If you are new to aquaponics, you may be wondering what it is and whats so awesome about it?
Aquaponics: A system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water. –oxforddictionaries.com
So its basically a hydroponics system, in which you feed fish daily instead of measuring water levels and adding nutrients. What makes aquaponics special is that it is a living system completely designed by nature, its a small scale ecosystem, where fish produce waste that is broken down by bacteria into plant nutrients, then the plants take up the nutrients which cleans the water for the fish. While aquaponics isn’t perfect, the majority of the nutrients needed by plants are created in the system with only the addition of fish food and the remaining nutrients are easily supplemented, all with minimal water testing necessary. So what are the benefits of aquaponics?
- Low Maintenance– With a well designed system such as ours, the only maintenance required is periodic cleaning of a couple small parts, other than that you feed your fish and harvest your plants!
- No Chemicals– You won’t have to buy big, expensive bottles of chemicals to supply the plants with their nutrients, and you won’t have to worry about testing the water everyday to add these chemicals either.
- Water Efficient– You never have to change the water in the system, so the only loss of water is due to evaporation and plant usage, this makes aquaponics a great option in areas experiencing droughts.
- Works Anywhere– Aquaponics can be used to grow in the city, the country, or the desert (like us). If you have bad soil, no problem! Aquaponics doesn’t rely on the soil.
- Sustainability– With more and more of the earths resources being used up, it is becoming more important than ever to be conscious of your impact on the environment. Aquaponics doesn’t require any harsh chemicals that can pollute the water tables, uses less water than traditional growing, and you can even produce your own fish food to make the system completely self sustaining.
- Ease of use– Aquaponics uses beds that can be placed at almost any height or spacing, making aquaponics perfect for persons with disabilities, health issues, or that simply don`t like having to bend down in the garden for hours
- Educational– You can teach your children how plants are grown, where nutrients come from, and how to care for fish.