Introduction to Aquaponics What you need to know and why Aquaponics Please Define Your Terms Aquaponics is a system of agriculture involving the ● simultaneous cultivation of plants and aquatic animals (such as fish or prawns) in a symbiotic environment – A hybrid of Aquaculture and Hydroponics – Aquaculture is “Fish Farming”—raising fish in controlled, concentrated numbers – Hydroponics is growing plants without soil Nutrient Film (Laminar Flow) Technology ● Raft grow beds ● Media-based grow beds ● Aquaponics Why Bother? Food is the new gold ● – Brigham Young said that a bushel of corn would be more valuable than a bushel of gold Food shortages ● – LDS Cannery raised prices 7~65% (19%) April 4 – LDS Canneries have run out of wheat and flour Long Term and Short Term issues ● – Truckers’ strike, weather – Worldwide shortages Aquaponics Why Bother? Food costs in USmerica include a lot more than food ● – Transporting food is a major (often biggest) component in the price you pay Governments have confiscated stored food in the past, ● and stigmatized the prepared as “Hoarders” Others may steal your food ● – Even Saints have said, “I don’t need to store anything, I’ll just come and take yours – People in other “adventist” churches know who we are and where we live and have organized to take stored food Aquaponics Basics Three “crops” in aquaponics ● Fish, high quality protein ● Plants (vegetables primarily, but some fruit) ● Bacteria ● – The most important – Need hard surfaces to grow on – Makes the others possible Aquaponics Basics Fish defecate, urinate and breathe ● All contain Ammonia ● (NH or NH +) 3 4 – Ammonia is fatal to fish and plants Bacteria convert Ammonia to Nitrites ● (NH or NH +) 3 4 (NO -) 2 – Nitrites are fatal to fish and plants Bacteria convert Nitrites to Nitrates ● (NO -) (NO -) 2 3 – Nitrates are plant food (fertilizer), benign to fish Aquaponics Basics Beneficial Bacteria a i n o m N i t m r a A t e s Fish Plants Clean Water Aquaponics Bacteria “Nitrificating” Bacteria ● – Occur naturally in atmosphere, water Nitrosonomas (various species) ● – Ammonia (NH or NH +) to Nitrites (NO -) 3 4 2 Nitrobacter (various species) ● – Nitrites (NO -) to Nitrates (NO -) 2 3 Nitrification produces Nitric Acid, which ● counters the base, Ammonia Aquaponics Fish Very high “conversion rate” ● – Feed to food ratio Low susceptibility to disease ● – No E. Coli A very good source of protein ● Aquaponics Fish ● Food Fish (Eat ’em) ● Ornamental Fish (Sell ’em) – Tilapia – Koi – Bass (Large Mouth) – Goldfish – Blue Gill – Catfish – Exotics ● Barramundi Jade Perch ● ● Silver Perch Murray Cod ●