What is Aquaponics ?

Presented by: Dennis M. Grim

Leon Carmel

Hydroponics
The growing of plants without soil using soluble fertilizer The growing of fish in a closed recirculating system RAC

Aquaculture

Aquaponics
The growing of fish and plants in a closed recirculating system

What is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is a sustainable food production system that combines: traditional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a controlled environment.
In aquaculture, effluents accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity for the fish.

This water is led to a hydroponic system where the byproducts from the aquaculture are filtered out by the plants as vital nutrients,
after which the cleansed water is recirculated back to the animals.

Aquaponic systems vary in size small indoor or outdoor units to large commercial units, using the same technology. The systems usually contain fresh water, but salt water systems are plausible depending on the type of aquatic animal and which plants.

Symbiotic Relationship
Fish and Plants Two organisms of different species working together
Each benefiting from the relationship Each thriving in their environment Co existing in the same system with both benefiting from each other

How it works!
1. You feed the fish in the tank
The fish excrete ammonia NH+ through their gills, urine, and fesses If ammonia is not removed the fish will die

2. The water is pumped or gravity feed through a filter (bio reactor)

In the Bio Reactor Nitrosomonas bacterial digest and convert ammonia into Nitrites NO+ Nitrite is poisonous to fish Another Bacteria, Nitrobacter digest the Nitrites NO+ and converts it into Nitrates NO+

3. Plants are placed in the Bio Reactor (Grow bed)

and or water is pumped to a raft system, vertical grow towers ,or aeroponic growing system. The plants remove the Nitrates from the water

4. The water flows or is pumped back into the fish tank free of Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates

Matching Fish and Plants

The fish and plants selected should have similar needs
Temperature pH

Warm water fish and leafy crops such as :

Lettuce Herbs

A mature system, heavily stock with fish will support fruiting plants such as :
Peppers Tomatoes Cucumbers Cantaloupes

Things to consider when choosing what type of fish to grow

Do you want to look at them or eat them? Supply of fingerlings Resistance to disease Marketability What climate area are you in? What water conditions will the specie tolerate? Acceptance of a pelleted commercial diet

Advantages of Tilapia
Feeds low on the food change Will eat most anything Fast growing Good flesh quality Can resist poor water quality, disease, and overcrowding Fingerling can be produce year round Disadvantage Barely above break-even costs

Constant Height One Pump (C.H.O.P)

Bio-reactor grow bed Solids Separator Fish Tank Sump pit

Floating Raft Bed

Floating Raft Bed

Floating Raft Bed

Floating Raft Bed

Solids Separator

Bio-Reactor Grow Bed

Floating Raft Beds

Fish Tank

Sump pit Pump

Bell Syphon

Grow Bed

Fish Tank

Building a Bio Reactor/Grow Bed

Swirl Filter

Fish Tank Bio Filter/ Grow Bed

Sump Tank

Household ammonia is added to tank to start system and to encourage bacteria growth in the Bio-reactor/Grow bed

After Bio-reactor is established fish are added to the system

Feed the fish and nature does the rest

Week 1 plant are added

Week three plants are feed by ammonia that was added to fish tank for start up

System start up

Start up of System October 15, 2013

February 15, 2014

Edible Yard Aquaponics Leon Carmel Ft. Pierce, Florida

Floating raft system

Aeroponics system

Airoponics system

Root development with Aeroponics

Root development with Aeroponics

Bananas do well with aquaponics

Outdoor raft system hydroponics in winter Aquaponics in summer

Green house connected to Fish Tank

Building housing Tilapia Tank

Tilapia Tank

UV sterilizer, Ammonia tower

Tropical Fish raised using aquaponics

Tropical Fish raised using aquaponics

Do you have any Questions?

Yes, have some!

Not you! The Humans Out There!