Aquaponics

Aquaponics
Aquaponics (pronounced: English pronunciation: /kwpnks/) is a sustainable food production system that combines a traditional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. In the aquaculture, effluents accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity for the fish. This water is led to a hydroponic system where the by-products from the aquaculture are filtered out by the plants as vital nutrients, after which the cleansed water is recirculated back to the animals. The term aquaponics is a portmanteau of the terms aquaculture and hydroponic.

A small, portable aquaponics system

Aquaponic systems vary in size from small indoor or outdoor units to large commercial units, using the same technology. The systems usually contain fresh water, but salt water systems are plausible depending on the type of aquatic animal and which plants. Aquaponic science may still be considered to be at an early stage.

Function
Aquaponics consists of two main parts, with the aquaculture part for raising aquatic animals and the hydroponics part for growing plants.[1] [2] Aquatic effluents resulting from uneaten feed or raising animals like fish, accumulates in water due to the closed system recirculation of most aquaculture systems. The effluent-rich water becomes toxic to the aquatic animal in high concentrations but these effluents are nutrients essential for plant growth.[1] Although consisting primarily of these Silver Perch fingerlings in an aquaponic system two parts, aquaponics system are usually grouped into several components or subsystems responsible for the effective removal of solid wastes, for adding bases to neutralize acids, or for maintaining water oxygenation.[1] Typical components include: Rearing tank: the tanks for raising and feeding the fish; Solids removal: a unit for catching uneaten food and detached biofilms, and for settling out fine particulates; Biofilter: a place where the nitrification bacteria can grow and convert ammonia into nitrates, which are usable by the plants;[1] Hydroponics subsystem: the portion of the system where plants are grown by absorbing excess nutrients from the water; Sump: the lowest point in the system where the water flows to and from which it is pumped back to the rearing tanks.

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Depending on the sophistication and cost of the aquaponics system, the units for solids removal, biofiltration, and/or the hydroponics subsystem may be combined into one unit or subsystem,[1] which prevents the water from flowing directly from the aquaculture part of the system to the hydroponics part.

Nitrification
Nitrification, the aerobic conversion of ammonia into nitrates, is one of the most important functions in an aquaponics system as it reduces the The plant bed in an aquaponic systems toxicity of the water for fish, and allows the resulting nitrate [1] compounds to be removed by the plants for nourishment. Ammonia is steadily released into the water through the excreta and gills of fish as a product of their metabolism, but must be filtered out of the water since higher concentrations of ammonia (commonly between 0.5 and 1 ppm) can kill fish. Although plants can absorb ammonia from the water to some degree, nitrates are assimilated more easily,[2] thereby efficiently reducing the toxicity of the water for fish.[1] Ammonia can be converted into other nitrogenous compounds through healthy populations of: Nitrosomonas: bacteria that convert ammonia into nitrites, and Nitrobacter: bacteria that convert nitrites into nitrates. In an aquaponics system, the bacteria responsible for this process form a biofilm on all solid surfaces throughout the system that are in constant contact with the water. The submerged roots of the vegetables combined have a large surface area, so that many bacteria can accumulate there. Together with the saliency of ammonia and nitrites in the water, the surface area determines the speed with which nitrification takes place. Care for these bacterial colonies is important as to regulate the full assimilation of ammonia and nitrite. This is why most aquaponics systems include a biofiltering unit, which helps facilitate growth of these microorganisms. Typically, after a system has stabilized ammonia levels range from 0.25 to 2.0 ppm; nitrite levels range from 0.25 to 1 ppm, and nitrate levels range from 2 to 150 ppm. During system startup, spikes may occur in the levels of ammonia (up to 6.0 ppm) and nitrite (up to 15 ppm), with nitrate levels peaking later in the startup phase. Since the nitrification process acidifies the water, non-sodium bases such as potassium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide can be added for neutralizing the water's pH[1] if insufficient quantities are naturally present in the water to provide a buffer against acidification. In addition, selected minerals or nutrients such as iron can be added in addition to the fish waste that serves as the main source of nutrients to plants.[1] A good way to deal with solids buildup in aquaponics is the use of worms, which liquefy the solid organic matter so that it can be utilized by the plants and/or animals.

Hydroponics subsystem
Plants are grown as in hydroponics systems, with their roots immersed in the nutrient-rich effluent water. This enables them to filter out the ammonia that is toxic to the aquatic animals, or its metabolites. After the water has passed through the hydroponic subsystem, it is cleaned and oxygenated, and can return to the aquaculture vessels. This cycle is continuous. Common aquaponic applications of hydroponic systems include: Deep-water raft aquaponics: styrofoam rafts floating in a relatively deep aquaculture basin in troughs. Recirculating aquaponics: solid media such as gravel or clay beads, held in a container that is flooded with water from the aquaculture. This type of aquaponics is also known as closed-loop aquaponics. Reciprocating aquaponics: solid media in a container that is alternately flooded and drained utilizing different types of siphon drains. This type of aquaponics is also known as flood-and-drain aquaponics or ebb-and-flow aquaponics.

Aquaponics Other systems use towers that are trickle-fed from the top, nutrient film technique channels, horizontal PVC pipes with holes for the pots, plastic barrels cut in half with gravel or rafts in them. Each approach has its own benefits.[3] Most green leaf vegetables grow well in the hydroponic subsystem, although most profitable are varieties of chinese cabbage, lettuce, basil, roses, tomatoes, okra, cantaloupe and bell peppers.[2] Other species of vegetables that grow well in an aquaponic system include beans, peas, kohlrabi, watercress, taro, radishes, strawberries, melons, onions, turnips, parsnips, sweet potato and herbs. Since plants at different growth stages require different amounts of minerals and nutrients, plant harvesting is staggered with seedings growing at the same time as mature plants. This ensures stable nutrient content in the water because of continuous symbiotic cleansing of toxins from the water.[4]

Aquaculture subsystem
Freshwater fish are the most common aquatic animal raised using aquaponics, although saltwater fish, crayfish and prawns may also be used. In practice, tilapia are the most popular fish for home and commercial projects that are intended to raise edible fish, although barramundi, Silver Perch, tandanus catfish, Jade perch and Murray cod are also used.[2]

Normal operations
Aquaponic systems do not typically discharge or exchange water under normal operation, but instead recirculate and reuse water very effectively. The system relies on the relationship between the animals and the plants to maintain a stable aquatic environment that experience a minimum of fluctuation in ambient nutrient and oxygen levels. Water is only added to replace water loss from absorption and transpiration by plants, evaporation into the air from surface water, overflow from the system from rainfall, and removal of biomass such as settled solid wastes from the system. As a result, aquaponics uses approximately 2% of the water that a conventionally irrigated farm requires for the same vegetable production. This allows for aquaponic production of both crops and fish in areas where water or fertile land is scarce. Aquaponic systems can also be used to replicate controlled wetland conditions that are useful for water treatment by reclaiming potable water from typical household sewage. The nutrient-filled overflow water can be accumulated in catchment tanks, and reused to accelerate growth of crops planted in soil, or it may be pumped back into the aquaponic system to top up the water level.. The three main inputs to the system are water, feed given to the aquatic animals, and electricity to pump water between the aquaculture subsystem and the hydroponics subsystem. Spawn or fry may be added to replace grown fish that are taken out from the system to retain a stable system. In terms of outputs, an aquaponics system may continually yield plants such as vegetables grown in hydroponics, and edible aquatic species raised in an aquaculture.

History
Ancient
Aquaponics has ancient roots, although there is some debate on its first occurrence: Aztec cultivated agricultural islands known as chinampas and are considered by some as the first form of aquaponics for agricultural use,[5] [6] where plants were raised on stationary (and sometime movable) islands in lake shallows and waste materials dredged from the Chinampa canals and surrounding cities are used to manuallly irrigate the plants[7] [8] South China and Thailand who cultivated and farmed rice in paddy fields in combination with fish are cited as examples of early aquaponics. These polycultural farming systems existed in many Far Eastern countries and raised fish such as the oriental loach (, ),[9] swamp eel (, ), Common (, ) and crucian carp ()[10] as well as pond snails () in the paddies.[11] [12]

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Regions
North America
United States Inspired by the successes of the New Alchemy Institute and the North Carolina State University with aquaponics, other institutes followed suit. Besides the reciprocating aquaponics based on the techniques developed by Dr. Mark McMurtry et al. at the New Alchemy Institute and North Carolina State University, Dr. James Rakocy and his colleagues at the University of the Virgin Islands researched and developed the "Deep Water" or "Raft Culture" aquaponics[13] The system combines tilapia with various vegetables. In 1997 Rebecca L. Nelson and John S. Pade began publishing the Aquaponics Journal, a quarterly scientific journal that brings together research and various applications of aquaponics from around the globe. In 2008, they wrote and published the first comprehensive book on aquaponics, Aquaponic Food Production. Nelson and Pade work closely with Dr. Rakocy to bring the research on aquaponics into mainstream agriculture, and offer systems, supplies, training and consultancy professionally. Recent years have seen a shift towards community integration of aquaponics, such as the nonprofit foundation Growing Power that offers Milwaukee youth job opportunities and training while growing food for their community. The model has spawned several satellite projects in other cities.[14] In 2010, a partnership of experts in sustainable agriculture was formed under the name AquaPlanet to promote the technology through media and consulting. The team includes Dr. Mark McMurtry and Barrel-Ponics inventor Travis Hughey. Canada The first aquaponics research in Canada was a small system added onto existing aquaculture research at a research station in Lethbridge. Canada saw a rise in aquaponics setups throughout the 90s, predominantly as commercial installations, that for example combine trout with floating lettuce production,[15] or to water fruiting vegetable crops that warm up the water too much to be recirculated back into the fish ponds. Eels are also known to be raised. A set-up based on the deep water system developed at the University of Virgin Islands was built in a greenhouse at Brooks, Alberta where Dr. Nick Savidov and colleagues researched aquaponics from a background of plant science. The team made findings on rapid root growth in aquaponics systems, on closing the solid waste loop, and that because of certain advantages in the system over traditional aquaculture, the system can run well at a low pH level, which is favoured by plants but not fish. The Edmonton Aquaponics Society in Northern Alberta is adapting Dr. Savidov's commercially sized system to a smaller scale prototype that can be operated by families, small groups, or restaurants. They intend to further develop the closed solid waste loop.

South America
Barbados Barbados is a densely populated island that deals with water scarcity.[16] In 40 years' time, focus has shifted from domestic fruit and vegetable production on small farms to importing 80% of all fruits and vegetables[16] for cost reasons.[17] Aquaponics would make Barbados and other Caribbean islands less dependent on the world food market and reduce stress on the dwindling fish supplies. An inter-organizational project that started in late 2009 sets out to encourage and enable Barbadians to start aquaponics at home, with revenue generated by selling produce to tourists.[16]

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Asia
Taiwan Taiwan is a densely populated island that is faced with freshwater scarcity. Dispensation of water is government-controlled. The closed-loop system of aquaponics is used by agricultural farmers to save water by also rearing fish, while fish farmers grow plants that filter the water from the fish tanks.

Australia
Due to a ban on tilapia in all states except for Western Australia, native freshwater fish including silver perch, jade perch, sleepy cod, murray cod and barramundi are popular in aquaponics and aquaculture systems,[2] along with non-native rainbow trout, brown trout and crayfish such as common yabby and redclaw.

Pros and cons

The unique advantages of aquaponic systems are: Conservation through constant water reuse and recycling. Organic fertilization of plants with natural fish emulsion. The elimination of solid waste disposal from intensive aquaculture. The reduction of needed cropland to produce crops. The overall reduction of the environmental footprint of crop production. Building small efficient commercial installations near markets reduces food miles. Reduction of pathogens that often plague aquaculture production systems.

Some conceivable disadvantages with aquaponics are: Initial expenses for housing, tank, plumbing, pumps, and grow beds. The infinite number of ways in which a system can be configured lends itself to equally varying results, conflicting research, and successes or failures. Some aquaponic installations rely heavily on man-made energy, technological solutions, and environmental control to achieve recirculation and water/ambient temperatures. However, if a system is designed with energy conservation in mind, using alternative energy and a reduced number of pumps by letting the water flow downwards as much as possible, it can be highly energy efficient. While careful design can minimize the risk, aquaponics systems can have multiple 'single points of failure' where problems such as an electrical failure or a pipe blockage can lead to a complete loss of fish stock. Like all aquaculture based systems, stock feed usually consists of fish meal derived from lower value species. Ongoing depletion of wild fish stocks makes this practice unsustainable. Organic fish feeds may prove to be a viable alternative that negates this concern. Other alternatives include growing duckweed with an aquaponics system that feeds the same fish grown on the system,[18] excess worms grown from vermiculture composting, as well as growing black soldier fly larvae to feed to the fish using composting grub growers.[19]

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Gallery

Flood and Drain aquaponic system

Silver Perch in an aquaponic system

The raft tank at the CDC South Aquaponics greenhouse in Brooks, Alberta

References
[1] Rakocy, James E.; Masser, Michael P.; Losordo, Thomas M. (2006), Recirculating aquaculture tank production systems: Aquaponics integrating fish and plant culture (http:/ / www. aces. edu/ dept/ fisheries/ aquaculture/ documents/ 309884-SRAC454. pdf), Southern Region Aquaculture Center., [2] Diver, Steve (2006), "Aquaponics integration of hydroponics with aquaculture" (http:/ / www. attra. ncat. org/ attra-pub/ PDF/ aquaponic. pdf), ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (National Center for Appropriate Technology), [3] Lennard, Wilson A.; Leonard, Brian V. (2006), "A comparison of three different hydroponic sub-systems (gravel bed, floating and nutrient film technique) in an Aquaponic test system", Aquacult Int (14): 539550 [4] Rakocy, James E.; Shultz, R. Charlie; Bailey, Donald S.; Thoman, Eric S. (2004), M.A. Nichols, ed., "Aquaponic production of tilapia and basil: Comparing a batch and staggered cropping system", Acta Hort (ISHS) (648) [5] Boutwell, J. (2007, December 16). Aztecs' aquaponics revamped (http:/ / napavalleyregister. com/ lifestyles/ home-and-garden/ columnists/ master-gardener/ article_b67bd13c-fd17-562f-a3a1-3862010ce144. html). Napa Valley Register. [6] Rogosa, E. (2010). Aquaponics: How does aquaponics work? (http:/ / www. growseed. org/ aquaponics. html) Retrieved November 26, 2010. [7] Crossley, Phil L. (2004), "Sub-irrigation in wetland agriculture", Agriculture and Human Values (21): 191205 [8] BOUTWELL, JUANITA (december 15, 2007), "Aztecs aquaponics revamped", Napa Valley Register [9] "Space agriculture for habitation on mars and sustainable civilization on earth", Recent Advances in Space Technologies, 2009. RAST '09: 6869, 2009 [10] (http:/ / www. fao. org/ fishery/ culturedspecies/ Carassius_carassius/ en) [11] McMurtry, M. R., Nelson, P.V., & Sanders, D.C. (1988). Aqua-vegeculture systems (http:/ / www. fadr. msu. ru/ rodale/ agsieve/ txt/ vol1/ 3/ art7. html). International Ag-Sieve, 1(3), article 7. [12] Bocek, A. (2010). Water harvesting and aquaculture for rural development (http:/ / www. ag. auburn. edu/ fish/ international/ introrice. htm). Retrieved December 24, 2010. [13] University of the Virgin Islands, Agricultural Experiment Station [AES] (2010). Aquaculture - Aquaponic Systems (http:/ / www. uvi. edu/ sites/ uvi/ Pages/ AES-Aquaculture-Aquaponic_Systems. aspx). Retrieved November 27, 2010. [14] Growing Power (2010). Our history (http:/ / www. growingpower. org/ our_history. htm). Retrieved November 27, 2010. [15] Nelson, R. L. (2007). 10 systems around the world. Aquaponics Journal, 46(3), 8. [16] Bishop, M., Bourke, S., Connolly, K., & Trebic, T. (2009). Bairds Village aquaponics project: AGRI 519/CIVE 519 Sustainable Development Plans. Holetown, Barbados: McGill University. [17] Zvodsk, A., & Dolly, D. (2009). A comparison of small scale farming in Barbados, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago. San Juan: Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE). [18] Rogosa, E. (2010). Organic aquaponics (http:/ / www. growseed. org/ growingpower. html). Retrieved November 27, 2010. [19] Royte, Elizabeth (July 5, 2009). "Street Farmer" (http:/ / www. nytimes. com/ 2009/ 07/ 05/ magazine/ 05allen-t. html?sq=aquaponics& st=cse& adxnnl=1& scp=10& pagewanted=2& adxnnlx=1299564045-NgXx2LMa3/ ee2z6MNr9YdA). The New York Times Company. . Retrieved 8 March 2011.

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External links
Video example of aquaponics system at Vancouver Island University (http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=FwMEulvJ2Ps) Aquaponics Group on the University of Hawaii's AquacultureHub (http://www.aquaculturehub.org/group/ aquaponics) Morning Star Fishermen (http://www.morningstarfishermen.org) A Suburban Aquaponics Journal (http://sminstudios.com) Taiwan Aquaponics Association (http://twaquaponics.blogspot.com)

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File:Portable fish farm at growing power.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Portable_fish_farm_at_growing_power.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Contributors: charlie vinz from chicago File:Fingerlings.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Fingerlings.jpg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Aquaponics-martin, Davelovestasha, 1 anonymous edits File:Ap plants.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ap_plants.jpg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Aquaponics-martin, Davelovestasha, 1 anonymous edits File:Rc_bed_tank.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Rc_bed_tank.jpg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Aquaponics-martin, Davelovestasha, 1 anonymous edits File:1.2 silver perch.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:1.2_silver_perch.jpg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Aquaponics-martin, Davelovestasha, 3 anonymous edits File:CDC South Aquaponics Raft Tank 1 2010-07-17.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:CDC_South_Aquaponics_Raft_Tank_1_2010-07-17.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Contributors: Bryghtknyght

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