Aquaponics: Questions and Answers

41 Pages·2016·4.83 MB·English

Aquaponics: Questions and Answers

Brian Nerrie and Chris Mullins

Virginia State University

S
Hydroponics
S Growing plants without soil
S Usually in a greenhouse
S Potential for building with grow lights
Aquaculture
S Farming in water
S In ponds, cages, raceways, indoor tanks, etc.
S Intensive aquaculture: high food input
Aquaponics
S Combination of intensive aquaculture (fish farming) and
hydroponics (growing plants without soil)
So how does it work?
S Uneaten food and
excreted waste
S Water goes back to
the fish cleaner
S Ammonia directly from
gills and waste turned
into usable nitrogen form S Ecosystem
through by bacterial sustained: fish,
mineralization
plant, and bacteria
Solid waste captured by filters
and discharged from system
S This ammonia is in a
form toxic to fish
S Conversion of ammonia
to nitrite and then nitrate
S Plants take up nitrates
and other nutrients
System Requirements
S Location
S Back-up Power
S Fish
S Greenhouse
S Source
S System Design
S Cooler
S Health
S Freezer
S Post-Harvest
S Material Storage
S Plant
S Seed Source
S Biosecurity
S Systems Design
S Insect and Disease S Processing
Management
Fish Tank
S Aquaria
S Wood Tank
S Fiberglass
S Drums
S Polyethylene
Biofilter
TOXIC Ammonia

Nitrosomonas
Nitrite

Nitrobacter
Nitrate

PLANT USABLE
Solids Filter

S Mechanical
S Clarifier
Pump
S Sump
S Centrifugal
S Air Lift