Aquaponics

Aquaponics combines aquaculture(fish) and hydroponics(plants) in a closed-loop, holistic circulating ecosystem. Scale is adaptable...allowing for systems that fit in a kitchen window, to a system that provides edible fish and vegetables in a backyard greenhouse. The nutrient rich fish tank water supplies constant fertilizer for the plants, and the plants act as a bio-filter to clean the water...and naturally occurring bacteria help throughout.

Ecological advantages:

• Year-round source of herbs and vegetables.
• As fish mature, a source of fresh and contaminant free protein.
• Can be constructed virtually anywhere (...garage/parking spot...basement...kitchen window...).
• Minimal environmental impact (uses up to 6x less water than conventional agriculture).
• Minimal upkeep...once built, only cost is that of fish food and stock.

What's going on...

Essentially...it is the re-creation of a naturally occurring ecosystem in an urban environment...a closed-loop system utilizing both fish and plants. The fish provide nutrients through the breakdown of their wastes by bacteria. The nutrient-rich water is then pumped through an irrigation system feeding plants grown in a special medium...which acts as a bio-filter to clean and aerate the water for the fish.

Important note...

It only takes a small number of fish to produce enough waste to fertilize a large number of plants, so most backyard systems will produce primarily vegetables. However, by scaling up the system and using multiple fish tanks, a system providing approx. 100lbs of fish per year is possible in a 10x6 greenhouse.