How to build an aquaponics system?
How to build an aquaponics system? Although aquaponic gardening has been around for centuries, it has been very successful. Please don’t assume it’s only for large commercial farmers, either.
In fact, many people are creating their own aquaponic systems in their backyards. If you are interested in raising your crops and meat in a single facility, aquaponics may be for you.
I’m going to explain all the ins and outs of aquaponic gardening. We will discuss it:
- What is Aquaponics;
- Why you can choose this form of gardening;
- What to cultivate;
- Different types of aquaponic gardening
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If this has piqued your curiosity, here is what you should know before diving into the world of aquaponics:
> What is aquaponic gardening?
> When you hear the term aquaponic gardening, you may be confused with hydroponic gardening. The reason is that aquaponics not only sounds similar, but it is also a combination of hydroponics and aquaculture.
Aquaponics is the combination of raising the crops in the water rather than on the ground while the fish are raised. The basic cycle of aquaponics is that the fish are in the water to produce waste. The waste is broken down by microbes in the water to form nitrogen, known as nitrate, to fertilize plants.
The waste that does not decompose functions as a
food plant. The plants clean the water so that the fish live in a healthy environment.
In return.
Why you might prefer aquaponic gardening
The first time I saw an aquaponic gardening facility, I was intimidated. It looked more elegant than anything I’d seen in my basic backyard, and I wasn’t sure it was for me.
Although this type of gardening requires balance, it has
many benefits that can make gardening easier in the long run.
So, don’t be intimidated and turn off the idea before doing a thorough investigation. Here are some reasons why you might choose to embrace aquaponic gardening:
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1. Organic Gardening
If you are someone concerned about the types of fertilizers and pesticides being put into your food, this gardening style may be for you.
Aquaponics gardening is an easy, totally organic style of gardening. It does not contain pesticides because there are no pests or weeds.
The fertilizer is completely natural and comes directly from the
fish that you are growing in the same place. You see each step of the process, and
the organic
gardening products are handled for you due to the facility’s natural cycle.
2. Less tiring
Are you someone who loves gardening but does
Does her work discourage you from embracing this passion you have for her?
Aquaponics could make gardening a possibility for you again.
Because there are no weeds to fight and there are no fertilizers to make, this style of
gardening is much easier to maintain physically.
Everything is done at the waist—no need to crawl on the ground to care for plants.
3. No water problems
Whether you are concerned about your garden’s correct watering or water consumption, aquaponic gardening is for you. The system is in charge of cycling the water. You no longer have to worry about watering your plants. Also, because the water is cycled, you are using about 1/10 of the water you would normally use in a traditional garden style.
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4. You can grow Aquaponics anywhere
If you’re working with limited grow space, aquaponic gardening might be the garden-style for you.
Why? Because your configuration can be as big or small as you need. You can grow a large installation commercially, have a medium-size installation in a greenhouse in your backyard, or a small installation that grows in your living room. It is a style of gardening that can work for everyone. No matter the circumstances.
Types of Aquaponics
There are different options when it comes to raising an aquaponic garden. Some work best commercially, while others work in the backyard or kitchen. Indoor aquaponic gardening. Here are your options:
1. Raft-based growth
This is most likely what you have witnessed if you have ever seen a commercial aquaponics gardening setup. This aquaponic gardening style is when crops are grown in rafts over water. The rafts have holes for plants to grow. This style of aquaponic gardening is best for lighter crops. And also those that grow faster, like lettuce.
2. Media based on Aquaponics
Media-based aquaponics is a typical form of gardening aquaponics used among those who grow their own food at home. It consists of growing food in pellets. The pellets function as a filter for fish waste and a place for the waste to turn into nitrate.
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3. Nutrient film technique
This is another style of aquaponic gardening that you may have used to create your own DIY aquaponics installation. The idea is that the water runs through a PVC pipe. There are holes in the PVC pipe for plants to be placed in. Its roots grow into the water and absorb nutrients through a film placed inside the pipes. It allows the roots to absorb the nutrients as the toilet paper absorbs water when it is held on it.
Again, this aquaponics style works best for lighter plants because there isn’t even a ton of support. If you were growing herbs or strawberries, this might be a good arrangement for you.
4. Vertical aquaponics
Vertical aquaponics allows you to increase the maximum number in a smaller space. The plants are stacked on top of each other just as they are in any vertical garden. The water runs from top to bottom and enters the fish tank below.
The towers. This style of aquaponics works best for lighter plants like lettuce. Or strawberries because (again) there is not much support offered with this trap.
How to start an aquaponic garden
If growing an aquaponic garden is something you are convinced you would like to try, you will be delighted to know that it only takes a few steps to get started:
1. Choose your system
We have discussed the system options above. When starting your own aquaponics system, you must decide which system will work best in your situation. Your system’s choice may depend on where you want it to be.
Mounting. You can have an aquaponic set up inside, outside, or even in a greenhouse. Many people choose a multimedia setup at home. If this is you, now is the time to add your media before doing anything else.
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2. Fill it with water
Once your system is in place, you need to add water. Fill your fish tank and your sump right now. If you decide to fill it with tap water, be sure to turn on the aerator and pump. It is necessary to run the pump for a few days because there are chemicals in most tap water. The chemicals are removed from the water by running the pump and aerator for three to seven days.
3. Add your crops
When the water is ready, it’s time to add the crops. If your plants were started in the ground, you should remove as much soil as possible from the roots.
Your water doesn’t have to be perfectly clean because the plants will help you finish cleaning the water. Put your crops in PVC pipe holes or media to give them a healthy start.
4. Test the pH level
As your aquaponics system develops, it is important to maintain a pH level between 6.8 and 7.2. At first, the water should have a pH of 7.0 or higher. This will give the bacteria a chance to form. Once your plants are added, the pH level will naturally go down. It is important to check your pH level because it falls below regularly. 6.8 it will slow down the decomposition of waste.
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5. Add ammonia
At this point, you must add ammonia to the water because you do not have the fish in the tank yet to form the waste. Adding ammonia will start the nitrogen cycle of the system. The amount of ammonia added will depend on the size of the system used. They have done. Be sure to review the setup instructions to find out how many tablespoons
you should add each day for the first two weeks.
6. Add the fish
The last step in the process is adding your fish to the system. Here are some of the options you can choose from:
- Tilapia – the easiest to breed, grows faster, and forgives conditions.
- Catfish- prefer warmer water and are more resistant to disease than other options.
- Trout – harder to breed because they prefer cooler water, good if grown in cold climates.
- Carp – the great fish for beginners, can grow in various conditions.
- Koi fish tough but not intended for consumption, great for decorating on your system only.
What to grow
Our last stop on this journey through aquaponics is to discuss what can be grown in these systems. The biggest hurdle you will face when growing up in an aquaponics system is finding the best-growing pairs. Ideally, fish and plants share similar water temperature and pH levels to be good growth partners.
For example, fish that prefer cool, warm water do best when paired with leafy greens like lettuce or herbs.
The crops you grow will also vary based on your facility’s size. Here’s what you can grow in a smaller facility:
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Spinach
- Swiss chard
- Watercress
- Wheatgrass
- Arugula
- Mint
- Chive
- Basil
If you have a larger setup, you will grow a wider variety. The idea is that you can grow larger crops with fruit if you have the setup that can handle the fish needed for healthy plants. The larger the plant and the fruit produced, the more nutrients the crops will need.
When crops need more nutrients, more fish are needed in the disposal to produce the nutrients from their residues. To handle the amount of fish, you must invest in the largest configuration. Here are the crop varieties that are meant
for a larger aquaponic system:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Cucumbers
- Beans
- pumpkin
- Green peas
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- How to build an aquaponics system
You have already survived your intensive aquaponic gardening course.
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We hope this has given you an idea of what aquaponics is, how it works, what it takes to set up a system, and what can be grown in this type of gardening system. If you are working on a budget, there are DIY aquaponic systems that could help reduce some of your system’s initial investment costs.
We hope that sharing alternative gardening methods will allow more people to be as self-sufficient as possible, regardless of the amount of space available.