1. AQUAPONIC FOOD
PRODUCTION
MAKING FOOD SECURITY…
…YOUR BUSINESS

2. AQUAPONICS – THE CONCEPT
 Scientific Definition
 A revolutionary system that features a symbiotic
relationship where fish waste is used to nourish the
crops using organic hydroponic techniques.
 Food Production System
 Crops, Freshwater Fish, Freshwater Crustaceans
 Takes the best of both Aquaculture and Hydroponics
 Naturally occurring controlled ecosystem approach
 Eliminates wastage through re-circulation

3. SYSTEM COMPONENTS
 Aquaculture Tanks (Fish)
 Food Safe UV Resistant Inert Round Poly Tanks (1000L +)
 Fiberglass is also a long life option
 Grow Bed
 3m x 1.3m x 0.30m (10ft x 4ft x 1ft)
 Wooden structure with 0.5 mm Poly liner or Fiberglass
 Sump Tank
 Integrated into the foundation of Grow Bed
 Maintains water level in Fish Tanks
 Shrimp & Prawn culture

4. SYSTEM WORKING

5. THE AQUAPONICS CYCLE

6. GROW BEDS
 Flexible Dimensions
 Minimum Depth 0.30m
 Wooden Structure or Fiberglass
 Growing Media (NO SOIL)
 ¾” River bed Gravel or Hydroton
 Aeration and Drainage
 Worms
 Mineralization
 Nitrogen Cycle
 Benefits
 Bio-Filter for Solids
 Physical Stability
 Low Maintenance

7. GROW BED SIPHON

8. DEEP WATER CULTURE TROUGHS
 0.3 m deep troughs with flowing water
 Wooden or Fiberglass structure
 Plants grown on floating Polystyrene sheets
 Benefits
 Root Zone Temperature
 Habitat for Crustaceans
 Leafy plants do well
 Ergonomics
 pH, Temperature stability

9. VERTICAL AQUAPONICS
 Nutrient Film Technique
 PVC Towers or Stackable Pots
 Media
 Hydroton
 Coir Mix
 Advantages
 Continuous water supply

10. AQUACULTURE (FISH)
 Tilapia (Most Successful)
 Highly Tolerant to Water quality
 Adapts well to differing temperature
 Fingerling to 1.5 to 2 lbs (1kg) – 6 months
 Stocking Density
 1 fish per 10 Litres of water
 Pelletized Fish Feed
 Water Temperature
 Daylight hours
 Fish Farming
 Multiple size ratio
 Regular harvest intervals

11. PRODUCE QUALITY

12. AQUAPONIC FARMS

13. GREEN ACRE AQUAPONIC FARM, FLORIDA

14. AQUAPONIC FARMS

15. PILOT SYSTEM – FIRST WEEKS

16. BENEFITS OF AQUAPONICS - CONCEPT
 100% Organic and Chemical Free
 Fish – Low Stress and Chemical Free
 Crop Produce – 100% Naturally Grown
 Highly Sustainable Design
 Low Irrigation
 Low Energy Footprint
 No Fertilizer/ Manure/ Soil/ Pesticide
 All Weather Solution
 Root Zone Temperature
 Water Circulation

17. BENEFITS OF AQUAPONICS - COMMERCIAL
 Niche Market
 Cuisine Chefs and Gourmet Restaurants
 Better than Organic
 Health conscious consumers
 Food Security Solution of the Future
 Safe + Sustainable + Controlled + Ecological
 Low Cost + Simple
 Low Capital Expenditure
 No High Tech Equipment
 Locally available materials

18. SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION
 Large Components
 Food Safe Inert Poly or Fiberglass Tanks
 Construction grade Ply-Wood
 0.51mm Polyethylene Liner (Perm = 0.015)
 Food Safe PVC fittings and accessories
 Electrical Components
 Medium grade water pumps (5000gph)
 Air Diffuser pumps
 Biome Components
 Red Wriggler or Garden Worms
 Gravel or Hydroton
 Seedling and Fingerling
 Nitrifying Bacteria Culture

19. SYSTEM COSTING
 Construction/Material Cost Estimate
 Wooden Structure – $10 per sq.m
 Fiberglass tanks and troughs – $40 per sq.m
 Hydroton Cost = $1000 per 1000L of growbed volume
 Labour Required
 Skilled wood workers or Fiberglass casting
 In house civil or mechanical engineer for system
integration
 Estimated Earnings
 $150,000 per year – 1500 sq.m
 Seeding patterns, Water Quality, Harvest Planning

20. PRODUCTIVITY RATIO - ESTIMATION
Farm Size Vegetables Fish
1.8m x 2.5m (1) 400 45 kgs
3m x 6m (1) 1,100 180 kgs
6m x 9m (2) 3,600 635 kgs
30m x 30m (2) 60,000 10,400 kgs

21. SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
 Water pH = 6.5 to 7.0 (~ 6.6 to 7.4)
 Tends to get High – Nitrification
 Low – Anaerobic Nitrification
 To Increase: Hydrated Lime (K or Ca Hydroxide)
 To Decrease: Nitric or Phosphoric Acid
 Water Temperature = 22°C to 35°C
 Dissolved Oxygen = 5mg/L to 10mg/L
 Nitrogen Cycle
 Nitrates = 5 to10 ppm
 Nitrites < 2ppm,
 Ammonia < 4 ppm

22. MILESTONES TIMELINE
 System Construction – week 1
 Level Land, Grade and Concrete usage area
 Trench and Raise for beds and plumbing
 Construct Wooden frame and structure
 Assemble Sections
 Fishless System Cycle – week 1 to week 3
 Begin Seeding or transplant
 Source Ammonia from Seaweed Extract
 Balance pH, Nitrates, Ammonia
 Prepare Nitrifying Bacteria Culture
 Introduce Fish – week 3 to week 4
 Nitrates 5-10 ppm, Ammonia and Nitrites 0 ppm
 Harvest Begins – week 6 onwards

23. Your Answer to the Global Food Security Call…