Aquaponics

Aquaponics

Meaning:

                    Aquaponics is a agricultural system which combines raising aquatic animals i.e., snails, fish, crayfish or prawns. With a less soil media plants are growing in water. which is also known as combines cultivation agriculture with hydroponics in symbolic environment. 

Typical Component included in Aquaponics:

1. Rearing Tank: These tanks are used for fish to feed and raise.

2. Settling basin: Used to catch uneaten food and detached biofilms.

3. Biofilter: Where ammonia into nitrates can grow and convert with the help of nitrification bacteria.

4. Hydroponics subsystem: Where plants are grown by absorbing excess nutrients from the water.

5. Sump: It is a lowest point in which it is pumped back to the rearing tanks with the help of flowing water.

Live Components:

1. Plants:  

                 The basic component of aquaponics system is plants. here plants grow on the top water, where more than one fish live. However it mean that the  plants growing on the top of projecting their roots into the water, and take up the wastes. Aquaponic plants will grow faster and produce than the traditional garden. some of the plants which grows in aquaponics system are: Leafy    lettuce,Cauliflower,Cabbage,cucumbers,tomatoes,chillis,shallots,capsicum,red salad onions, snow peas etc.,

Small systems vs Large systems in Plants:

The plants grows in aquaponics system depends on its size.

Small System: In this system there will be less fish, less waste and low nutrient concentrations.

Large System: In this system there will be more fishes, more waste and huge nutrient concentrations

Small System: Some of plants grows in small aquaponics include greens and herbs are:lettuce,kale,spinach,swisschard,arugula,mint,basil,wheathrass,radish sprouts.

Large System: Some of plants grows in large aquaponics include greens and herbs are: tomatoes,peppers,cucumbers,beans,squash,peas,cauliflower,cabbage.

2. Fish: 

            Fish is another component of aquaponics system. here we have to make a decisions what species of fish to be raised. depending on the climate and availability of fish in the locality can raise many types of fish species in aquaponics system. Not all the fish that will survive we have to choose fish species which will survive and thrive in system to succeed.

While choosing the fish we have to consider for which we are raising like, home use, commercial use, or for recreational use. the things to consider in selecting fish for aquaponics are: Temperature, Availability of fish, legality of fish in the particular area, Maintenance difficulty, Space and size requirements, filtration capacity, Fish diet and Breeding Habits.

Some Fishes to use in aquaponics is Tilapia, Trout, Catfish, Bass, Salmon, Koi, Goldfish.

To choose right fish for successful aquaponics there is also necessary to maintain, establish and to prevent diseases of the particular fish. If we plan on eating and harvesting the fish we should feed the right food.

3. Bacteria: 

                The other component of aquaponics these are microorganism which will not have any shapes. these occur from oldest organism on earth. Bacteria are microscopic, which can play large role in any of the ecosystem. In aquaponics there are two types of categories in bacteria. with the mutual relationship between fish and the plants. Nitrifying bacteria, Nitrobacter and Nitroso monas are microorganisms helps to keep aquaponics system in balance. Converting Ammonia to Nitrites is called as Nitroso monas sp. and Converting Nitrites to Nitrites is Nitrobacter sp.

Hydroponic subsystem:

            Plants with there roots consumed in the nutrient rich outflow of the water. Which helps to isolate the ammonia to the aquatic animals. (here ammonia that is toxic). or its metabolites. It will become cleaned and oxygenated with the help by passing through the hydroponic subsystem.

Types of Hydroponic subsystem:

1. Wick: This is the simple and easy method and inexpensive to setup and maintain. where sophisticated machinery or equipment like motors and pumps, or feats of extreme planning and engineering are not required. Wick System is the passive group where the nutrients are stored in a reservoir and moved into the root. for ex: perlite, vermiculite, coconut fiber etc.,

2. Water Culture: Plants is made up of Styrofoam and loats directly on nutrient solution. Here the air pump is used to oxygenate water to prevent the roots from drowning. 

3. Ebb and Flow: This is also know as Flood and Drain which works temporarily to grow tray and reservoir with nutrient solution. in this system plants grow normally in mediums like gravel and rockwool. Submerged pump is connected to a timer and used to action.

4. Drip: Plants are grown separately in soilless medium. In this system nutrients are very slow in rate, and the extra solution can be collected and recirculated. 

5. NFT: It means Nutrient Film Technique. this means the Nutrient pump start to supply into the growing tube and flows to all over other roots of the plants and then drains back to the reservoir.

6. Aeroponic: This is one kind of hi tech type of hydroponic gardening. for every minutes nutrients are sprayed directly to roots which are hanging in the air and misted with nutrient solution.  To avoid failure pumps requires a regular monitorization.

Biofilter: 

             Which is used to filter the waste fish (ammonia) into nitrites and to nitrates which can be consumed by plants. Bactria is extension of surface area and they themselves attached to surface of biofilter. here there are 2 types of bacteria. Firstly, Ammonia converts to nitrites. Secondly, Nitrites converts to Nitrates. 

There are different kinds of Bio filter:

1. Moving Bed filter 

2.Static Filter

3. Drip filter

Important to consider before deciding biofilter is necessary:

1.First to remove solids

2.Bacteria need air

3.low density and high density

Pros and Cons of Aquaponics:

Pros:

1. Environmentally Friendly

2. Organic Fertilizer

3. Saves Water

4. High Level of Nutrient Utilization

5. Affordable

6. Easy to Maintain

7. Space Efficient

8. Can be Installed Close to Market

9. Good Source of Income

Cons:

1. Not Many Crops Available

2. Initial Cost

3. High Consumption of Electricity

4. Must be Professionally Installed

5. Unexpected Failure