Aquaponics
Is growing your own food one of your absolute favorite things to do? The goal of a sustainable lifestyle may already be achieved by having chickens and a garden in the backyard, but you would like to take it one step further. Aquaponics can help with that. In modern society, it's becoming increasingly popular because of its incredible efficiency in growing both plants and fish due to its origins in ancient China and South America.
What is Aquaponics and How Does it Work?
A sustainable method of growing food is aquaponics. One integrated system combines aquaculture and hydroponics. You don't have to spend much time or effort maintaining it once you've set it up. It works by feeding the plants with waste produced by the fish and the plants cleaning the fish with waste produced by the plants.
The nitrogen cycle is the basis of this system. Ammonia produced by fish is converted into nitrates by bacteria. In the grow bed, nitrate-rich water is then pumped into this water, which contains plants. In addition to supplying the plants with nitrogen, the plants also clean the water so that it may be returned to the tank. The fish provide nutrition to the bacteria, repeating this cycle over and over again. Fish waste is broken down by bacteria and fed to the plants, which then clean the water to return to the fish. That's it!
What Types of Fish to Use in Aquaponics
It depends on your climate and where you live on what kind of fish to use, but there are a few generally accepted ‘good species’ that will work well.
Trout
The food-to-meat ratio of trout is good, and it grows quickly. They are very efficient at converting food into protein. This saves money on water heating because the tank needs to be kept cool. Insects, smaller fish, or fish food based on meat are some of the foods you can feed trout that are carnivorous.
Tilapia
Aquaponics uses tilapia for a reason. This species grows extremely fast, tastes great, and breeds well. In addition to needing warm water, they are also very hardy (which means that if you make a mistake, your system will not be ruined). Plant-based foods are a part of their diet, so they're well suited to your body.
Carp
Although carp are less common as a system choice, they can still produce good results. Apart from being durable and adaptable like tilapia, these fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that meet your requirements better than any other type. The omnivore diet allows them to eat whatever they want, so they won't go hungry.
Catfish
Aquaponic systems are well suited to most types of catfish. Similar to trout, they grow rapidly and efficiently convert food into protein. Catfish may be the better choice for you if you like the flavor of the fish over trout or tilapia.
Koi
Koi is a beautiful species that could be used to build an aquaponic system. A great fit for aquaponics, they are absolutely beautiful. Despite their long lifespans and lack of diseases or pests, the downside is their cost. Breeding and selling offspring can also provide a nice side income.
Plants that are easy to grow
Growing plants that don't require much care or special strategies is a good idea when you are just starting out. It's a great idea to keep aquaponics simple at first. Even though most anything can be grown in an aquaponics system, it's best to keep it that way.
Let’s try some of them too:
- Tomatoes
- Peas
- Eggplants
- Beans
- Zucchini
- Any type of leafy green
- Broccoli and cauliflower
Aquaponics is a topic that is barely scratched in this article. Keep an eye out for more information about aquaponics coming soon.