An ancient sustainable farming method is taking home gardening by storm. It’s called aquaponics and it doesn’t require compost or truckloads of fertile soil. It uses a continuous life cycle of circulating water from fish tanks.
The system is quite simple. The water is used in soil-less crop growing structures and then filtered back into the fish tank. Fish waste by-products (ammonia and nitrates) help to grow the plants and the natural-filtered water supports the fish. These hydroponic structures can be built commercially or at home. Starter kits are available, but with a little research and planning you can build your own.
Several food items may be produced in an aquaponic system, including: Tilapia fish, herbs, red and green leaf lettuce, micro greens, romaine, spinach, kale, pak/ bok choi, Swiss chard, watercress, chives, basil, mint, wheatgrass, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas, peppers, squash, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes and onions. And this list keeps expanding.
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Aquaponic gardens are grown in a controlled environment by utilizing green houses or indoor systems with specialty LED or florescent lighting. This process brings fresh, nutrient- rich produce or fish to your table, or to the market, year-round.
A simple way to build your own system indoors is by utilizing the water from an existing fish tank. Your gold fish will be happy to share. Start with some manageable seeds, like leafy lettuce, and place them approximately four inches apart in coco fiber and a grow tray. Set up a florescent or LED light with full-spectrum bulbs and a timer to control the amount of light plants get each day. Control your ambient temperature to approximately 75-80 degrees.
Indoor temperatures are usually ideal. However, planning an ideal place in your home is recommended. Pour some water from your fish tank into the grow tray and watch the growing experience. As seedlings begin to sprout, transfer them, with coco fiber, into net pots, allowing the roots to stay intact and to expand. Then, transfer the net pots into a grow bed. This can be a floating grow bed, or PVC rack-type system. Water may be pumped from the fish tank through your aquaponic garden and pumped or gravity fed back into your fish tank. Within three to four weeks you may have yourself some fresh lettuce to serve at the dinner table.
Conrad Konen has been growing with aquaponics for five years with great success.
By Conrad Konen
As Featured In: Winter/Spring 2016