How can I get started with Aquaponics?
What for?
Starting an Aquaponic system at home will allow you to rapidly grow organic food with minimal space and bring you a step closer to self sustainability. It will radically reduce your carbon footprint and save you money, while feeding you at the same time. With a simple fish tank, you can grow a full head of lettuce in as little as 6 weeks!
For the beginner
In a closed Aquaponic ecosystem, bacteria converts the ammonia in fish waste into nitrates, which are essentially plant fertilisers. The plants then absorb these nutrients for food and simultaneously filter the Aquaponic system water, which is then returned to the fish. Outlined below are the important components required to start your own system!
Tank
The fish tank houses the fish and is the heart of the system. It provides power and initiates the necessary processes which feed the growing plants. Standard domestic fish tanks are a good starting point for an aquaponic system, as they provide all the necessary equipment to keep your fish alive and well. If you want to create your own tank, bare in mind that for every kilogram of resident fish, there must be at least 50 litres of water for them to live in. You will also need air pumps to supply the fish with oxygen and you will need to ensure you keep good living conditions for the fish. Be sure to test your tank water for Chloramines and Bromines as these are toxic for your fish, and make sure you provide sufficient shade to the tank as this will prevent the build up of green algae.
Fish
The fish eat the food you give them and produce waste, which feeds nitrifying bacteria, which provides food to the plants in the system. A great fish to start a system with is goldfish, as they are very cheap and produce all the natural materials to kick start your system. Be sure not to overpopulate the tank though, and make sure you measure the ammonia in the system, as levels above 3 ppm will kill the nitrifying bacteria and starve your plants. If you want to grow your system, tilapia are the perfect choice with which to do so. Make sure you cover your tank however, as tilapia are likely to try to escape!
Plants
Finally, plants are required in order to complete the system cycle. The plants effectively clean the water that the fish live in, reducing the amount of cleaning that you will have to do in order to keep the living environment good for the habitant fish. For smaller systems, leafy greens are best as they grow very quickly, require little maintenance, and are easy to come by. Make sure however, that the fish in the system do not snack on the roots of the plants! You must therefore be sure to select compatible pants and fish for an all in one fish tank Aquaponic system.
By Shem Toussaint