How to Build Aquaponics System
A Step By Step : How to Build Aquaponics System
If you love to watch fish flickering their tails and swimming up and down in the aquarium and you love gardening too, there’s one of the best options for you will be to combine both these interest areas into one single hobby called aquaponics, what is aquaponics ? and how to build aquaponics system? Before I answer your question. I tell you one best thing secret is that you can start this in your own back yard!
Before we examine in detail as to how to build aquaponics system it will be interesting to know this exciting hobby in some more details. In very simple terms, aquaponics is derived from aquaculture and hydroponics, i.e., the art of cultivating marine creatures (fish) fused with the cultivation of plants by placing their roots in nutrient solutions rather than soil. In more clear terms, aquaponics combine cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a symbiotic recirculating system.
How to build aquaponics system | The Basic
Now that you know the amazing simplicity of the concept, the next question that will come to your mind is what all would you need and how to build aquaponics system for your home.
You will need a container to hold the water, such as any tank of about 150 to 250 L capacity (or larger if you have a pond in your garden), water pump of about 1000 LPH capacity or more to push water up to a minimum of 1 meter head, double outlet air pump with adequate extension wire depending on whether you are using a tank or a pond, a large garden hose, bird mesh wire to keep the birds away from the fish, plants like tomatoes or spinach, digital timer and surge protector for controlling the pump and last but not least some varieties of fish.
You may use comet goldfish, tilapia or yellow perch, although others can be tried out by you. Depending on the topography of your yard it may also be possible to make use of gravity to run the water reducing the use of pumping for circulation. In addition you may require normal household supplies such as bricks, tiles etc depending on the exact layout you use.
How to build aquaponics system | How The System Works
It is equally important for you to understand how the system works before you can solve the problem of how to build aquaponics system. Water is drained either by gravity or by use of pump, depending on whether you are using a tank placed at a height or using a pond, into a gravel or sand filled bed.
The beneficial bacteria will break down the ammonia in fish waste toxic to plants and convert them to nitrates and nitrogen compounds useful for plant nourishment. You can also use watercress on the gravel bed as secondary means of water filtration. The filtered water is pumped from the gravel bed to plant growing beds, where you have already planted the crops like tomatoes, salad greens or spinach etc. to help the process of wicking you can also use coir or other natural fibrous materials such as peat moss.
Water from the plant beds are recirculated back to the fish tank or pond as applicable. You can also dig a hole in the ground and burry the fish tank up to its brim in the ground. However, select an area that has adequate shade for the fish to survive. The pump can be connected to this embedded tank from the garage or work shed as convenient. Those component will help your problem on how to build aquaponics system.
Watch This How To Build Aquaponics System Video first
How to build aquaponics system | The Components
It is also possible to use a grow tub instead of a grave and sand bed for water filtration. This consists of a waste or recycled tub and if there are holes at the bottom, better for you for you do not need to drill extra drain holes for the water to trickle down to a collector so that it can be pumped back to the fish tank. If the fish are out in the open like in the case of a pond in the yard or garden, you need to cover it with mesh to bird-proof it.
The pump is used to circulate water from the collector back to fish tank. Always remember to use de-chlorinated water otherwise your fish may not survive. Air pump is essential for survival of marine animals and depending on your layout this needs to be connected to get oxygen content in the fish tank/pond to required levels. It will be required to wash the gravel once in about a fortnight or so initially and depending on the results, you can extend the period.
How to build aquaponics system | Conclusion
So now that you have learned how to build aquaponics system , remember that the exact components and layout will depend on your location and there are no hard and fast rules. So long as the water from fish tank gets filtered, routed to plant beds and re-circulated back to fish tank your aquaponics will yield twin results by giving you enough fish for your own consumption or you can market the surplus and on the sidelines you get your favorite veggies too in abundance in one of the most eco-friendly systems. You can search other source to find your ultimate answer how to build aquaponics system or find one below ;
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