community centers to teach about interconnection between aquatic ecosystems and food production. It is a valuable tool to promote awareness about sustainability and the importance of conservation of natural resources.
• Environmental improvement: Aquaponic systems can help purify and improve water quality, since plants filter nutrients and other pollutants present in the water of the fish pond. This can be beneficial for the restoration of damaged aquatic ecosystems.

To be able to make homemade aquaponia we will first start providing the materials needed:

• Fish tank: Aquarium or plastic tank.
• Cultivation bed: You can use a plastic cultivation tray or an adequate container to hold pots with plants.
• Culture media: Material to sustain plants and allow roots to grow (hydropony, gravel rocks, expanded clay balls or other adequate means).
• Water pump
• Filtration system: This may include mechanical filters to eliminate large particles and a biological environment (such as stones or sponges).
• Fish: Choose species of adequate fish for Aquaponia, such as tilapia, trout, tent, or some ornamental fish.

Once we have all the necessary materials we can start doing aquaponia at home:

1. Assemble the fish tank in an adequate place of your home, Protected from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
2. Place the album of cultivation on the fish tank or in a position where the water can circulate from the tank to the bed and then return.
3. Fill the fish tank with water and add the fish following the recommendations for your care and well -being.
4. Connect the water pump and adjust the pump speed so that the water flows through the circuit.
5. Add the media to the bed and plant the seeds or seedlings of the plants to grow.
6. Regularly monitor the system To make sure everything works correctly
7. It feeds the fish according to the appropriate indications for their species and adjusts the amount of food as necessary.
8. Make water and maintenance changes according to the needs of the created aquaponic system.

Discover in this article hydroponic plants: types, list of examples and how to cultivate them.

ADVANTAGES OF AUAPONY

• Efficient use of resources: Recycling water and nutrients, reducing water consumption and eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers.
• Food production: It allows the simultaneous cultivation of fish and vegetables, providing a source of fresh proteins and foods.
• Environmental Sustainability: Minimizes pollution and ecological footprint by promoting agricultural practices more respectful of the environment.
• Ideal for small spaces: It can be implemented in urban areas and homes with space limitations, promoting urban agriculture.
• Environmental Education: It offers an opportunity to learn about the interaction between aquatic and vegetable systems, promoting environmental education.

Disadvantages of aquaponia

• Initial investment: The system assembly can be expensive, especially if equipment such as pumps and filtration systems are included.
• Monitoring and maintenance: It requires constant supervision to guarantee the appropriate balance between fish, plants and microorganisms.
• Disease risks: The propagation of diseases between fish can affect the system and require prevention and treatment measures.
• System dependence: Any system failure, such as a bomb failure, can affect the health of fish and plants.
• Requires specific knowledge: It is necessary to acquire knowledge about aquaculture, hydroponics and the balance of the system to achieve success.

Now that you know what aquaponia is and what it is for, we recommend this article on how to make a homemade hydroponic culture.

If you want to read more articles similar to Aquaponia: What is it and what is it forwe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.