Aquaponics Basics Jeni and Doug Blackburn

ABC Presentation February 11, 2017

AQUAPONICS

Symbiotic relationship between plants and fish

http://www.cocoponics.co/hydroponics/what-is-aquaponics/attachment/aquaponics-greenhouse

• Reduction in waste-water discharge by recycling nutrients • Miserly water use - 98% REDUCTION in water use vs. conventional farming techniques • Uses 90% less energy of traditional farming • Minimal need for land- because of their compact nature, facilities may be located very close to the end users (restaurants, green grocers, food manufacturers, public) in a variety of locations (country, city, desert). • Supports Locavorism • Produces an organic food source-no herbicides or pesticides • Year round production for marketing advantage • Plants grow at a rate 2-3 times faster • Produces 3 times as much produce in less growing space

Benefits of Aquaponics

Types of Systems DWC (Deep Water Culture): Plants

grow in rafts that float in a trough with approximately 12 inch water depth

NFT (Nutrient Film Technique): Plants grow in long narrow channels in which a thin film of water flows continuously

Media Beds: Plants grow in beds filled with expanded clay balls, expanded shale or other media where water floods the bed using ebb and flow

Small Systems Barrelponics

More Small Systems

IBC Totes

In a recirculating system using DWC, water flows from the fish tank into a solids barrel. Here excess fish food and waste is caught and the nitrogen cycle begins breaking down the toxic ammonia. This creates a beneficial bacteria that grows nutrients to feed the growing plants. The flow of water from the fish tank is gravity fed through the system. Each trough is 1 inch lower than the previous. Stair step effect.

Solids Barrel

How It Works

Growing Trough Fish Tank

Air Line into tank

Water Line out to media barrel

Water Line out to next trough

The Nitrogen Cycle 2 bacteria in the nitrogen cycle that breaks down the ammonia from fish: Nitrosomonas, converts ammonia to nitrites. Nitrobacter, converts nitrites to nitrates the plants consume to grow.

A variety of crops such as salad greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, kale can be grown with aquaponics.

Plants

Seeds are started in coir, a by-product of coconut shells, a sustainable and PH neutral replacement for peat moss.

Seedling table

As the plants grow, the nutrients are wicked up from the water by the plant roots

Aquaponic subsystem serves as biofilter -Nitrifying bacteria grows on everything -Media: gravel, sand, perlite, rafts, NFT channels Oxygen needed for nitrification process Light Water temperature optimum around 70⁰F Monitor total dissolved solids (TDS) Test pH every week.

Plant Care

Beneficial Insects

Pest Control

Fish in Aquaponics

Climate and market should be considered in selecting fish.

Tilapia are typically used for several reasons; they grow fast, are very hardy, are tolerant of crowding, tolerate relative poor water quality conditions, and are resistant to diseases. However they need higher water temperatures.

Lake or yellow perch, native to Ohio, work well. They require a lower water temperature, however are more sensitive to water quality and disease.

- PH levels stable - Nitrites (want them low) - Nitrates (want them high) - Calcium - Iron - Other trace minerals

Fish should be: -Stocked at maximum biomass for profitability -Fish health imperative -Eating regularly -Do not exceed .5 lb/gallon Water quality is key:

Fish in Aquaponics

Climate and region will determine

Allows for growing year round

Southern states and tropical regions can grow outside with caution; low temperatures at night during winter months, weather conditions such as wind, storms with hail

Cost of heating/cooling and lighting

Inside or Outside? Open Air, Greenhouse, Barn or Warehouse

And Sell It! Farmers Markets • Very popular, one everyday • Promotes buying local • Face-to-face with your

customers • Variable income • Rain, snow or sunshine • Time consuming, 4-6 hrs

each • Variable crop waste

Restaurant Contracts

• Steady income • Established routine • No waste