Aquaponic is a combination of
two words, Aqua – water and Phoenix -Farm in a box.
"Aquaponics an environmentally-friendly, natural food growing method to
facilitate the cultivation of fish and plants together in a constructed,
re-circulating ecosystem utilizing natural bacterial cycles to convert fish
wastes to plant nutrients. "So it is also called as recirculation farming.
Recirculation farms using aquaponics are a socially responsible farming method
and business. They support the use of renewable energy, recycle water and waste,
and provide local food. Aquaponic – hydroponic – systems are much more
productive and use up to 90 percent less water than conventional gardens. Other
advantages include no weeds, fewer pests, and no watering, fertilizing, bending,
digging or heavy lifting etc. There are different types of aquaponics, such as
Media Bed (using a substance such as lava rocks or other medium other than soil
for raising plants and bacteria), Raft (using foam boards with cut outs to place
planter pots floating in fish water) and NFT – Nutrient Film Technique -(using
PVC pipes or similar materials with cut outs for plants using a continuous flow
of water). Fish and plants are grown in a symbiotic balance. Wastes from the
fish provide nutrients for the plants, and in turn the plants filter the water
for the fish. It is a revolutionary combination of the best of aquaculture and
hydroponics and an amazingly easy way to raise fish together with organic
vegetables, greens, herbs and fruits. This project was inspired by the
escalation food costs due to a poor economy, the undesirable genetic
modifications of produce, and the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides in the growing processes of most our food, as well as the growing
shortage of clean agricultural land that has not been contaminated by excessive
fertilizer use and other pollutants. No soil is needed and Water conservative
method, the water stays in the system and can be reused thus, lower water costs.
Once biological balance is achieved, it is self-sustaining, and only requires
the fish to be fed. In this established ecosystem each part is dependent on
other, must carefully combine the amount and number of fish, bacteria, and plant
material so that this balance is achieved. Too many fish will lead to muddy
water that will not support the fish, and not enough fish will fail to provide
enough food for the plants. Without enough bacteria, the fish waste will not be
converted to food for the vegetables.