Aquaponics Bonus

Aquaponics Authority 2008 - 2012 | www.aquaponicsauthority.com | 832.586.
8244

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Aquaponics Authority 2008 - 2012 | www.aquaponicsauthority.com | 832.586.8244

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Grow your own food
Imagine how nice it would be to know exactly what does and doesnt
go into your food and exactly where it comes from. This is why it is
becoming so popular to grow your own organic food. Eating more
plants and vegetables is important part of maintaining your health.
Contrary to what you might think growing your own food is NOT
difficult. By growing food organically you are ensuring the quality and
freshness of your food as well as helping the environment by not using,
chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides.
If you want healthy organic food for LESS, there is actually NO easier
way to grow your own food. Some may consider it overwhelming but
actually it is not as difficult as it sounds.
The benefits of growing your own food are endless and include saving
time and money to name just a few. Eating more fresh vegetables and
fruits is one of the most important things you and your family can do to
remain healthy. When fresh plants are organically grown their vitamin
content is at their highest level which also can benefit your health in
many ways.


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There is an amazing sense of accomplishment and pride growing your
own organic food. In the global food market place, people are
becoming more concerned about food safety. You can trust that your
food is SAFE and HEALTHY since it is grown by you. So whether you are
living in an urban or rural area, you should consider growing your own
food to save money, time, eat healthier and be kind to the
environment.
I hope this information will help you better understand Aquaponics and
how it can benefit you. Feel free to share this information with others.
Feel free to contact me any time with ANY questions you might have.
Cheers!

P.S. - LEARN How to Create Your Very Own Aquaponics System for Food, Fun or
Profit Step by Step With "DIY Aquaponics".


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Introduction

First, I strongly suggest that you first get familiar with what aquaponics
is and how it works before you embark on ANY system. It will be MUCH
cheaper to start small and work out the kinks before trying to do the
same on a larger scale with more money at stake, etc.
Second, I am NOT going to try to sell you something that would do you
absolutely no good at this point, like others out there, without you
having any prior knowledge or understanding of aquaponics.
Once you understand how everything works and get the hang of things
you can gradually increase the size of your system and at some point
expand it as your needs change. Obviously there are a LOT of questions
that need answering and some things you will have to figure along the
way like everyone else but this is a necessary step in learning and
mastering aquaponics.

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What is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is a combination of two agriculture methods to create an
altogether superior and environmentally friendly way of growing your
own organic food. Aquaponics is a method which uses the combination
of aquaculture the growing fishes, and hydroponics the method of
growing plants without using soil. The combination of the two yields an
organic gardening system that provides fresh plants, vegetables and
fish for food, fun or profit. With organic food prices at an all-time high
many are turning to growing their own organic food in an attempt to
safeguard their health and their bottom line.
Aquaponics is an extremely efficient form of organic gardening that
utilizes 90% LESS water than traditional gardening does. In many cases
it can produce 5 - 10 TIMES the yield compared with conventional
gardening methods. Aquaponics involves NO fertilizers, pesticides,
chemical additives, ground treatments, nitrogen boosters, etc. In
addition no plowing or weeding is required and maintenance requires
less time and effort since there is NO soil involved.
Aquaponics is often considered complicated or impossible to master
though this is simply NOT the case!

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How it Works
Aquaponics nitrogen cycle is the process whereby the fish waste is
consumed by the plants to maintain proper water pH and healthy living
conditions for the fish and plants. Without this process the fish would
die and the plants would also suffer since there would be no nutrients
to feed them. This process maybe slightly difficult to grasp for some but
if you are familiar with raising fish in a fish bowl or aquarium it is easy
to grasp as it is a fairly simple process. Since we all need nitrogen to
survive, the whole world acts as a cycle and there is nitrogen in the air,
in plants and in animals. In the aquaponics system, the plants receive
their nitrates from the fish. The plants in an aquaponics system need a
type of nitrate called ammonia. They need this form of nitrate because
it can be more easily absorbed by the roots and help the plant grow
healthy.
The fish in an aquaponics system consume their food and their
nutrients and in turn they excrete ammonia. Because ammonia can be
extremely toxic to fish, the ammonia will, as a byproduct, need to be
converted into nitrites. The good bacteria in the water complete this
process before converting the nitrites to nitrates. The nitrates are then
absorbed by the plants roots. The water in the tank will eventually

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evaporate but will be replaced by more water using the aquaponics
system. This is a naturally efficient cycle which benefits both the plants
and the fish. There is very little need to maintain an aquaponics system
as it is all done automatically through this natural cycle.
Frequent water changes should not be required if the proper pH level is
maintained. If you are familiar with having a fish aquarium this is the
same process albeit though the majority of the waste is picked up from
the fish by the plants eliminating the need to do water changes. It is
recommended that the water pH for an aquaponics system be between
6.8 and 7.2. This pH range will ensure that the water in the system stays
clean, crystal clear and tolerant to the fish.
It may take a couple of tries to get it right and it is recommended that
you start small and gradually increase the fish population as you learn
how to maintain the proper pH range and master the aquaponics
nitrogen cycle. The ratio of plants and fish in an aquaponics system
should be kept at one fish for every four plants grown. It is suggested
that the fish to plant ratio be 1:4 to maintain proper pH. In the end it all
comes down to maintaining the proper balance of fish, plants and
water to achieve the desired results.

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Types of Aquaponics systems

Recent researchers and studies have proven there are several different
types of aquaponics systems that can be used effectively to grow plants
and fish in a closed system. Hydroponics methods can be effectively
adapted to Aquaponics. There are many different types of aquaponics
systems. They can range from small to larger commercial designs and
can easily be changed based on your needs.
This system is self-sustainable because the nutrients cycled in the water
from the presence of the fish are used to grow the plants. The set-up is
that of a tiny ecosystem where nitrogen and other essential plant
nutrients are delivered to the water in the aquarium due to the
presence of the fish and algae. The cycling maintains the perfect
balance but care has to be taken to ensure that too much waste is not
harbored into the tank before it is converted and transported to the
plants otherwise it may become toxic for the fish.

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Desktop Aquaponics
Setting up a desktop aquaponics garden can be very simple. If you
already have the tank then you're halfway there. If not consider
familiarizing yourself with the process of raising fish. Besides being fed,
fish also need certain nutrient conditions or their water can become
toxic. Never locate the system tank where there is a potential for large
temperature fluctuations such as a windowsill. This can cause the water
temperature to fluctuate and can cause unnecessary stress on the fish
causing water problems and lack of nutrients, etc. If in doubt choose a
spot suitable for the fish because you can always use appropriate
indoor lighting to help the plants grow. Before buying the tank it is a
good idea to make these decisions in case you choose a tank that is too
big for the selected location. There are also various shapes and sizes of
tanks so it is important to work within the dimensions of the space.
Setting up the tank involves filling, adding chemicals and making sure
everything is running smoothly. You may not have decided on extras
such as decorations, or bubblers but these can make your fish's life a
little more interesting and enjoyable. Allow the water to filter through
for at least 24 hours before adding fish, this ensures that the chlorine in
the tank has been neutralized by the active carbon in the system.

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Introducing a fish too quickly into the system tank can cause the fish to
go into shock and possibly die. It is recommended that you first float
the fish in the bag that they arrived in on the surface of the water for
15 - 30 minutes to allow the fish to settle down and the water to adjust
to the same temperature. NEVER put the water from the bag or
container that the fish arrived in into the system tank. This will help
eliminate possible disease and prevent contamination of the water.
After 30 minutes you can safely release your fish into their new habitat.
This is the first step in beginning your own desktop aquaponic system
as you have just set the groundwork for a constant stream of nutrients
to feed your plants.


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Indoor Aquaponics
For those that love the concept of an aquaponic system but can't spare
the space or do not have a garden an indoor aquaponics system can
work just as successfully. Indoor aquaponics can eliminate the need for
weeding and pest control making things much easier. An indoor garden
can be a conversation starter as well as an interesting addition to your
home. The nature of an aquaponics system means that there will
always be some maintenance required and though it may be easy to
slosh a hose around outside allowing for power and cleaning systems
needs to be taken into account for indoor aquaponics as well.
Indoor aquaponics systems can be either salt or freshwater depending
on which plants and fish you would like to cultivate. Indoor systems
MUST also have adequate lighting for the plant life. Some plants
require up to 10 hours per day of good quality light. If you are
comfortable using artificial light this can also be a great way to grow
fresh vegetables year round in a spare room or basement.


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Backyard Aquaponics
Backyard Aquaponics offers you a convenient way to grow organic
food in your own backyard. The main advantage of this method is that
you will be able to construct a larger system versus an indoor system.
The term backyard aquaponics is pretty self-explanatory if the term
aquaponics is already understood on its own.
Backyard aquaponics refers to operating an aquaponics system in your
backyard but does not necessarily have to be situated in the backyard.
It is just that the backyard generally reserves the most outdoor space
and as such, it is often used to accommodate the aquaponics system.
As a matter of fact, an aquaponics system can be installed on a porch or
balcony as long as enough space is available for the equipment, and
aquaponics systems can be found in different sizes.
The best thing about having a backyard aquaponic system is the
flexibility to increase the size of the system based on your needs.


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Fish Choices

While there is a wide variety of fish species to choose from, there also
a lot factors that must be considered. The climate, habitat, location,
weather and food chosen will affect the amount of work needed to get
the desired output. The fish provide the nutrients that are used to grow
the plants and the plants provide the right environment for the fish to
flourish. One of the first things you will need to think about is what
water temperature you are able to maintain. Fish will require different
water temperatures and it is important to make sure you know what
kind of climate the fish specifically need to survive. Different plants will
do better with certain fish and you need to know which the best fish for
aquaponics are before choosing them.


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Tilapia
Tilapias are a hardy fish species and can thrive in just about any water
condition that the environment offers. They prefer
warm water of at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit. From
fingerling stage to harvest requires less than 9
months. They can be fed a variety of food including
commercial fish pellets, duckweed, worms and algae. Tilapia is one of
the most fish species. It is easy to breed, widely available and can
withstand dirty or poor water conditions.

Catfish
Catfish is used almost as much as Tilapia because of its ability to
withstand the different temperatures and
climate changes. Therefore, it is a good fish to
use in aquaponics for almost any region. It is
however a little better than Tilapia in that it
will continue to grow in cold temperatures that Tilapia may eventually
have a problem with. Catfish are great for use in colder climates or
regions where temperatures vary widely. They can be fed a variety of
food including commercial fish pellets, worms, etc.

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Trout
Trout are an ideal choice for cooler climates where temperatures are
too cold to raise tropical fish species. Trout
thrive in cold temperatures and reproduce
rapidly. They are fast breeding and require
very little maintenance. They can be fed a
variety of food including commercial fish pellets, or worms.

Koi
Koi is actually a type of Carp but is well-loved by people because of
their attractiveness and colors. The seemingly random
beauty of a Kois skin makes them a perfect aquaponic
fish species. Kois are considered the perfect fish in
large ornamental ponds or in aquariums meant for
display. The only disadvantage is that they are now edible and can cost
more than other types of fish.


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Carp
Carp are a very sturdy and adaptable fish and are readily available. They
are fast breeders and can survive in poor water
conditions. They can be fed a variety of food
including commercial fish pellets, duckweed,
worms and algae.

Silver Perch
Silver perch are a medium sized fresh water fish species that is a native
to the Murray Darling River System which is a
large geographical region in the interior of
South Eastern Australia. The silver perch is
capable of growing up to 40 cm and 8 kg
making it the largest of the Australian grunters but have an average
growth of 1.5 kg and up to 30 cm.

You may be required to obtain a permit depending on
where you live. Contact your local or state wildlife authorities for
regulations and allowed fish species.

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Plant Choices

After you have selected the fish for your aquaponics system, the next
step is to select the plants. There are well over 200 different plants
which are compatible for cultivation in an aquaponics system. The list is
too long to be mentioned here completely and is largely depend on
your geographical location and system configuration. Below are some
of the more commonly used plants:
Vegetables: Fruits: Leafy Greens: Herbs:
Tomatoes Strawberries Lettuce Basil
Cucumbers Melon Okra Oregano
Zucchini Grapes Spinach Parsley
Peppers Kiwi Kale Garlic


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About the Author

Bracken Brockston
Aquaponics Authority Owner

I know first-hand how overwhelming and frustrating it can be trying to master
Aquaponics or simply know where to begin if you are just getting started! My
mission is to help people learn and understand what aquaponics is and how it can
change lives and our planet by providing a proven sustainable organic food
production method that millions can benefit from. I am available to answer any
questions you have once you get up to speed and get started with your own
system so feel free to reach out to me and my staff at any time. Should you have
ANY questions whatsoever feel free to contact me via phone or email.
Cheers!

P.S. - LEARN How to Create Your Very Own Aquaponics System for Food, Fun or
Profit Step by Step With "DIY Aquaponics".

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