What's Aquaponics?

 

How does Aquaponics work?

The word Aquaponics comes from the joining of 'aquaculture' and 'hydroponics' and whilst it shares certain attributes of both of these systems, it is in itself something far more developed and ultimately, unique from either of them.

Aquaponic systems have three main components - Fish, Plants and Microbes.  The microbes are a commonly overlooked part of an aquaponic system, but it is these that do the most important work in the nutrient cycle.  Aquaponics uses no soil at all but it can use either an alternative growing media such as clay pebbles, pumice stone, lava rock or gravel, or the plants can simply be grown in the nutrient rich waters coming from the fish tanks.

Fish produce waste and ammonia - these are harmful for the fish in elevated quantities and decrease the quality of the water.  In aquaponics, water from the fish tank is fed to a plant grow bed where the billions of naturally occurring, beneficial micro-organisms break the ammonia down first into Nitrite and then into Nitrate.

Nitrate and other nutrients are absorbed by the plants to assist in their growth and in turn, serve to clean the water.  Solid waste will also be filtered out of the water by either the grow beds or some other mechanical process.

Clean water is now returned to the fish tank increasing the water quality and providing the oxygenated water that the fish need.  This is a natural and sustainable process that mimics an ecosystem and produces high quality food without any chemical inputs.

Our systems will pay for themselves in fresh fish, vegetables & herbs.
They are low maintenance, and will provide strong, healthy, fresh food for next to nothing.


Why Aquaponics? Well, if you're still not convinced!

•  Provides the best tasting home-grown vegetables
•  Organically grown produce in your own system
•  No unnatural herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers
•  The freshest, cleanest vegetables possible
•  Uses as little as 2% of the water normally needed
•  Higher growth rates and yields
•  No soil is needed
•  Can be easily used in small, urban areas.
•  Healthy, clean, home-grown fish for your plate
•  No genetic manipulation of the fish
•  Fish are a healthy source of protein
•  Water quality is high, so the taste is high
•  Water recirculation reduces pollution
•  Local production reduces "food miles"
And... It's super fun. And cool.