Cultivate fish and plants with personal
aquaponic sytem
A
ammonia nitrogen. Without treatment,
personal aquaponic system is a
this waste can accumulate and become
living ecosystem that combines
toxic for the fish. Naturally occurring
aquaculture and hydroponics. Imagine
nitrifying bacteria
a small garden where
colonize the substrate
you can work without
in the plant bed and
bending over the
convert the ammonia
plants, weeding,
nitrogen into a safer
or watering. Many
form. Plants then use
products can be grown
the various forms of
in these systems and
nitrogen as a fertilizer.
it can be managed
The water is returned
to complement a
to the fish tank cleaner
traditional garden.
and oxygenated.
Salad greens like
lettuce, chard, and
Getting started
kale grow well even
An aquaponic system has a plant
Beginners should
when the water is
tank (top) and a fish tank.
start with a mediumcool. The choice
size hobby system. A 200-gallon system
of fish is related to temperature as well.
is a good starter size. The bigger the
Tilapia, Koi carp, catfish, and trout have
system, the more time there will be
been used. The system provides a good
to identify and address problems.
educational demonstration of a simple
ecosystem for classrooms. A healthful
After it’s constructed, a system should
meal of fish and produce leaves a
be “cycled” so the nitrifying bacteria
lasting impression on curious students.
communities have time to become
established. Cycling is as easy as
How aquaponic system works
turning on the system, pouring in
The system efficiently uses water to
some ammonia, and waiting. Nature
grow great tasting fish and plants in
will take care of the rest. You do not
a sustainable manner.
need to buy bacteria.
Fish release waste, bacteria convert waste
Monitoring water quality with a test
into useful nutrients, and plants convert
kit will reveal that the system has cycled
the nutrients into food for your table.
after several days. When this occurs, it is
In its simplest form, there are two
components – a tank for fish and a
place to grow plants. A pump recirculates
water from the fish tank to the plant area.
The media-filled plant area collects solids,
aerates, and provides a home for the
nitrifying bacteria. To extend the growing
season, aquaponic systems are often
protected from cold weather in a high
tunnel or greenhouse.
A simple aquaponic system can be as easy
to operate as an aquarium. When the fish
are fed, they excrete waste in the form of
iv / Winter 2013
finally time to add fish and plants. It is
wise to do this slowly – don’t load up with
too many fish. These systems are most
reliable with a modest number of fish. It
does not take many fish to make enough
nutrients to feed the plants. If you have
a nutrient deficiency at first, adding kelp
extract will help. As the fish grow and eat
more, they will produce more nutrients.
By Ken Semmens, Aquaculture Specialist,
and Matthew Ferrell, Aquaculture Facility
Coordinator at Reymann Memorial Farm,
WVU Extension Service
WVU Update
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