Aquaponics is basically defined as the combination of hydroponics and the aquaculture embedded in a system that has no negative impact in the natural environment. The cultivation technique is highly persistent and eco-friendly when plants are combined with fish. The method is also termed as a water conserver since the system does require a small volume of water that is equivalent to 10%. Aside from the convenient culture system and the fact that there is no rough use of water takes place in running it.

Since there are numerous food sold in the market that are hazardous to our health, backyard aquaponics has been an alternative solution to avoid this unpleasant situation and we can ensure that our daily food items are safe and non-hazardous using this product producing system that does not require any chemical inputs. Backyard aquaponics is the best system that can make man self-sufficient to provide his basic needs and healthy.

Basically, a backyard aquaponics system utilizes water in a revolving process and it creates the best recycling procedure to discharged waste of the fish are taken by plants and vice-versa. There are nutrients from the waste taken out by the fish or aquatic animals that are important to plants or vegetables, while the residues coming from the plants are considered as food to aquatic animals. In this process, there is actually no chance to waste any water in the system except through evaporation or overflow due to rainfall.

To build your own eco-friendly backyard aquaponics system requires a minimal investment and the entire process does occupy a constant amount of water that revolves around the system. The only cost to consider is when you build the system formation and buying plants and fish or fingerlings only. As for the area, it does require a little space that can possibly grow both fish and vegetable. A tank that is utilized in this system will hold the fish while the top covers the area is made as a bed support for vegetable or plant growth.

The most common vegetables or plants that are perfect for the backyard aquaponics system are strawberry, tomato, lettuce, etc. and while the fish species that are perfect would be murray cod, cat fish, trout or any preferred aquatic animal preferred by growers or aquaponics backyard farmers.

In summary, here are some of the benefits of backyard aquaponics:

Utilizes a small land area
Safe quality food
Eco-friendly
Continuous supply of vegetables and fish the whole year round
Low cost investment

Aquaponics is defined as a bio-integrated process that adapts recirculating hydroponic plant production with aquaculture. It is a working model that provides sustainable food production that can even be done in the backyard in urban areas. It has gained increased attention as a bio-integrated food production system.

Aquaponics has been derived with the following principles:

• Water is continuously re-used by the process of recirculation and biological filtration.
• It provides access to healthy foods.
• The integration of fish and plants results in a polyculture that increases diversity and yields multiple products.
• The waste products of each biological system serve as nutrients that are helpful to both plants and aquatic animals.

The Aztec was the first civilization to practice aquaponics. The Aztec cultivated agricultural islands that are known to them as “chinampas” and as the very first form of aquaponics that were used for agricultural use, where plants are grown on stationary islands in shallow lakes and waste materials or effluents from Chinampa canals are used to manually irrigate the plants.

Today, researchers experimented with wastewater management and bioshelters that can be used for crop production. Through this objective, it advanced to the concept of fish effluent as fertilizer for crop production. This led to the use of fish pond water to irrigate plants but the described techniques did not form a circulatory growth environment for what was now termed as aquaponics until they have combined hydroponics with aquaculture in the 1970’s.

Greenhouse growers and farmers are taking note of aquaponics for several reasons:

• Fish-manured irrigation water is a good source of organic fertilizer for plants to grow well.
• Hydroponics is a biofiltration method that can facilitate intensive recirculating aquaculture.
• Aquaponics is a process that can introduce organic hydroponic produce into the marketplace; since fertility input is fish feed only and all the nutrients passes through a biological process.
• Aquaponics can produce fresh vegetables and fish protein even in dry regions and even on water-limited farms, since water recirculating in the system.
• Aquaponics is a working model of sustainable food production with the combination of plant and animal agriculture are linked.
• Food-producing greenhouses that are eco-friendly.

Since the birth of aquaponics, it has become a popular training ground on integrated bio-systems with vocational agricultural courses and even in secondary school biological classes.

Aquaponics technology does require the ability to manage the production and even marketing two types of agricultural products. The innovation of hydroponics and aquaculture has transformed aquaponics in the 1980’s into a viable food production system but does require an intensive management and building such systems have special considerations.

In an aquaponic system, the fish provides nutrients for the plants and if you are growing edible fish it can provide protein for you and your family. Raising fish in an aquaponic system is much simple compared to raising them in an aquarium, as long as you follow the simple guidelines.

Choosing the Right Aquaponics Fish

There are different varieties of aquaponic fish to choose from and you must consider your local climate to choose the right one. In cold climates, you can choose a Rainbow Trout and during summer or warm season raising Barramundi or Jade Perch can be the best option.

There are a few factors to consider before arriving to a final decision to what type of fish species you want to grow. First, is to consider what type of fish you plan to grow, either an edible fish or ornamental fish. Do you prefer a fish that can grow the whole year round? Another factor to consider is what type of fish is available in the market, since you need to get your brood stock in the first place such as Tilapia (for edible fish).

To help you out, here is a list of useful aquaponics fish species:

Barramundi

Barramundi that is grown in an aquaponic system has an exceptionally clean, crisp taste and are commonly grown during the warm season. Usually, growers buy mature stock to be able to harvest larger fish in the end of the growing season wherein it is also considered as one of the majestic aquatic species that are edible.

Catfish

From the different variety of catfish, the best suited for aquaponics is the Channel Catfish that is widely farmed type of fish in the US. Channel catfish can be quickly grown and they do have a better food conversion ratio compared to other fish.

Carp

Carp is one of the world’s most cultured fish and commonly grown in Asia. It has the capability to reproduce and quickly adapt in many areas in the world. There are various species of carp that are suited to aquaponics.

Goldfish

Goldfish can be considered as an aquaponic fish and can be a great addition to the aquaponic system. They usually breed in a tank with plant covering.

Jade Perch

Jade Perch is an Australian fish that grows during the warm season and they consume an omnivorous diet. They have a high level of omega 3 oil compared to other fish species in the world. Due to this, some growers breed the oil out of them since some people don’t want fish with high oil content.

Koi
Koi belongs to the family group of Carps and they are commonly grown in Asian countries. For Koi lovers, this fish can be a great proposition as a stocking fish in your aquaponic system.

Murray cod

Murray Cod is one of the best aquaponic fish that can be raised in recirculating aquaculture system and they grow quickly. But they must be kept in high stocking densities and be well fed otherwise they tend to eat each other. In their normal habitat, they tend to grow in enormous sizes.

Silver perch

Silver perch fingerlings grow slowly from 12 to 18 months and they can grow well in a variety of conditions and within a wide temperature range. Commonly, they are omnivorous and loves to eat green scraps, Duckweed and Azolla.

Tilapia

Tilapia is the second most cultured fish throughout the world and one of the best aquaponics fish that growers love. It is easy to breed this type of fish and they are fast growing and can withstand even the worst water condition. They do have an omnivorous diet and must be grown in warm water.

Trout

Trouts grows faster compared to other aquaponics fish and commonly they live in water temperatures between 10 to 20 degrees Celsius.

Other Aquaponics Fish Species

Other fish species that are grown in aquaponics are Bluegill that are commonly grown in the US and Sleepy Cod that are available in Australia. Other fish varieties that can be grown in fresh water are mussels, prawns, crayfish, Redclaw, Marron and Crustaceans such as Yabbies.

Mussels are a filter-feeder and helps clean the water while Yabbies breed readily, as long as they are grown in the right environment and have the correct water temperature and long daylight hours.

The production of different fish varieties occurs in rural areas using ponds to the intensive culture of ornamental fish in plastic tanks in urban areas. Aquaculture system is being practiced by the poorest farmers in developing countries as part of their livelihood and by top executives in North America and Europe that produces baitfish for weekend fishing trip in the countryside.

Modern aquaculture system aims to help nature’s natural productivity that are being designed in various intensive indoor system that are monitored with high technology equipment through the simple release of baby fish to the sea. Others create the simplest production system usually built as small family ponds especially in tropical countries for carp production that are being used for domestic consumption. Other countries like North America build intensive closed indoor units to raise striped bass. Europe uses sea cages to grow bream and salmon.

Type of Aquaculture Systems

Indoor Rearing

For many years now, different indoor rearing systems were designed to produce different aquatic species for the purpose of development of seed production or hatcheries in controlled condition indoors. Such system has been successful to produce aquatic species and eradicate the spread of diseases in raising fish and maintain a stable condition that some species need to flourish and reproduce.

Outdoor Rearing

This type of aquaculture system are commonly used to raise plants such as seaweeds that are grown on seabed or on raft or racks in shallow coastal waters that is being used for food consumption or to produce alginate or carageenan that is commonly known as “agar agar”. This aquaculture sector that consist of small scale growers are mainly seen in Asia and parts of South America wherein they attach the seedlings of marine plants of simple structures within the shoreline area. This type of aquaculture system can be used to for production of other aquatic species such as oysters, mussels and clams.

Ponds

Almost all countries use this type of aquaculture system that are commonly built in fresh water and these ponds are made of earth. It is the most simple production system wherein a small excavation can be done near a farmer’s house or backyard and using the spoil to build a raised foundation for the house itself. Normally, the pond will be fed by natural rainfall or even ground water or simply diverting a nearby stream or irrigation canal. Once done, young fish can be stock in the pond to be raised. After holding the young fish for a time in a small floating net to check if they are in good condition then it can be released into the pond. Usually, a good balance of different marine species being raised in a pond is the best way to improve production. This practice with different species can consume the varied types of food available in the pond and can be made use of.
Coastal Aquaculture

Usually the design of coastal aquaculture systems are done in coastal areas, in ponds or in floating cages near the ocean or within the coastal areas using sturdy cages called as “ranching” where young fish are released to the wild then collected through normal fishing activity or by training them by responding to specially generated sounds. Commonly practiced in tropical coastal zones around Latin America and Asia where most shrimp farms are found.

An Aquaponic system is a form of modern farming that can be done even in urban areas. It basically recirculates and reuse water in an effective way and it consist of three main inputs and that is: water, feeds being given to aquatic animals and electric used to pump water between the aquaculture and hydroponics.

Aquaponic system relies in the relationship between plants and animals that will maintain a stable aquatic environment. This type of process provides a minimum fluctuation of ambient nutrient and oxygen levels. The basic component of this system is water. It is being added to replace the water loss due to absorption by plants and when it evaporates into the air or if it overflow due to rainfall and being removed by biomass such as solid waste produced in the system.

It uses at least 2% of the water that a conventionally irrigated farm consumes on the same vegetable production. The only difference is that aquaponic production can even be used in areas where water is scarce.

Another advantage for aquaponic systems is that it can imitate a controlled wetland condition that is useful for water treatment by reclaiming potable water from typical household sewage. The overflowing water can be dispersed to a catchment tank and be reused to maintain the growth of crops being grown in soil or the water can be pumped back into the aquaponic system that can replace the water being lost due to drought or dry season.

There are two categories within the aquaponic system: hydroponics that consist of plants such as vegetables and aquaculture that contains edible species among others fish. To keep the system stable, it is advised that they must be replaced from time to time.

Function

There are two main parts in the aquaponic system and the first is the aquaculture part for aquatic animals and the hydroponics part that consist of growing plants. Aquatic waste coming from uneaten feed or raising animals like fish does accumulate in the water during the process due to the closed system recirculation of common aquaculture systems. Due to this, the effluent-rich water tends to toxic to fishes or other aquatic animals that has high concentrations but most of these effluents or water waste are nutrients that is essential for plant growth.

Aside from the two primary parts of the aquaponic system, it is also grouped into several components or subsystems to effectively remove solid wastes. That is adding bases to neutralize acids and to maintain oxygen in the water used in the system. These include the following:

• Rearing Tank – a cistern or container to raise and feed the fish;
• Solid Removal – a tool or component to entrap uneaten food and detached biofilms, and for settling our fine particles in the water;
• Biofilter – this is where the nitrification bacteria can grow and converts ammonia particles into nitrates that is being used by the plants;
• Hydroponics Subsystem – a part of the system that plants are being grown by absorbing excess nutrients in the water;
• Sump – this is the located in the lowest part of the system where the flowing water is being pumped back into the rearing tanks.

The cost of the aquaponic system may depend according to the on how the sophisticated the system is built such as the solids removal, hydroponics system and biofiltration units that are combined into a single unit or subsystem that prevents water from flowing directly to the aquaculture part of the system and even to the hydroponics part.

Nitrification

The nitrification process in an aquaponic system can be dependent on bacterial biofilm that is positioned in a specific biofiltering module or evenly distributed in the entire system. Proper handling for this bacterial colony is very important since it regulates the full assimilation of ammonia and nitrate for plant nutrient uptake and eradicates the presence of these metabolites that can be toxic to fish or aquatic species.

Basically, fish waste or effluents are the main source of nutrients for plants even if some minerals or nutrients such as iron are being added to the system. The most important function in the system is nitrification since it converts toxic ammonia into nitrates.  Ammonia is released into the water through the excreta and gills of fish as part of their metabolism and if higher concentrations are present in the water then it can kill the fish and even plants cannot absorb it as well as nitrates. Nitrification makes it easier for plants to take up nitrogenous compounds safely and maintain a healthy population of bacteria called Nitrosomonas that can convert ammonia into nitrates. While another bacterium called Nitrobacter converts nitrites into nitrates that reduce the toxicity of the water and the remaining compounds can be removed by plants as part of their nourishment.

This method applies in the entire system since the bacteria responsible in this process forms a biofilm throughout the solid surfaces of the system that is in contact with the water and the roots of the plants or vegetable crops that is submerged in the water covers almost the entire surface area wherein most of the bacteria accumulates in this area. That is why most aquaponic systems include a biofiltering unit which helps aid the growth of microorganisms.

Normally, the level of ammonia should be in the range of .25 to 2.0 ppm while level of nitrite ranges from .25 to 1 ppm and the level of nitrate range from 2 to 150 ppm. In this system, nitrification process plays a role that acidifies the water, non-sodium bases like calcium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide could be added to neutralize the water’s pH level, if insufficient quantities are present in the water that will safeguard it against acidification.

Worms is another way to solve the buildup of solid matters in the aquaponic systems that helps liquefy the solid matter that can be utilized either by plants or marine animals.