An aquaponic farming system combines aquaculture and hydroponic systems to produce fish and plant based crops at the same time. This saves time, energy and space and yields more food. It also reduces waste by using waste from one system to feed the next.
Aquaponic may be your answer to producing more food for you both indoors and in your backyard garden.
Ever wonder what the future of farming will look like? A few years ago I came across an indoor aquaculture farming system project where vegetables and fish were being raised together. I was totally fascinated by the idea that a fish tank could be used to grow vegetables in a soil-less system. Over the years I have learned more about the system and decided to share what I have learned.
What is an aquaponic system?
In an aquaponic system you can grow plants and fish at the same time. You will have fish in a fish tank and plants growing on top of it in a soil-less system. The waste from the fish tank is used to feed the plants and vice versa.
Today, the aquaponic systems are no longer limited to experimental farms, but are moving to commercial farms. The idea is to use the same water you are using to raise your fish to feed your plants in a recirculating system. The waste from your fish is high in nutrients and an excellent fertilizer for your plants, so you don’t need to use any soil or add fertilizer to feed your plants. The only input you need is to feed your fish at the initial stages and the system runs on autopilot.
This system can be done on any scale, large or small, commercially or residentially. It’s an attractive system that can be placed anywhere in your house or in a warehouse. It does not require a lot of space and, because you are placing crops vertically without soil, you are able to produce more crops in a smaller area.
What are the benefits of an aquaponic system?
- Aquaponic farming system is totally organic farming. It does notrequire any pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers.
- No weeding, digging or tilling needed for farming.
- No soil borne insects or germs.
- No environmental impacts from outside pollution.
- A wide variety of fish and vegetables can be grown and raised right at home.
- Catch your own fish and grab your own vegetables whenever you are hungry.
- Scalable up to commercial use, so you can make extra money from home or reduce your cost on groceries.
- Completely sustainable and only input you will need is to add water and fish food.
- More food is grown in less space.
- Saves time money and energy.
- A vertical system can be placed anywhere- indoors, outdoors or in a warehouse.
- Anyone can benefit from it. Gives you food security, nutrition and also economic and social benefits.
Aquaponics use a fraction of the resources used in conventional farming and produces much more food. It could be done in any place, year round. It’s a profitable, dependable and sustainable way of growing food.
Why not try your own aquaponic system? To learn more about it please give us a call at 303-495-3705. Click here to book a meeting with us.
I hope you found some value in this article. We would love to hear your thoughts on it. Please leave a comment on our Facebook page or in the comment box below. It would greatly inspire us.
Watch our Replay of the NTP/CEED Bi-Weekly Huddle Hangout with Hayden Robbins – Aquaponics for Beginners
Institute of Ecolonomics
Source: WorldWide Aquaculture
Related articles and resources:
- Miniature Aquaponics Systems | Nourish The Plane
- Aquaponics – the Answer to the Global food Crisis | Nourish The Planet
- Could Indoor Fish Farming be the Future of Aquaculture? | WorldWide Aquaculture
- Start an Indoor Fish Farming Business from Home
- Aquaculture – Fish Farming of Tilapia at Home
- New York: Urban fish farms – Danish Architecture Centre
