Personal Aquaponics: Fun Food Production at Home

Matt Ferrell and Ken Semmens

The Basics
Aquaculture+ Hydroponics =
Aquaponics
Electric
Oxygen
Feed
Fingerlings



Aquaculture
High nutrient waste
water

Electric
Water
Nutrients
Seeds



Hydroponics

High nutrient waste
water
Electric
Oxygen
Feed
Fingerlings
Seeds



Aquaponics

Fish Tank
Plant and
Bacteria Area
Simple
Myths
#1
These systems are hard to manage.
#2
These can be operated indefinitely
as a closed loop system
#3
Aquaponics is going to save the
world
#4
You have to grow food fish
#5
Any one persons system is the best
system
What most systems have in common
Fish tank - to house fish
Pump - to move water
Water lines - influent and effluent
Filter - to remove solids


Fish Tank
Plant and
Bacteria
Area
Inputs:
Nutrients (ie Feed)
Alkalinity (KOH, CaOH)

Hardness (KOH, CaOH )

Micronutrients- Kelp Meal
Fish (Fred)

Outputs:
Nutrient Removal (plants)
Alkalinity Reduction (bacteria )

Hardness Reduction (plants )

Micronutrients Reduction
(plants and bacteria)
Plants Products
Fish Product

Hydroponic System Options
NFT - Nutrient Film Technique
What it is:
Some sort of gutter system where a small bead of
water is run through the roots.
Pros: Uses very little water per plant
Modular system can be easily expanded
Cons: Without supplemental filtration solids will be a
problem
Large root systems clog water line
Good idea:
Have separate filtration system
to remove suspend solids



System design: NFT-Nutrient Film Technique
Raft
What it is:
A flooded channel with plants floating from a raft
system.
Pros: Cheap construction
Plants stay watered; nitrification in the roots
Large water storage, increases water for fish
Cons: Solids buildup in raft sections
Not as much surface area for nitrification
Not good for heavy or tall plants with heavy fruits
Good idea:
Have separate filtration system to remove
suspend solids





System design: Raft
Vertical Tower
What it is:
A media filled tower, that has many plant sites
Pros: Good use of floor space
Nitrification in grow area
Minimal use of water
Cons: Potential solids buildup in towers sections
Can get extremely heavy, depends on media
Can grow all types of plants as long as they are
supported
Good idea:
Have separate filtration system to remove
suspend solids, such as clarifier
Use worms in towers to reduce solid buildup







Media Bed
What it is:
A bed of inorganic media used to grow plants,
provide a nitrify center, and remove large solids
Often has a auto syphon that causes bed to drain
and fill
Pros: Biofilter and plant bed are one in the same
Easy to operate, good for first timers
Can grow all types of crops in
Cons: Solids buildup in bed can cause anerobic dead
zone







Hybrid
What it is:
A mixture of systems previously mentioned
Pros: Capture some of the pros from most systems
Reduces the cons from most systems
Allows for different crops to be grown in their ideal
setting
Cons: More things could go wrong
More cost in initial set up
Good idea:
Master one type, then hybridize
Try media/raft combo first





Getting Started and Operation
Starter System
Dont try to invent something
Kit instructions available on back table
Start big
Easier to manage
More time to correct errors
Dont try and set production records
You cant beat mine anyway
Do be willing to try many plants
This is the only area I suggest lots of trial and error
Ask for help
Often, you are not the first person with that
problem!

Maintenance
Daily
Feed fish and harvest plants
Check fish health
Weekly
Check pH, bring pH up using alternate treatments
of KCO
3
and CaCO
3

Add iron if needed
Evaluate plant health
Check water lines for clogging and cleanliness
Monthly
Evaluate seeding needs
Mild cleaning

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