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Combining Hydroponics and Fish Farming

Ron Johnson - Aquaculture Outreach Specialist

Aquaponics� Combining techniques of hydroponics (soilless plant

culture) and fish farming�Waste water from fish culture supplies the nutrients

for plants� Plants assist in nitrification process and act as biofilter� No herbicides because there is no soil�Water is recycled� Large volume of food crop can be grown in small space� Plants are the major product- fish a bi-product

History of Aquaponics� References to Ancient Egypt & Babylon

History of Aquaponics� Dates back to Aztec in 1,000 AD – Chinampas

History of Aquaponics� Poly-culture in Asia

Modern Aquaponics� Community/Social Aquaponics� Growing Power

� Urban Aquaponics� Sweet Water

� Village Aquaponics� Third World

� Back Yard Aquaponics� Educational Aquaponics – High Schools� Commercial Aquaponics� Wisconsin – Nelson/Pade, Future Farm, KP – Simply

Fresh

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Community/Social Aquaponics� Growing Power – Milwaukee – Will Allen� Sustainable Community Food Systems� Social Development� Grant Supported

http://www.growingpower.org/

Urban Aquaponics� Revitalize Urban Business� Renovation of Existing Businesses � Sweet Water Organics & Foundation – Milwaukee

http://sweetwater-organic.com/blog/

Village Aquaponics� Third World Countries – Plants & Protein

Back Yard Aquaponics� Home Grown Food

Educational Aquaponics� High Schools with aquaculture/aquaponics classes� Math/Science� Chemistry� Food for school

Commercial Aquaponics� Business Plan� Location� Species – both plants and fish� Systems

� Marketing Plan� Where/what is your market� Global Competition� Niche Market – Fresh/Local

� Economically Viable –”If it doesn’t work on paper it probably won’t work in real life”

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Commercial Aquaponics� Outdoors – Tropical Climates

� Greenhouse/ Environmental Control

Wisconsin Commercial FarmsPade & Nelson-KP Simply Fresh-Future Farm

Aquaponics Fish Systems� Based on RAS Technology� Design dependent on fish species� Temperature – compromise between plant/fish� Aquaponics vegetables +/- 70˚� Tilapia – grow best at 78-80˚� Compromise 72˚

� pH compromise between plant/fish� Most fish 7.5-8.0� Plants 6.0-6.5� Compromise 7.0-8.0

Aquaponics Fish Systems

Aquaponics Plant Systems� Raft – High plant densities, larger volume of water for

buffer� Nutrient Film Technique (NTF) High ratio plants/fish� Media Filled Bed – Least expense , good for home use,

solid waste used within the system

Fish Species�Water conditions, growth rates, densities, markets� Tilapia� Koi/Goldfish� Catfish� Bass� Blue Gill� Yellow Perch

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Plant Species� Match market to species, growing conditions,

economics, time to harvest (over 60 species grown)� Leaf lettuce� Herbs� Watercress� Cabbage� Fruiting Vegetables� Cucumbers

Market Range $5.33 - $213.81/sq ft

Aquaponics� Most asked questions for Aquaculture Extension

Specialists� Food for the future?� Fresh and Local� Simple to complex models� Fad or Sustainable?� Farming for the future?� Is there a Tribal Model?

Questions