What is Aquaponics and how does it work


Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. These systems have been around for a long time, but they both share a common problem and concern, TOXIC WATER BUILD UP.

In aquaculture, the waste produced by the fish builds up in the water to a point where the water needs to be either discarded or filtered and the filters regularly cleaned. With hydroponics, it is the fertilizer water that needs to be discarded. This toxic water is not good for the fish or the plants.  This water must be cleaned from time to time and it cannot be dumped any place in our environment without causing damage.

Aquaponics joins these two systems together in a way that they compliment each other as a single unit The water containing all the fish waste is pumped through gravel grow beds where it feeds the plants. The plants, in turn filter the water and return it clean to the fish tank.

As the water is recycled the only water that needs to go into the system (apart from innitially filling the system) is a small amount each weekly to replace water lost through evaporation. 

Of course this is a basic explanation and there are many variables such as types of grow beds, fish, plants, location etc. Many of these issues will be covered as we go through the process of setting up this system.

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