When Aquaculture meets Hydroponics… Introducing, Aquaponics!
Fish secretions are a powerful organic fertilizer solution that can be used for sustainably growing plants and vegetables in its own standalone, integrated system. Here’s how it works:
Water will be sent from the fish tank, through a biological filter where bacteria acts upon the fish secretions to create an organic fertilizer solution, by converting the ammonia (NH3) into nitrate (-NO3). This is known as the nitrification process. At this point, the plant roots can absorb the nutrients directly from the water, effectively cleaning the water so it can return to the fish tank without being toxic to the fish.
The aquaponics solution has three organisms, the fish, the plant life and the bacteria. Together, these are a fully integrated growing system, continually converting the ammonia into nitrate, sustaining the growth of the plants and the fish.
Increasing environmental awareness means that we all have a responsibility to look for ways to reduce the use of vital resources such as water and land. Aquaponics produces less pollution than other systems, creates crops that are completely organic, and provides high quality yields of both vegetables and fish.
