The document provides an introductory lecture about aquaponics farming in Hainan, China. It discusses how aquaponics can be used to more efficiently grow food on less land with less water and resources compared to traditional farming. Specifically, it introduces the aquaponics system design from the University of the Virgin Islands that is being demonstrated, which uses fish tanks to fertilize hydroponic crops. Maintaining the proper pH balance and nutrient levels in the water is important for the health of both the fish and plants.
The integration of fish and vegetables creates an ideal growing environment that is more productive than conventional methods. Consequently, aquaponics is gaining more importance now a day because crop production systems are being forced towards increasing irregularities as drought, floods, storms, cyclones and diseases visit regularly. A simple aquaponic system was designed with the locally available materials.13 pants of 5 different species were grown in an area of 0.27 m2 ( Rashmi M et. al 2013). Three different methods were tested to determine the best system to grow Taro vegetable. The applied methods were T1 = aquaponics system for soilless vegetable culture in gravel bed with fish tank waste water, T2= hydroponics for soilless vegetable culture in gravel bed with tap water and T3= vegetable culture in soil media with tap water as control. Double recirculating aquaponic system (DRAPS) consisting of two independent recirculating units – a recirculating aquaculture unit for fish production and a closed hydroponic cycle for plant production which were connected unidirectional was developed (Suhl J et al 2016). Results revealed that aquaponic system offers better results than other media. This system can enhance the organic farming which could be environmental friendly. Double recirculating aquaponic system (DRAPS) with two independent cycles provides the opportunity to produce equal tomato yields compared to those obtained by conventionally used hydroponic systems. By Using DRAPS fertilizer use efficiency was also improved by 23.6%.
Aquaponics is a farming technology that combines the advantages of intensive aquaculture and hydroponics in a recirculating aquaculture system. This depends on WATER. No soil is used.
Aquaponics DIY Manual UN FAO - Survival Gardenersurvivalgardener
What happens when you mix fish farming with hydroponics? Aquaponics! If you’re new to the subject, this type of food production can be an amazing resource. I think of it a bit like hacking nature. Aquaponics takes all of the primary needs of a plant and animal ecosystem and compresses them in to one cyclic package. It’s basically poo powered hydroponic gardening with the extra benefit of having tasty fish to eat. This is the official United Nation guide for aquaponics. All of the concerns with starting and running an aquaponics systems are address in this manual.
For more info on aquaponics and to see our system, you can check out http://survivalgardener.com
Aquaponic applications for the small farm are becoming all the rage, but how can it truly produce profitably? You need a complete system that supplies it's own feed that is mercury free, soy free, GMO free.
The integration of fish and vegetables creates an ideal growing environment that is more productive than conventional methods. Consequently, aquaponics is gaining more importance now a day because crop production systems are being forced towards increasing irregularities as drought, floods, storms, cyclones and diseases visit regularly. A simple aquaponic system was designed with the locally available materials.13 pants of 5 different species were grown in an area of 0.27 m2 ( Rashmi M et. al 2013). Three different methods were tested to determine the best system to grow Taro vegetable. The applied methods were T1 = aquaponics system for soilless vegetable culture in gravel bed with fish tank waste water, T2= hydroponics for soilless vegetable culture in gravel bed with tap water and T3= vegetable culture in soil media with tap water as control. Double recirculating aquaponic system (DRAPS) consisting of two independent recirculating units – a recirculating aquaculture unit for fish production and a closed hydroponic cycle for plant production which were connected unidirectional was developed (Suhl J et al 2016). Results revealed that aquaponic system offers better results than other media. This system can enhance the organic farming which could be environmental friendly. Double recirculating aquaponic system (DRAPS) with two independent cycles provides the opportunity to produce equal tomato yields compared to those obtained by conventionally used hydroponic systems. By Using DRAPS fertilizer use efficiency was also improved by 23.6%.
Aquaponics is a farming technology that combines the advantages of intensive aquaculture and hydroponics in a recirculating aquaculture system. This depends on WATER. No soil is used.
Aquaponics DIY Manual UN FAO - Survival Gardenersurvivalgardener
What happens when you mix fish farming with hydroponics? Aquaponics! If you’re new to the subject, this type of food production can be an amazing resource. I think of it a bit like hacking nature. Aquaponics takes all of the primary needs of a plant and animal ecosystem and compresses them in to one cyclic package. It’s basically poo powered hydroponic gardening with the extra benefit of having tasty fish to eat. This is the official United Nation guide for aquaponics. All of the concerns with starting and running an aquaponics systems are address in this manual.
For more info on aquaponics and to see our system, you can check out http://survivalgardener.com
Aquaponic applications for the small farm are becoming all the rage, but how can it truly produce profitably? You need a complete system that supplies it's own feed that is mercury free, soy free, GMO free.
Techxellance agro farm - End-to-end services in Hydroponics and AquaponicsTechxellance Solutions
Techxellance Solutions Pvt. Ltd formed in year 2012 by a group of young and dynamic experts, having more than 18 years of experience in their profession, have come together with a vision of helping society to stay healthy by having healthy vegetables. In a very short spam of time Techxellance team has spread their wings by providing cost effective & innovative end-to-end solutions which helps customers & farmers to cultivate pesticide free & dirt free vegetables at home, terrace or on a farm. Techxellance is into business of sales & service in various technologies like IT & Agro; here in Agrotech division we offer end-to-end solutions to farmers and consumers through Alternative Farming Technology called Soilless Farming with the help of Hydroponics and Aquaponics technology. Techxellance’s team is keenly working on cost effective and accessible solution in aquaponics & hydroponics, garden automation, building facilities & products that respect the natural environment, while simultaneously growing fresher, healthier produce.
Thanking you,
Regards,
Sameer Pokle
www.techxellanceagrofarm.com
Aquaponics is an Integration of Aquaculture and Hydroponics. This presentation includes an introduction of Aquaponics. Using Aquaponics, you can grow fish and plants together.
An Overview of Aquaponic Systems: Hydroponic
Components
D. Allen Pattillo
Iowa State University, pattillo@iastate.edu
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ncrac_techbulletins/19/
We introducing a new technology of culture, its AQUAPONIC.
its a small and as wel as big scale business with lots of profits.
so friends if you had some land and pond and if u want to earn money for your bright future plz contact us.
we give u consulting and lots of benefits from your land and pond in just 4 to 6 months only
its our confidential promise to you.
i have also for aquaculture to u
* SEED
* FEED
* CONSULTING
* MEDICINES
* LAB
* EQUIPMENTS & MACHINERIES
* CAGE CULTURE
* BEST HARVESTING TEAM
* TRADING
SOO PLZ CONTACT US ON
UNITED AQUACULTURE SOLUTIONS GROUP
SATISH 9867675744
JAYANT 8767384076
uasgroup@uasgroup.co.in
A new way of farming! Grow Fish, Grow Vegetables at the same time, saving water, time, space , efforts and all ORGANIC.
Read this presentation to know more about it.
Starting a Commercial Aquaponics Farm - Bright AgrotechUpstart University
These are the webinar slides for "Starting A Commercial Aquaponics Farm"- a webinar by Dr. Nate Storey of Bright Agrotech.
Find the entire recorded webinar here: http://bit.ly/1dsSXr3
Aquaponic applications for the small farm are becoming all the rage, but how can it truly produce profitably? You need a complete system that supplies it's own feed that is mercury free, soy free, GMO free.
Techxellance agro farm - End-to-end services in Hydroponics and AquaponicsTechxellance Solutions
Techxellance Solutions Pvt. Ltd formed in year 2012 by a group of young and dynamic experts, having more than 18 years of experience in their profession, have come together with a vision of helping society to stay healthy by having healthy vegetables. In a very short spam of time Techxellance team has spread their wings by providing cost effective & innovative end-to-end solutions which helps customers & farmers to cultivate pesticide free & dirt free vegetables at home, terrace or on a farm. Techxellance is into business of sales & service in various technologies like IT & Agro; here in Agrotech division we offer end-to-end solutions to farmers and consumers through Alternative Farming Technology called Soilless Farming with the help of Hydroponics and Aquaponics technology. Techxellance’s team is keenly working on cost effective and accessible solution in aquaponics & hydroponics, garden automation, building facilities & products that respect the natural environment, while simultaneously growing fresher, healthier produce.
Thanking you,
Regards,
Sameer Pokle
www.techxellanceagrofarm.com
Aquaponics is an Integration of Aquaculture and Hydroponics. This presentation includes an introduction of Aquaponics. Using Aquaponics, you can grow fish and plants together.
An Overview of Aquaponic Systems: Hydroponic
Components
D. Allen Pattillo
Iowa State University, pattillo@iastate.edu
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ncrac_techbulletins/19/
We introducing a new technology of culture, its AQUAPONIC.
its a small and as wel as big scale business with lots of profits.
so friends if you had some land and pond and if u want to earn money for your bright future plz contact us.
we give u consulting and lots of benefits from your land and pond in just 4 to 6 months only
its our confidential promise to you.
i have also for aquaculture to u
* SEED
* FEED
* CONSULTING
* MEDICINES
* LAB
* EQUIPMENTS & MACHINERIES
* CAGE CULTURE
* BEST HARVESTING TEAM
* TRADING
SOO PLZ CONTACT US ON
UNITED AQUACULTURE SOLUTIONS GROUP
SATISH 9867675744
JAYANT 8767384076
uasgroup@uasgroup.co.in
A new way of farming! Grow Fish, Grow Vegetables at the same time, saving water, time, space , efforts and all ORGANIC.
Read this presentation to know more about it.
Starting a Commercial Aquaponics Farm - Bright AgrotechUpstart University
These are the webinar slides for "Starting A Commercial Aquaponics Farm"- a webinar by Dr. Nate Storey of Bright Agrotech.
Find the entire recorded webinar here: http://bit.ly/1dsSXr3
Aquaponic applications for the small farm are becoming all the rage, but how can it truly produce profitably? You need a complete system that supplies it's own feed that is mercury free, soy free, GMO free.
Aquaponic is a combination of the aquarium and hydroponic systems. It is a symbiotic system life cycle of aquatic plants and interdependent with each other to produce fresh agro-products and high quality.
Aquaponics require only 5% of the usual water intake for growing Food, Feed, Herbs, Fish and other high-value agri products. It is a revolutionary concept already adopted by UAE by creating one of the largest farms in the world. Interesting reading and great business potential.
Aquaponic applications for the small farm are becoming all the rage, but how can it truly produce profitably? You need a complete system that supplies it's own feed that is mercury free, soy free, GMO free.
Aquaponics (/ˈækwəˈpɒnɪks/) refers to any system that combines conventional a...Ashish sahu
Aquaponics (/ˈækwəˈpɒnɪks/) refers to any system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment.
Study of Automated and Controlled Aquaponics System An Innovative and Integra...ijtsrd
At the moment, an attempt has been made to adapt, adapt and automate the Aquaponics System technology for the benefit of farmers and to tackle key issues such as food safety and water scarcity. Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture, which is growing fish and other aquatic animals, and hydroponics which is growing plants without soil. Aquaponics uses these two in a symbiotic combination in which plants are fed the aquatic animal's discharge or waste. In return, the vegetables clean the water that goes back to the fish. Along with the fish and their waste, microbes play an important role to the nutrition of the plants. These beneficial bacteria gather in the spaces between the roots of the plant and converts the fish waste and the solids into substances the plants can use to grow. Aquaponics considered a sustainable production system. It presents a series of beneficial features for the environment such as land conservation, efficient use of water and nutrients, organic fertilization, produce the highest yield on a field, no floor is required, environmental benefits etc. This study describes the overall design and working, list of the component required, cost involved in the setup, maintenance, and operation, advantages and disadvantages of the system. A automatic prototype has also proposed to created a to test the system sustainability. Sanjeev Kumar | Manvendra Singh | Nitika Rai ""Study of Automated and Controlled Aquaponics System: An Innovative & Integrated Way of Farming"" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-4 | Issue-2 , February 2020, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd29945.pdf
Paper Url : https://www.ijtsrd.com/engineering/electrical-engineering/29945/study-of-automated-and-controlled-aquaponics-system-an-innovative-and-integrated-way-of-farming/sanjeev-kumar
A Minimal Water Exchange Aquaculture System, also known as a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS), is a modern and sustainable approach to fish farming that minimizes water usage by continuously recycling and treating the water within a closed system. In this system, water is reused and treated to maintain optimal water quality for fish while reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional aquaculture methods.
The key components of a minimal water exchange aquaculture system include:
1. Fish Tanks: These are the primary units where fish are raised. The tanks are designed to provide suitable conditions for fish growth, such as appropriate water depth, temperature, and oxygen levels.
2. Filtration System: RAS incorporates various filtration components to remove solid waste, excess nutrients, and harmful substances from the water. Mechanical filters remove large particles, while biological filters foster beneficial bacteria that convert toxic ammonia into less harmful substances.
3. Water Treatment: Water treatment technologies, such as UV sterilization or ozonation, are used to control pathogens and maintain water quality within acceptable parameters. These methods help to ensure a healthy environment for the fish.
4. Oxygenation: Adequate oxygen levels are critical for fish health. RAS employs techniques such as aerators, oxygen injectors, or oxygen cones to maintain dissolved oxygen levels throughout the system.
5. Monitoring and Control: RAS relies on advanced monitoring and control systems to continuously measure and regulate parameters such as temperature, pH, oxygen levels, and water flow. This ensures optimal conditions for fish growth and allows for timely adjustments if any deviations occur.
The benefits of a Minimal Water Exchange Aquaculture System (RAS) include:
1. Water Conservation: RAS significantly reduces water consumption by recycling and reusing water within the system. It helps conserve this valuable resource and minimizes the environmental impact associated with traditional aquaculture, which often requires large amounts of freshwater usage.
2. Improved Water Quality: The water in a RAS undergoes thorough filtration and treatment, resulting in high-quality water conditions for the fish. By removing waste and controlling water parameters, RAS helps minimize the risk of disease outbreaks and promotes optimal fish health.
3. Reduced Environmental Impact: The closed-loop nature of RAS prevents the release of excess nutrients and waste into the surrounding environment, minimizing the impact on natural ecosystems and reducing the risk of pollution.
4. Increased Production Density: RAS allows for higher stocking densities compared to traditional aquaculture systems. The controlled environment and efficient waste management of RAS enable farmers to maximize production within a smaller footprint.
5. Disease Control: The controlled and isolated environment of RAS helps minimize the risk of disease transmission
Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests In AI-Powered QualityInflectra
In this insightful webinar, Inflectra explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming software development and testing. Discover how AI-powered tools are revolutionizing every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), from design and prototyping to testing, deployment, and monitoring.
Learn about:
• The Future of Testing: How AI is shifting testing towards verification, analysis, and higher-level skills, while reducing repetitive tasks.
• Test Automation: How AI-powered test case generation, optimization, and self-healing tests are making testing more efficient and effective.
• Visual Testing: Explore the emerging capabilities of AI in visual testing and how it's set to revolutionize UI verification.
• Inflectra's AI Solutions: See demonstrations of Inflectra's cutting-edge AI tools like the ChatGPT plugin and Azure Open AI platform, designed to streamline your testing process.
Whether you're a developer, tester, or QA professional, this webinar will give you valuable insights into how AI is shaping the future of software delivery.
Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey 2024 by 91mobiles.pdf91mobiles
91mobiles recently conducted a Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey in which we asked over 3,000 respondents about the TV they own, aspects they look at on a new TV, and their TV buying preferences.
Key Trends Shaping the Future of Infrastructure.pdfCheryl Hung
Keynote at DIGIT West Expo, Glasgow on 29 May 2024.
Cheryl Hung, ochery.com
Sr Director, Infrastructure Ecosystem, Arm.
The key trends across hardware, cloud and open-source; exploring how these areas are likely to mature and develop over the short and long-term, and then considering how organisations can position themselves to adapt and thrive.
Kubernetes & AI - Beauty and the Beast !?! @KCD Istanbul 2024Tobias Schneck
As AI technology is pushing into IT I was wondering myself, as an “infrastructure container kubernetes guy”, how get this fancy AI technology get managed from an infrastructure operational view? Is it possible to apply our lovely cloud native principals as well? What benefit’s both technologies could bring to each other?
Let me take this questions and provide you a short journey through existing deployment models and use cases for AI software. On practical examples, we discuss what cloud/on-premise strategy we may need for applying it to our own infrastructure to get it to work from an enterprise perspective. I want to give an overview about infrastructure requirements and technologies, what could be beneficial or limiting your AI use cases in an enterprise environment. An interactive Demo will give you some insides, what approaches I got already working for real.
GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using Deplo...James Anderson
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
Builder.ai Founder Sachin Dev Duggal's Strategic Approach to Create an Innova...Ramesh Iyer
In today's fast-changing business world, Companies that adapt and embrace new ideas often need help to keep up with the competition. However, fostering a culture of innovation takes much work. It takes vision, leadership and willingness to take risks in the right proportion. Sachin Dev Duggal, co-founder of Builder.ai, has perfected the art of this balance, creating a company culture where creativity and growth are nurtured at each stage.
The Art of the Pitch: WordPress Relationships and SalesLaura Byrne
Clients don’t know what they don’t know. What web solutions are right for them? How does WordPress come into the picture? How do you make sure you understand scope and timeline? What do you do if sometime changes?
All these questions and more will be explored as we talk about matching clients’ needs with what your agency offers without pulling teeth or pulling your hair out. Practical tips, and strategies for successful relationship building that leads to closing the deal.
Neuro-symbolic is not enough, we need neuro-*semantic*Frank van Harmelen
Neuro-symbolic (NeSy) AI is on the rise. However, simply machine learning on just any symbolic structure is not sufficient to really harvest the gains of NeSy. These will only be gained when the symbolic structures have an actual semantics. I give an operational definition of semantics as “predictable inference”.
All of this illustrated with link prediction over knowledge graphs, but the argument is general.
Epistemic Interaction - tuning interfaces to provide information for AI supportAlan Dix
Paper presented at SYNERGY workshop at AVI 2024, Genoa, Italy. 3rd June 2024
https://alandix.com/academic/papers/synergy2024-epistemic/
As machine learning integrates deeper into human-computer interactions, the concept of epistemic interaction emerges, aiming to refine these interactions to enhance system adaptability. This approach encourages minor, intentional adjustments in user behaviour to enrich the data available for system learning. This paper introduces epistemic interaction within the context of human-system communication, illustrating how deliberate interaction design can improve system understanding and adaptation. Through concrete examples, we demonstrate the potential of epistemic interaction to significantly advance human-computer interaction by leveraging intuitive human communication strategies to inform system design and functionality, offering a novel pathway for enriching user-system engagements.
Essentials of Automations: Optimizing FME Workflows with ParametersSafe Software
Are you looking to streamline your workflows and boost your projects’ efficiency? Do you find yourself searching for ways to add flexibility and control over your FME workflows? If so, you’re in the right place.
Join us for an insightful dive into the world of FME parameters, a critical element in optimizing workflow efficiency. This webinar marks the beginning of our three-part “Essentials of Automation” series. This first webinar is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to utilize parameters effectively: enhancing the flexibility, maintainability, and user control of your FME projects.
Here’s what you’ll gain:
- Essentials of FME Parameters: Understand the pivotal role of parameters, including Reader/Writer, Transformer, User, and FME Flow categories. Discover how they are the key to unlocking automation and optimization within your workflows.
- Practical Applications in FME Form: Delve into key user parameter types including choice, connections, and file URLs. Allow users to control how a workflow runs, making your workflows more reusable. Learn to import values and deliver the best user experience for your workflows while enhancing accuracy.
- Optimization Strategies in FME Flow: Explore the creation and strategic deployment of parameters in FME Flow, including the use of deployment and geometry parameters, to maximize workflow efficiency.
- Pro Tips for Success: Gain insights on parameterizing connections and leveraging new features like Conditional Visibility for clarity and simplicity.
We’ll wrap up with a glimpse into future webinars, followed by a Q&A session to address your specific questions surrounding this topic.
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your FME expertise and drive your projects to new heights of efficiency.
2. Aquaponics-The Modern Automated ORGANIC Food Factory.
Due mostly to a sharp increase in tourism, Hainan is having to import
more and more food. At the same time, the natural wonders the
tourists are keen to see are being wiped out by farmers cutting down
the forest to get more land-to grow food to feed the tourists.
This makes no sense whatsoever, especially since there is a very
efficient and simple to transfer technology that takes advantage of a
skill many Hainanese already have-FISH FARMING.
Aquaponics is the marriage of INTENSIVE MODERN FISH FARMING
IN TANKS to INTENSIVE MODERN HYDROPONIC FARMING ON
FLOATING POLYSTYRENE RAFTS IN RACEWAYS FULL OF FISH WASTE
WATER. NO SOIL IS NEEDED. AQUAPONICS CAN GO ANYWHERE.
Aquaponics grows 90% more food on 90% less space with 90% less
water and work. It uses 17% of the energy of soil farming,
3. Tropical Outdoor Aquaponics Using the University of the Virgin Islands
Design.
This is the tried and
tested (operational
commercially since the
1970s) University of the
Virgin Islands
aquaponics system
design that our
technician is trained to
install and use.
4. The nitrogen cycle in water helps fish and plants live happily together in an aquaponic system
NITRIFYING BACTERIA, NITROSOMONAS AND NITROBACTER, digest fish waste into plant food.
Plants eat up the plant food and clean the water. The water is pumped back to the fish. Round
and round. The only input is FISH FOOD, tiny amounts of trace minerals and a little top-up
water (1.5% daily of the total volume of water in the aquaponic system). This compares
favourably with around 90% of water top-up daily for irrigated agriculture.
5. Base addition Effluent line Hydroponic tanks
Degassing
Rearing tanks
Sump
Clarifier
Return line
Filter tanks
Total water volume, 110 m3 Land area - 0.05 ha
6. Aquaponics Plumbing Diagram Side On FROM OUTSIDE Showing CLARIFIER, outer settling tank
for fish solids disposal, piping from fish rearing tanks to clarifier. Getting rid of the fish solids to
an outside tank for settling out and composting to organic fish manure is important. Fish solids
are removed from the system via a tap on the clarifier three times a day, every day. Any waste
water is safe to use as irrigation water on normal soil crops such as fruit trees and grain. No
untreated fish effluent is allowed to go to waste into rivers and lakes. It's too valuable as
organic fertilizer!
7. View from below of main piping runs in the UVI aquaponics system. Note the route the water
from the degassing tank takes into one set of hydroponic tanks, then the return piping (water
lines) from the second connected set of hydroponic tanks. We will now trace the flow of the
water around the system using the System Diagram:
8.
9. System Design
Four fish rearing tanks, 7.8 m3 each
Two cylindro-conical clarifiers, 3.8 m3 each
Four filter tanks, 0.7 m3 each
One degassing tank, 0.7 m3
Six hydroponic tanks, 11.3 m3 each
Total plant growing area, 214 m2
One sump, 0.6 m3
Base addition tank, 0.2 m3
Total water volume, 110 m3
Land area - 0.05 ha ONLY
11. Overview of the 6 hydroponic raceways of the UVI aquaponic system.
12. Treatment Processes
Air stones, 22 per rearing tank, 24 per hydroponic tank
Solids removal, three times daily from clarifier,
filter tank cleaning one or two times weekly
Denitrification in orchard netting filled filter tanks
Continuous degassing of methane, CO2 , H2S, N2
Direct uptake of ammonia and other nutrient by plants
Nitrification in hydroponic tank (keep an eye on it)
Retention time: rearing tank, 1.37 h; clarifier, 20 min,
hydroponic tanks, 3 h
13. Airlines working in UVI fish rearing tank. Intensive fish rearing (1200 hybrid red tilapia fish in
7.8 cubic metres of water) requires additional air supplied constantly 24/7.
14. 2 regenerating air blowers supply air via air lines to the fish tanks and hydroponic tank. 1.5 hp
blower supplies the fish and the degassing tank. 1 hp blower supplies the hydroponic tanks.
They supply air to the water 24 hours a day all year or the fish and plants will die very rapidly.
Spare air blowers, backup electric supplies and pumps are essential to avoid disasters.
15. Fish rearing tank inlet and tank harvest water drainage pipes. Buried under gravel for easy
access for maintenance. The tank has to be half emptied during fish harvests, every 24 weeks
as fish get to market weight and size. This makes harvesting with hand-held nets much easier.
16. Each pair of fish rearing tanks has its own conical clarifier, and p.air of orchard netting filled
fine solids filtration and mineralization tanks. The water from both sides of the system goes
into the degassing tank (left hand side of picture) and flows via gravity to the 6 hydroponic
tanks. In the hydroponic tanks, the nutrients in the water are absorbed by the plant crops.
17. Another view of the orchard netting tanKs to which the water flows from the clarifier cone.
20. Dismantled aquaponics conical clarifier with baffles inserted. These force the solid lumps of
fish excrement downwards towards the bottom of the cone where they settle while the less
polluted water continues to the orchard netting fine solids filter tanks. Gravity fed water flow.
21. Fish solids (fish poo and water) being removed from the clarifier cone via pipe to the outside.
This should be done 3 times a day. The buckets of fish poo are sent to a settling pond outside.
22. Alignment of 1 clarifier and 2 orchard netting tanks with the fish rearing tanks they serve.
23. Clean the netting in the orchard netting tanks using the winch and a hose, with dechlorinated
and dechloramined water, once or twice a week to control nitrate levels in the water supply.
To find out how much nitrate, nitrite and ammonia is in your water, and to control the pH, you
have to test the water scientifically EVERY DAY. THIS IS NOT 'JUST ADD WATER' FARMING!
24. Cleaning the orchard netting using built in high pressure nozzles. The nitrifying bacteria live on
fine fish solids captured by the orchard netting and release dissolved nitrates for plant feed.
25. The solids settling pond at the UVI. Removed fish solids settle here and compost into a sludge.
The separated water can be used for soil crop irrigation. The sludge at the bottom is periodically
dewatered using a geotextile bag and pump. The resulting fish manure is organic fertilizer. This
water runoff from the system represents around 1.5% of the system volume as an exchange rate.
26. The degassing tank and base addition tank, sump and pump at the center of the UVI system.
Water flows by gravity from the orchard netting mineralization and filter tanks to the degassing
tank, which is heavily aerated with air lines. This fizzing air through the water removes residual
hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide from the water column. The base addition tank is for the
gradual addition of tiny amounts of garden lime (calcium hydroxide-Ca(OH)2) and old fashioned
lye (potassium hydroxide-KOH) in alternating amounts with precise testing to control water pH.
27.
28. A crop of lettuce ready to harvest in the UVI hydroponic troughs. 29 days from seedling to
harvest, one harvest a week all year. Lettuce grown in soil takes 60 days at lower planting
density.
29. Floating raft with crop of lettuce ready to harvest at the UVI. Floating rafts can be lifted out to
harvest crops. Floating rafts are painted white on the upper surface to reflect solar radiation
upwards. This deflects heat from the water and the raft seals the raceway to prevent water
evaporation. Water exchange in this aquaponics system is 1.5% compared to 90% for
conventional soil crop farming. This is because the water is sealed in and shaded, and the fish
rearing tanks are also shaded. 98% of water used is constantly recycled round the system.
30. Another view of staggered crop rotation in the UVI aquaponic system. Seedlings and
harvestable crops grow in sequence on a “conveyor belt” of removable floating rafts. This is an
organic intensive food factory. In a controlled climate greenhouse, this method can be even
more productive with more control over temperature and humidity, also storm avoidance.
32. Culinary herbs (with a high market price per plant) growing in the UVI aquaponics system.
33. Cucumber plants growing in the UVI aquaponics system. Cucumber, melon and squash are all
possible fast-fruiting crops in this system.
34. Close up of an immature cucumber growing in the UVI floating raft aquaponics system.
35. Air line bubbling in a hydroponic raceway under water. The floating raft has been recently
removed temporarily for harvesting lettuce.
36. Air stones and airlines, airline connectors at the UVI. Air has to be constantly pumped into the
water in all the fish rearing tanks and hydroponic raceways.
37. Floating raft with lettuces being lifted out to harvest at waist height. No back breaking bending
or soil contamination. Clean lettuce! Fish are cold-blooded so cannot contaminate aquaponic
system water with germs that make humans sick. Wash your hands after going to the bathroom!
38. The trestle table on which the floating rafts are rested so the lettuces can be quickly cut off.
39. Putting the floating raft on the trestle table. Note the roots hanging down. In aquaponics, the
roots of the plants do not have to grow sideways to find nutrition, it is all in the fish waste
water supplied direct to the roots. So the plant's growth energy is all concentrated in top
growth which can make many species grow twice as fast, also at half the spacing. No need for
lots of space! Aquaponic farming uses 90% less space to grow up to 4 times more food.
41. Cleaned floating raft after lettuce harvest, being stacked against the fence to dry.
42.
43. Treatment Characteristics
Fish toxin removal rates from the water
using romaine lettuce (g/m2/day):
NH3-N, 0.56 NO2-N, 0.62
COD, 30.3
Total nitrogen, 0.83
Total phosphorous, 0.17
44. Raft Hydroponics
Advantages: no tank size limitation, no root clogging,
maximum exposure of roots to water, sheets
shade and cool water, plants not affected when
water pump stops, easy to harvest with no back breaking work
Disadvantages: roots vulnerable to damage by
zooplankton, snails and other organisms (use tetras
(aquarium fish) to control zooplankton, and red ear
sunfish to control snails.
45. Snails like these can be a pest in your hydroponic troughs. Red eared sunfish will eat them.
46. Red eared sunfish living under your hydroponic rafts will eat all your snail pests, but not your
plants.
47. PEST CONTROL IN AQUAPONICS IS NECESSARILY BIOLOGICAL. IF YOU USE
CHEMICAL PESTICIDES, EVEN IF THEY ARE LABELLED 'ORGANIC', YOU WILL KILL
YOUR FISH!
Fish are very sensitive to poison. You cannot use
any toxic chemicals such as pesticides on your crops
since the water will take the chemicals back to the
fish and the fish will all die. No antibiotics either.
Pest control in aquaponics involves using beneficial
insects such as ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and
lacewings to eat up insect pests. You can also use
bacillus thuringensis, a bacterial spray that kills
caterpillars but not fish and humans, and natural
vegetable oils which suffocate the insects.
51. Important Principles
Optimum feeding rate, 60 - 100 g/m2 plant
area/day prevents nutrient accumulation or
deficiency
Slow removal of solids increases mineralization
Frequency of filter tank cleaning controls
nitrate levels through denitrification
Treatment capacity of hydroponic tanks is
equivalent to 180 g of feed/day/m2 of plant area
52.
53. Production Management
Feeding: three times daily ad libitum
32% protein, floating, complete diet
Stagger fish production, 24 week cycle, harvest every 6
weeks
Stagger plant production
Use biological insect control
Monitor pH daily, maintain pH 7.0 by
alternate and equal additions Ca(OH)2 and KOH
Add chelated iron (2 mg/L) every 3 weeks
Add makeup water daily, about 1.5% of system volume
Purge fish for 4-5 days before sale
54. Red hybrid tilapia fish sell very well to restaurants. They also grow in large numbers in
aquaponics systems fish rearing tanks, where they fertilize the water for the plant crops. They
take 24 weeks to grow from fingerlings to plate size, and are harvested from each tank in turn
every six weeks. (There are 4 tanks, 4 x 6 weeks = 24 weeks). There is a separate breeding
station where the tilapia are bred on the farm to ensure healthy disease free fish.
55. Feeding the fish at the University of the Virgin Islands aquaponics system. Feed as much as
they will eat three times a day for maximum growth. Only as much as they will comfortably eat
in half an hour. DO NOT OVERFEED, this pollutes the water and will cause disease and dead
fish. The netting is to keep out predators such as birds and cats, who eat fish! You want to
make sure that you harvest 1200 fish (hybrid red tilapia, as an example) every 6 weeks!
56. Testing the water in the fish rearing tanks for pH. This must be done at least daily to make sure
that the pH is neutral (7.0). If the pH is too high or too low, old fashioned lye or garden lime base
must be added to buffer the water pH. This is done extremely carefully and gradually in the base
addition tank. Garden lime increases pH, while old fashioned lye decreases it. Tiny amounts
only!
57. Calcium hydroxide or garden lime (Ca(OH)2) in a bucket ready to be added to the base additon
tank at the center of the aquaponic system by the sump and pump. Be careful, this is nasty
stuff! Only this amount for thousands of liters of water. The base addition tank trickle adds the
solution over many hours in tiny quantities so as not to shock the fish.
58. The pH (level of water acidity/alkalinity) of your aquaponic system must always be kept
adjusted to neutral (7.0) for all the living processes and creatures to maintain healthy
harmony.
Aquaponics is extremely harmonious!
59. Potassium hydroxide before being added to the base addition tank at the center of the
aquaponic system by the sump and pump. Be careful, this is caustic, i.e. it burns! Only this
amount is added for thousands of gallons of water. The base addition tank trickle adds the
solution over many hours in tiny quantities so as not to shock the fish.
60.
61. The base addition tank where the pH adjustment base chemicals are added very gradually to
the sump. This sump tank is where the water returns to from the hydroponic raceways to be
pumped back up to the fish tanks. The aquaponic system works with JUST ONE 1/2
HORSEPOWER ELECTRIC PUMP for water pumping, one 1 1/2 horsepower regenerating air
blower for fish rearing tanks and degassing, and one 1 horsepower blower for hydroponics.
62. The 1/2 horsepower electric pump UNDER THE SUMP, pumping the CLEANED water back up
ALONG THE MAIN PIPE that branches to supply the 4 fish rearing tanks. The fish tanks are the
HIGHEST POINT OF THE SYSTEM. From there the water trickles down again round the system
via gravity, finding its level as it follows the pipework from one tank to another. THE
AQUAPONIC SYSTEM IS FILLED FROM THE SUMP AND PUMP. THE SUMP IS NOT THE DUMP.
The dirty water from the system DOES NOT GO ANYWHERE NEAR THE PUMP.
63. Energy Consumption
One blower for fish and degassing, 1.5 hp
One blower for hydroponics, 1 hp
One water pump, ½ hp
Total energy consumption 3.0 hp
THE SINGLE PUMP IS UNDER THE SUMP
The clean water collects in the sump for the pump
The water is pumped to the highest point: the fish tanks.
It then flows under gravity round the system again .
66. Graphic showing relative production quantities overall in one year for tilapia, lettuce, basil and
okra using one 0.05 ha. UVI aquaponics unit. Other crops can be grown of course.
Units p.a.
Tilapia
Cases p.a.
Lettuce
Basil
Okra
kg/m3/yr
Okra
Metric tons p.a.
Basil
Lettuce
Tilapia
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000
67. 1200 red tilapia about to be harvested. Note the high stocking density of the fish and the AIR
LINES in the tank. Fish in intensive rearing tanks need a lot of oxygen. This stocking density in
pond fish farming is not possible because you cannot supply enough oxygen or control pH
accurately or consistently enough to get these results. If you did this in a pond you would kill
all the fish. POND FISH FARMING DOES NOT WORK FOR AQUAPONICS AT ALL.
69. Okra seedlings in plastic net pots and coir/vermiculite planting plugs newly inserted into a
floating raft. Seedlings are germinated and grown on separately in a separate greenhouse for 2-3
weeks before insertion into the aquaponic system. The growing medium for seedlings is a
mixture of non-soil inert coir (coconut fiber) and vermiculite. Soil is not allowed (diseases).
70. Okra growing in the UVI aquaponics system hydroponic raceways on floating polystyrene rafts.
71. Roots of okra crop demonstrating health and strong growth in nothing but fish waste water.
72. Okra plants ready to harvest the okra. Note the very high planting density. This cannot be
achieved in soil.
75. Some other crops you can easily and quickly grow, flowers for cutting, melons, basil. Basil
grows from seedlings in 29 days. You can cut it three times before you have to replace the
plants.
76. Advantages of Aquaponics
Fish provide most nutrients required by plants
Plants use nutrients to produce a valuable by-product
Hydroponic component serves as a biofilter
Hydroponic plants extend water use and
reduce discharge to the environment
Integrated systems require less water quality
monitoring than individual systems
Profit potential increased due to free nutrients for plants,
lower water requirement, elimination of separate
biofilter, less water quality monitoring and shared costs
for operation and infrastructure.
77.
78. Perspective on UVI Aquaponic System
The system represents appropriate or intermediate
technology
It conserves water and reuses nutrients
The technology can be applied at a subsistence level or
commercial scale
Production is continuous and sustainable
The system is simple, reliable and robust
Management is easy if guidelines are followed
79. Nelson & Pade Commercial Size Ready Made System In Kit Form.
If you don't want to build your aquaponic system yourself from local
materials, you can order a kit from America. This is, however, much
more expensive and many of the parts are actually 'Made in China.'
Nelson & Pade, U.S.A.
Well established
manufacturer of commercial
sized aquaponic farming kits.
Largely copied from the
previously described
University of the Virgin
Islands aquaponic system.
Guaranteed to work.
Price of one UVI-like
commercial small sized farm
kit $45,495 excluding freight
and installation.
80. Nelson & Pade grow beds and fish grow out tank. Two grow beds in one raceway with a plastic
divider, floating raft systems. Grow out tank with observation window for Nile tilapia. Can be
build outdoors or in a controlled climate greenhouse.
81. Nelson & Pade conical clarifier. Nelson & Pade orchard netting tank and degassing tank. These
work exactly the same as the UVI system above. The conical clarifier removes the worst of the
fish solids using baffles to drive the solids o settle ttowards the exit pipe at the bottom. The
orchard netting tank removes the finer solids and provides a home for the nitrifiying bacteria
which digest the solids into nitrates. The degassing tank removes hydrogen sulphide and
excess carbon dioxide from the water column using intensive aeration via the air pumped
through air lines in the tank. From the degassing tank the water flows out to the plants.
82. Nelson & Pade UVI-style sump with base addition tank for gradual addition of pH control
bases. The single low horsepower pump for the whole Nelson and Pade system, like the UVI
system, pushes the water up to its highest level in the fish tanks. From there it trickles down
around the system and back to the sump and pump using gravity under its own weight. This is
basically the same system as that designed by the University of the Virgin Islands team in the
1970s, but available as a prefabricated easy to assemble kit. Operating the system, however,
requires additional advice, training and supervision for some months to ensure success.
83. Close up of Nelson & Pade degassing tank. Here excess hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide
from bacterial activity in the orchard netting tanks is removed with intense aeration. Water
flows from the degassing tank straight out to the hydroponic troughs.
Water flows from the
orchard netting tanks
to the degassing tank.
From the degassing
tank the water flows
full of nitrates to the
hydroponic tanks. This
is identical to the UVI
system but smaller. It
does not grow anything
like as much fish.
84. Lettuce seedlings growing in the hydroponic trough (29 days to harvest).
Seedlings growing in
net pots in the floating
polystyrene raft in the
hydroponic trough.
They are not growing in
soil. Their roots are
suspended in the fish
waste waste that has
just flowed out of the
degassing tank. The
water under the raft is
intensively aerated.
85. Nelson & Pade media bed modules.
THIS IS NOT SOIL.
This is expanded clay
balls. This neutral
growing medium is
good for crops that do
not like to have their
roots submerged in
water all the time.
Reusable. Flooded with
flowing water at all
times to a fixed level.
86. Fish, green leafy vegetable (lettuce, bok choi, kailan etc) and tomato example production
chart, Nelson & Pade Commercial 500 system. Fish production is 997.9 kilos a year to
simultaneously produce vast amounts of green vegetables and tomatoes. Area of the system is
only 374.585 m² or 0.037 ha.
Units p.a. max
Fish
Leafy greens
Tomatoes
Units p.a min
Kilos Per year
Tomatoes
Leafy greens
Fish
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 45000 50000
87. Specifications of the Commercial 500 Aquaponic System From Nelson & Pade.
Specific Details Commercial 500 Aquaponic System
Estimated lbs. of fish 2,200 lbs/997.903 kg/year
Estimated pounds of fish is based on raising Nile Tilapia,
under optimum conditions.
Estimated number of heads of lettuce/greens 28,800 – 46,080 /year
We have used lettuce as an example because it is 552 - 884/week, average
commonly grown in aquaponics. Most other greens such as
collards, chard, bok choi and herb varieties such as basil,
chives and cilantro, can be grown using the same plant
spacing. Other crops, such as tomatoes, eggplant, melons,
beans, cucumbers, etc., can be grown using the appropriate
plant spacing. Results depend on good management and
vary according to climate and whether in a greenhouse.
Estimated lbs of tomatoes (in addition to the production 2400 – 3360/pounds/year
above) 1088.621 - 1524.070 kg/year
Size of vegetable grow beds: 2 – 8’ x 40’
Raft 2 – 10’ x 32’
NFT Aquaponic Flow Channels 2 – 3’ x 32’
Media-Beds 2880 plant sites (leaf)
96 plant sites (vine)
Number and size of fish tanks 4 – 500 gal fish tanks
Estimated amount of time required/day 5 - 8 hours/day
For feeding fish, maintaining filters, seeding, transplanting
and harvesting
Approximate space/dimensions required 2 – 28’ x 72’, 4,032 sq. ft. / 374.585 m² or 0.037 ha.
Package Cost $ 45,495
Kit Crating Fee $825
88. This is the mature aquaponics system at the University of the Virgin Islands, St Croix.
More food can be grown per hectare than with any other form of food production in
a mature and properly managed aquaponics system for LESS INPUTS than
conventional agriculture. Aquaponics Global Ltd aquaponics consultancy can assist
you to construct and operate one or more of these systems on a residency basis.
89. General productivity of ALL aquaponic systems is much more efficient than soil farming. This
has been scientifically proven with studies which are freely available online.
E.g. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/enviro/aquaculture/acrdp-pcrda/projects/reports-rapports/ca/CA-05-01-004.pdf
Aquaponics uses 90% less land than soil farming to
produce the same amount of food as a plot 90%
larger of soil, or much more.
Aquaponics uses 90% less water to produce the
same amount of food as a plot 90% larger. Or even
more food than that. Depends on what you grow.
Aquaponics can produce up to 4 times as much
food per acre/hectare as conventional farming.
No chemical pesticides or herbicides can be used.
Compared to hydroponics alone or fish farming
alone, aquaponics is cheaper and more productive.
90. Staffing levels in aquaponics are low for technical staff. Only temporary
harvesters needed.
Because aquaponic farms are largely automated
food factories, only two or three full-time technical
staff are needed for farms producing tons of food.
Minimum-wage semi-skilled harvesters are required
only once or twice a week to do the easy harvesting
of vegetables off the floating rafts at waist height.
Fish harvesting is once every six weeks. Fish filleters
and processors may be needed. Adequate
refrigeration equipment is definitely needed.
91. Income from aquaponic farming varies according to market, crops grown, and quality of farm
management. Marketing your fish, vegetables and fruit is also VERY important and should be
done correctly and in good time to maximize your income from your organic food factory.
Income from aquaponic farming varies from country to country, climate to climate
and individual to individual. Different crops bring in different prices in different
places. Aquaponics Global Ltd expert approved consultants are available for
preliminary on the spot assessment of your technical aquaponics system
requirements, construction costs, operating costs and requirements, crop products
and markets in your area for the usual consultancy fees, plus travel and living
expenses, interpreting assistance paid for . We are all accomplished linguists who
can learn your language on long-term residency contracts without too many
problems.
Like any business, successful aquaponic farming depends on correct standard
operating procedures being adhered to by properly trained staff. Aquaponics
Global Ltd consultants are qualified to train your technicians and semi-skilled
workers properly on the spot, with appropriate linguistic and logistical assistance
from your side. We can also train future aquaponics technology trainers.
Good general farm management and sustained, timely and creative marketing are
also crucial. You do not make money by growing food. You make money by selling
food! We can teach you modern farm and food factory management, and efficient
marketing, locally and on the Internet!
92. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 1.
Conventional Agriculture
Aquaponics
Grows crops in soil.
Does not grow crops in soil. Grows
crops in recirculated fish waste
water, either on its own with the
crop plants suspended at the
surface in plastic net pots on
floating polystyrene rafts, or
suspended in the flowing water by
an intert growing media fill such as
expanded clay balls (Hydroton or
Hydroleca brands) or pea gravel.
93.
94. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 2.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
Does not use artificial fertilizer.
Uses artificial fertilizer
Nitrates dissolved in the recirculating
from a natural gas fish water from the intensive fish
farm, flowing through the grow beds
(methane) or methane or floating raft deep water containers
from oil refining fertilize the plants. The source of
these nitrates is the ammonia
feedstock. You have to excreted by the fish in the intensive
tank-based fish farm part of the
buy artificial fertilizer aquaponic recirculating aquaculture
every year to grow system. Aquaponics uses liquid
organic fertilizer sourced via the
enough food. solids removal and mineralization
section from the fish excreta. Fish
excrete ammonia through their gills
and a certain amount is also
dissolved out of their faeces as well.
95. Lettuce seedlings freshly inserted into floating polystyrene rafts in the hydroponic
tanks. No artificial fertilizer is used. Specially filtered fish farm waste water is used in
the tanks. The lettuces clean the water of nitrates and GROW GROW GROW to
harvest size in 29 days (normal time in soil farming is 60 days). The clean water is
pumped back to the fish in the fish rearing tanks. Over 90% of this water is
recirculated constantly. No weeding or digging required. Far less space and water
required to grow much more food far faster than is possible in soil agriculture!
96. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 3.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
At least 90% of the water used by aquaponic
Water in conventional
systems is recirculated. Water evaporation is
limited by keeping the fish tanks in the shade
agriculture is used only and covering deep water containers completely
with floating white-painted closed-cell
once. 90% of it then polystyrene rafts. These rafts are pierced with
holes at regular intervals into which the plants
goes to waste! China is in their polystyrene net pots are inserted. No
surface area is permanently exposed to the heat
now experiencing a of the sun, and the white paint further reflects
heat back up into the atmosphere. This helps to
severe water shortage keep water temperature at optimum levels for
growth while stopping evaporation. Some loss
and this should not does occur through evapotranspiration through
the plants, however. In the University of the
continue! Virgin Islands aquaponic system water exchange
is 1.5% of the total system water volume (the
amount of water that has to be topped up to
replace water used to flush out fish solids and
to replace water loss through
evapotranspiration).
97. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 4.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
Aquaponics uses an adapted form of
Conventional agriculture
hydroponics to grow crops. Crops grow at
only can harvest a few up to twice the speed suspended in fertile
fish waste water. They also grow at up to
crops a year. Plants grow half the required spacing, so with crops
such as basil and lettuce it is possible to
slowly in soil. In get twice as many plants, twice as fast
with the right varieties. That is 4 times as
temperate climates, there much food! Crops grown in the floating
is a long winter harvesting raft deep water container system can be
grown conveyor-belt fashion, with
rest. seedlings being planted at one end of the
hydroponic floating raft raceway as crops
are being harvested weekly year-round
from floating rafts at the other end. In
temperate and desert climates a
controlled climate greenhouse is
necessary to get these results year-round,
however.
98. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 5.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
You cannot use chemical pesticides.
Conventional
Even the 'organic' labelled ones will
agriculture uses large kill all your fish dead fast. Since the
fish it is who are running your
quantities of artificial aquaponic system, don't use chemical
chemical pesticides. pesticides. Only biologically safe pest
control methods can be used. These
include friendly insects such as
ladybugs and parasitic wasps, bacillus
thuringensis, which kills caterpillars
but does not affect fish or people, and
vegetable oils which suffocate the
pests.
99. Biological Pest Control-
Ladybugs, Parasitic Wasps, Lacewings, Hoverflies, Dipel (Bacillus
Thuringensis), Special Vegetable Oil Bug Killer Sprays.
DIPEL
SPECIAL
BIOLOGICALY VEGETABLE
SAFE-Kills OIL SPRAYS-kill
caterpillars insects by
and worms. suffocation.
100. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 6.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
Conventional
No digging is necessary.
agriculture has to spend Everything grows in
time, money and water. No soil is needed
equipment on or allowed. Soil brings
ploughing, hoeing and plant and fish diseases,
digging. so it is banned. You
cannot and must not
use soil in an
aquaponics system.
101. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 7.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
Conventional
You only need 10% of the land
space used by conventional
agriculture uses a lot of agriculture to grow the same
space and land. It often amount as would be grown n
is associated with 90% more space in a year in
soil. In many cases you can
sewage pollution grow vastly more than that on
problems from cattle your tiny plot. This is very
and pig farm runoff. intensive agriculture, grown as
if the food was being made in a
modern factory. Unlike other
factory farming methods, it
does not pollute the water
supply.
102. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 8.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
Conventional
This is automated
agriculture is labor- growing. A team of two
intensive. or three trained
technicians are the only
permanent staff you
need, the rest are
weekly harvesters that
come in for the weekly
harvest to do easy
hourly piece work.
103. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 9.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
Conventional farmers
In a controlled climate
greenhouse, if needed due to the
are dependent on the outdoors climate, you can control
weather, which can day length with low energy LED
grow lamps, and control humidity,
wipe out profits air temperature, etc. No
suddenly. destructive weather and pest
control is easier. So the ROI on a
controlled climate greenhouse is
fast since you are growing when
no-one else in your area can, very
probably. Supplying the winter
market for vegetables without the
high prices of imports. Remember,
low staff ratios too.
104. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 10.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
Conventional vegetable farmers
You have two different
just grow vegetables. products being produced
simultaneously here in the
same space, tilapia fish and
vegetables and/or soft fruit
such as strawberries and
melons. The vegetables grow
much faster than the fish and
in much larger quantities. The
big money is in the vegetables.
105. Why is the big money in the vegetables, not the fish?
Tilapia fish take 24 weeks Leafy green vegetables
to grow from baby fish grow up to twice as fast
to plate size. When you as normal in aquaponic
start your aquaponic systems, at up to half
system running, you the normal spacing. You
have to wait 6 MONTHS can get a crop of lettuce
for any fish harvests at at twice as many per
all. However, you will be square metre than in
getting lots of soil, in 29 days rather
vegetables after 6-8 than 60!! Other crops
WEEKS from starting up. grow fast, too.
106. Differences Between Aquaponics And Conventional Farming 11.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
Conventional
All automated on the
agriculture requires a spot. No running
lot of fuel and around. 17% of the
electricity to run barns, energy usage of a
tractors, combine conventional farm
harvesters, backhoes, overall. You are not
ploughs, etc. digging or weeding so
no complex machinery
is needed. Just the
aquaponic system.
107. Two Different Futures For Hainan.
Conventional Farming
Aquaponics
Farming continues as usual without
Aquaponics is adopted as a
technical reforms. Land and water use government policy for all fish farms
continue to increase. The famous and market gardens. Fish farming
Hainan natural environment is becomes sustainable and massively
destroyed by desperate farmers more productive. Fruit and vegetable
trying to find more land and water to production increase exponentially to
grow food. There is no longer any the point where Hainan is exporting
rain forest for the tourists to come fresh organic produce even with the
and see, and the beach and littoral demand from the tourist boom. Land
environment is polluted by sewage and water use actually go down
runoff from mismanaged instead of up. This makes saving the
conventional agriculture. Tourists rain forest from being cut down very
cease to come because the place is much easier and makes this carefully
ruined, and soil and water quality go managed forest available for
down to a point where food mostly profitable ecotourism. Everyone is
has to be imported at great expense. happier, healthier and more
Nobody is happy and many are prosperous.