Aquaponics for Personal Hobby and Commercial Use

Farms, fish ponds, and even resorts tend to be a favorite business in rural areas. This is basically because of the presence of large space and good environment. However for cities, and urban areas, most people tend to have a problem of limited area and pollution. Is there an alternative way, or a hobby that can be worked on amidst of these limitations? Definitely, yes - using Aquaponics.

Aquaponics uses both Hydroponics (taking care of plants), and Aquaculture(taking care of aquatic animals), and combines them onto a beneficial symbiotic setup which is sustainable and easy to maintain. Some people treat it as a hobby, but most use Aquaponics for Commercial purposes - especially for business.

Before you jump into building your own, you must first understand that it is a very easy system you can work on your free time. It can be build in your backyard or lawn area. There are three styles you can choose from - (a) Media Filled Beds - which uses media like clay or soil. It absorbs water via a continuous water system. (b) Nutrient Film Technique - where the nutrient filled water from the fish tank is being flowed (via very thin tubes) to the plant area composed of cup like containers. (c) Deep Water Culture - looks like a normal plant bed on the top view, but when you try to look on the bottom, you can see that the plants are actually hanging down, their roots dipped in water to ensure that they get the nutrient-rich water they need. The fish lives in the water below. For Hobby, you can start with media-filled beds; If you want an Aquaponics commercial setup - go for Deep Water Culture (DWC), since they allow more capacity, and provides a more conducive environment where you can grow plants and fish.

There are numerous Plant species you can try. Root crops like Potatoes, Carrots, and Beets can definitely be grown in Aquaponics plant beds. It is one of the easiest plants to maintain - and you might be surprised on how big it can grow. You also have the option to use seeds or seedlings, depending upon your confidence of growth. As for the growth rates, there are some studies showing that it can reach up to four times the normal plants - which is a good win.

For fish, most practitioners tend to use Tilapia - the second most cultured fish in the world. The primary reason is that they are not sensitive and easy to grow. They can even live in very poor water conditions. Also - Tilapia grown in an Aquaponics system tend to have a very clear taste. Another fish - you can choose is the Carp, and Koi (special type of Carp). Unlike the Tilapia, these two species are more difficult to maintain. The Catfish are well suited for Aquaponics. One type, which is the Channel Catfish is the most widely farmed Aquaponics fish in United States. Lastly the Trout requires cooler water. It has a fast growth rate and excellent food conversion ratio making it great for commercial purposes.

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You Can Easily Setup Your Very Own Backyard Aquaponics System

Home grown Backyard Aquaponics

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="backyard aquaponics can be a great way to include vegetables and fish into a healthy diet"][/caption] Are you checking out some Backyard Aquaponics and want to see if it is right for you? I'm going to go over a few of the basics about backyard Aquaponics, and hopefully we can find out if it's the right thing for you and if you should pursue transforming your garden into an Aquaponics one.

What is backyard Aquaponics?

This is basically when you take your existing garden (or a future garden that you have planned,) and plant it in water.  Setting up your own backyard aquaponics system very easy to do and you have a variety of ways to get it done, but people usually follow the same guide which has proven to be very successful (it's below if you want a link.)

What are the steps involved to set up a backyard aquaponics system?

First you will basically have your plants, and then you will also have a tank with fish in it.  This is very important for a variety of reasons: you see, fish give off a lot of nutrients that plants need to live off of.  It's natural fertilizers that will make your garden become lush and healthy.  The fish, on the other hand, can't live with all of their byproducts in the water, so this relationship between the fish and the plants is symbiotic.  They need each other to live, and you will reap the benefits of it.  It's nature at its finest.

Use a step by step guide which will give you more information on backyard aquaponics

If you are excited about starting your first backyard Aquaponics then use this step by step guide. Why don't you take a look at this step by step guide?  Visit:Aquaponics System Designs It is the best one on the internet and a ton of people have used it to huge success.  It's very easy to understand, and I think that the best thing about it is even before you download it, on their front page they tell you so much information about this whole backyard Aquaponics thing that you will practically be an expert in a few minutes.  Give it a read, I'm sure you'll love it.  Good luck! So, do you want to start setting up your very own backyard aquaponics? Visit:Aquaponics System Designs Read more: Backyard Aquaponics - Easily Setup Your Very Own Backyard Aquaponics Aquaponic Gardening: A Step-By-Step Guide to Raising Vegetables and Fish Together by: Sylvia Bernstein publisher: New Society Publishers, published: 2011-10-11 ASIN: 086571701X EAN: 9780865717015 sales rank: 1221 price: $18.57 (new), $18.60 (used) Aquaponic Food Product - Raising fish and plants for food and profit by: Rebecca L. Nelson with contributions from John S. Pade publisher: Nelson and Pade, Inc., published: 2008 ASIN: 0977969614 EAN: 9780977969616 sales rank: 165489 price: $29.95 (new), $97.99 (used) Aquaponics can be used to sustainably raise fresh fish and vegetables for a family, to feed a vaillage or to generate profit in a commercial farming venture. Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soilless plan culture). In aquaponics, the nutrient-rich water from raising fish provides fertilizer for the plants and the plants help to purify the water the fish life in. AquaBundance Aquaponics System, Charcoal publisher: The Aquaponic Source ASIN: B004HQGZ3Y sales rank: 102958 price: $1,295.99 (new) Includes 60 gallon tank, 12" deep bed, steel frame with casters, pump, fittings, 150 liters of hydroton, timer, and DVD. The Grow Bed Extra thick 1/4" food safe, UV protected PE plastic designed to never bow under the heat and weight of outdoor aquaponic gardening. 12" deep, 44" long by 28" wide, giving approximately 7.5 sq ft of growing space when you subtract the area for the Media Guard Includes Media Guard, designed to accept both Flood and Drain and Siphon plumbing fixtures Features grip handles at either end large enough to fit two adult hands Lip at 1.5" below the top rim to indicate the "dry zone" The Fish Tank Extra thick 1/4" food safe, UV protected PE plastic designed to never bow under the heat and weight of outdoor aquaponic gardening. 19" deep, 43" long by 22" wide, supporting approximately 60 gallons of water. Includes a 400 gallon per hour, 45 watt pump. Includes black, furniture grade PVC plumbing and fittings, with aeration holes for extra oxygenation in the fish tank. Includes 3/4" flexible vinyl black tubing to connect to the grow bed fittings with extra length so the tank can either be directly under the bed or not. Features grip handles at either end large enough to fit two adult hands The Table 1.5", 14 gauge powder coated black square steel tubing Partially welded, the rest is easily assembled with heavy duty bolts and lock-nuts (included) 33" high, 50" long, and 34" wide Includes handles and 4 heavy duty casters for easy moving

Backyard Aquaponics Related articles

• Aquaponics- Getting Started (roylandscape.wordpress.com)
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• How to Run a Commercial Aquaponics System (Video) (treehugger.com)

Hydroponics 101 – Hydroponics Systems Explained

Hydroponics gardening is the method of growing plants without the use of soil. You can use this method of gardening to grow almost any plant, from flowers and herbs to edible vegetables and fruits. Many are seeing hydroponics as a viable method of mass producing edible vegetation in the near future, as precious resources such as water and minerals are growing scarce, and the population is continually growing. Its accessibility, scalability, and its cost benefits are seen as the greatest benefits.

There are many different types of hydroponics gardening. Ebb and flow, aeroponics, continuous-flow solution culture, and deep water culture are just a few of the systems in use today.

Ebb and flow, simply put, is just that- the ebb and flow of nutrients and nutrient rich water. Plants are placed in a tray filled with some sort of grow medium (such as Hydroton or clay granules). This tray is connected to a pump, which is physically below the tray. At regular intervals, the pump will fill the tray with the nutrient rich solution, and when the tray is submerged, the plants will have access to it. The pump then turns off, and the remaining nutrient solution is drained back into a reservoir. This happens at a continuous cycle. Except for the need to add some more nutrients and water after a period of time, the nutrients and the water is continually reused.

Aeroponics is the method of growing plants in an environment that is saturated with a water mist or aerosol of nutrient solution. The roots of the plants are suspended in the air, within a chamber.

In a continuous-flow solution culture, the roots of plants are continuously exposed to a shallow flow nutrient and water solution. The nutrient film technique, or NFT, is a popular variation. This is a great way to have high yields, as plants are constantly exposed to water, oxygen, and nutrients.

Deep water culture is a method of suspending roots in a nutrient-rich water solution. The plants are held in a netted pot, where the roots are exposed to the solution. Oxygen is provided by the use of an air pump and porous stones.

All of these methods can be used by a grower, and there are success stories with each one. The grower must constantly provide nutrients, clean water, and watch for pests and plant diseases. However, the yield achieved by using any hydroponics gardening method can be much more than traditional methods of gardening.

See the rest here: Hydroponics 101 - Hydroponics Systems Explained

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The Stages of Plant Growth – Starting With Seeds

To grow great plants, one should understand their life cycle which includes the the vegetative, reproductive, senescence, and dormancy stages.

First, most plants start as seeds. Many people know this, but what they don't know is that seeds are actually immature plants protected by hard shells. The shells contain all the food plants need for the earliest part of life stored in an area called the endosperm. Under the right conditions, these immature plants can bust out of their shells and start growing.

In order for this to happen, the seeds need to be germinated. Although you could simply drop seeds in small rockwool cubes or rapid rooter grow plugs, you'll have greater success if you germinate them first. One way to do this is to place your seeds between some moist paper towels and place them in a dark, humid environment.

If done properly, after a few days you'll see what's called the taproot poking out of the shells. In order to give your new plants the best chance possible to thrive, you would place your germinated seeds into your grow medium, taproot pointing down. This simply reduces stress on your baby plants as the taproot is the part that's going to start digging downward, looking for water.

While the taproot digs downward, the shoot (stem) of the seedling starts stretching upward searching for light.

At this point, the plants are using their stored up food for growth (remember the endosperm). However, these reserves will soon be depleted and the plants will need to create their own food. This is only possible after the plants grow leaves.

The leaves contain a chemical called chlorophyll which gives plants their green color and it's what makes it possible for plants to collect energy from the Sun. Next, the plants use this energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars and other carbohydrates. This chemical process is called photosynthesis.

This stage of development, where the plants are developing roots, root hairs, and leaves, is called the vegetative period. One way to know you have a healthy plant is to observe the roots. They're easiest to see in a deep water culture hydroponics system and they should be bright white and very strong.

Next, is the reproductive stage. During this time, plants will form flowers that are either male, female, or both (hermaphrodite).

These flowers contain pollen and eggs that, when combined with the pollen and eggs from other flowers, will become seeds. The pollen is spread in various ways such as wind, insects, animals, or people.

After the reproductive stage, plants enter the senescence period of their lives. Senescence is another word for biological aging which is the change in the biology of an organism as it ages after reaching maturity. This change can been observed in the Fall when leaves change colors and fall off.

Continuing, some plants enter a fourth stage of life called dormancy. Dormancy is similar to hibernation in animals in that certain metabolic functions are slowed. This allows plants to survive the cold of the winter months. When the warmth of Spring returns, plants once again start sprouting leaves. Since they don't have to start all the way from the seed stage, they have an advantage over other plants because they're bigger. Being bigger means it's easier to suck up lots of sunlight and nutrients. This cycle continues over and over until the plant eventually dies.

In nature, the stages of plants' lives are dictated by the amount of sunshine they receive. However, indoor gardeners control how much light their plants get and therefore are able to control exactly when a plant goes from the vegetative stage to the reproductive period.

Understanding the vegetative, reproductive, senescence, and dormancy stages will give you more insight into exactly what plants need so you can grow the best ones possible.

Read the rest here: The Stages of Plant Growth - Starting With Seeds

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Why Your Hydroponic System May Need A Bubbler

If you are new to hydroponic gardening, you may be confused by all the different kinds of systems that are available to you. There are wick, ebb and flow, and water culture raft systems just to name a few. One of the most effective systems and easiest to use for beginners is that which uses the hydroponic bubbler. Although different plants thrive best in different systems, this is perhaps the system that you want to consider first if you are new to hydroponic gardening.

What do Bubblers Do?

Hydroponic bubblers pump oxygen into the water and mixes the nutrients in it. Without a bubbler, the water may not be oxygenated enough, which means your plants will not grow as quickly. The bursting air bubbles at the surface of the solution also creates a spray to keep the grow medium moist in the beginning stages of growth.

What Are the Advantages of a Bubbler?

Plants that are grown in a bubbler system tend to grow faster than those that are grown in a simple deep water culture system that does not have a bubbler. This is because the spraying effect of the bursting bubbles from a hydroponic bubbler provide the roots of the plant with better access to nutrient solution. In a system without a bubbler, the roots of the plants need to grow before they reach the reservoir of nutrients below, and so have less contact with the nutrient solution in earlier grow stages.

Another advantage of the bubbler system is that it is very easy for a novice to build and is perhaps one of the most efficient home hydroponic system you can make. While other systems sometimes require a more in depth knowledge of hydroponics, the bubbler system is relatively user friendly and the materials to build it are inexpensive and easy to find.

How to Build Your Own Bubbler

In order to build your own hydroponic bubbler, all you need is a plastic container with a plastic lid, several plastic cups, an air pump, an air stone, air tubing, and growth media such as perlite or rockwool.

Start making your bubbler by tracing the bottom of the plastic cups onto the lid of your container so that you end up with several circles that are the same dimensions as the bottom of your plastic cups. Cut out these holes and suspend the plastic cups in them so that they fit nicely without falling through. Make several holes in the side and bottom of each plastic cup so that water can flow through them.

Next you will need to put a hole in the side of the container for the air tubing to go through. Set up the air stone inside the container, and fill it almost to the top with nutrient solution and water. Put the lid on top of the container and place your plants inside the cups. Fill in any empty space in the cups with your growth medium.

Building a bubbler from scratch is relatively easy, but if you do not have the time or patience to make one yourself, you can buy a ready-made hydroponic bubbler. Either way, once you get your bubbler going, it will soon provide you with a tasty crop of some of the best fresh vegetables you have ever eaten.

See the rest here: Why Your Hydroponic System May Need A Bubbler

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Comments: A Primer on Deep Water Culture

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The Three Main Ways to Clone Plants

Cloning is the act of taking a cutting from one plant and growing a new plant from that cutting which retains all the same genetic characteristics of the plant the clipping was taken from. Many people use cloning in order to have a predictable crop rather than taking a chance on different seeds which may or may not end up having the characteristics you are looking for in your new plant. There are three main ways in which growers clone their plants: deep water culture, coco cubes, and aeroponics.

The deep water culture method of cloning is relatively popular due to its ease of use and good results. Many growers report 100% clone survival rates with this system, however each system is different and of course each grower is different. With any clone machine or system, each grower will get different results because of the different environmental factors that can change from grower to grower. Deep water culture (DWC) clone machines work by suspending the new clipping into water or nutrient solution which is constantly oxygenated with air stones. Normally a clipping would drown being completely dipped in water, but the air stones transport the much needed oxygen these clippings need through the air stones.

Coco cubes are also very popular and are considered the easiest system to use. You simply use small coco cubes with a small hole in the top to insert the clipping. The coco cubes are placed into a tray and the tray is typically set on a heating mat in order to maintain the preferred cloning medium temperature of 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. From here the coco cubes just need to be kept moist and the clippings should show roots within a week for two.

The third and most popular cloning method is using aeroponics. Aeroponic clone machines include the ez cloner and the daisy cloner. These types of cloning machines use the aeroponic system of hanging the plant stem/clipping in air. Water is then sprayed onto the plant clipping in order to maintain as close to 100% humidity within the chamber as possible. By hanging the plant stem into air and spraying water onto the stem, the new clones/clippings are able to get a very high amount of oxygen which helps clone survival rates.

Whichever type of cloning system you decide on, it is very important to maintain a good growing medium temperature and as high humidity as possible. That way you should see success with whichever method you end up using.

Excerpt from: The Three Main Ways to Clone Plants

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Hydroponic Garden Kits

The process which stimulates the growing of plants with the solution of minerals and nutrients instead of the soil is called as hydroponic. Even the moist experienced farmers need little assistance when they use the process for the first time. There are several hydroponic kits for the professional farmers and the beginners. A right kind of hydroponic kit contains all that is needed for accommodating the kind of vegetation you want to grow and the conditions as well as the surroundings for the growth of the vegetation.

The hydroponic kits can be used for outdoor farming, greenhouse and for in-home gardening because these kits are adaptable to all these growing environments. Example, some plants need deep water culture so that the roots remain suspended in the nutrient rich solution. The oxygenated water of the reservoir is used to service the various plants. This type of method is perfect for small to medium sized vegetation like herbs, lettuce and small flowers. The method is also useful for larger plants but the varieties of the plants must not be mixed and the plants should be appropriately spaced.

Nutrient film technique is ideal for medium to large sized cultivation and contains the thin layer of nutrient solution that flow over the roots. The plants get the nutrients through air and water solution immersed through the root system. The growth of Romaine lettuce, oriental vegetables, African violets, tomatoes, herbs, kale, mustard greens, and vegetative plants are greatly enhanced with the use of this technique. This technique can also be used by mixing with the deep water culture technique.

Several kinds of hydroponic techniques are available for the growers of ebb and flow system, a sprout garden, propagation and the living wall. Every hydroponic technique benefits different growers and different types of vegetation. The kits can also be mixed and matched to maximize the benefits of each hydroponic kit but there is a need to find the compatible ones.

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Everything You Need to Know About Roots

Beginning gardeners often underestimate the importance of root health. One of the nice things about hydroponics is you can actually see your root system and monitor its condition.

Root systems can be tiny (inches), or they can be absolutely huge. As a matter of fact, when you see a large plant or tree, what you don't see is a root system that's often times much larger.

Functionally, roots provide for the uptake of water and nutrients. They also act as storage for the materials the plant manufactures. Lastly, they provide support for the plant above ground.

Diffusion is the name given to the method roots use to absorb water and nutrients. During this process, water and oxygen are able to penetrate membranes in the cell walls, allowing them to enter the root system,

Incidentally, plants are only able to uptake pure elements via their roots. So, the next time someone tells you hydroponic gardening isn't as good as growing organically in soil, you can explain that regardless of where the nutrients come from, plants will break them down and turn them all into the same thing: Pure elements.

I remember hearing a story once about a science teacher that asked his class what was more important to plants; Water or oxygen?

The students said water and the teacher said, "Okay, you hold your breath, and after a minute tell me what you want more, air or water."

Often times, people don't think about oxygen when considering plant roots. However, especially when using a deep water culture system, providing a ton of oxygen to the roots is of paramount importance.

In order to make sure your roots get the oxygen they need, there are several things you can do.

First, use a grow medium like rockwool, coco, hydroton, or a mix of media that provides lots of air pockets.

Second, stagnant water is a killer if your roots sit in it. You must use airstones and circulate the water in your reservoir.

Lastly, make sure you have enough room in your system for the roots. If your plants get too big, the roots won't have any place to go and you'll be in trouble.

Healthy roots are snow-white, fuzzy, and have lots and lots of hairs.

In closing, be sure to observe your roots. As long as they're bright white and healthy, your plants are in good shape. Provide them with as much oxygen as possible, keep them from sitting in stagnant water, and make sure the root-ball doesn't outgrow your grow system.

Read this article: Everything You Need to Know About Roots

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Different Types of Hydroponics

Various types of hydroponics can be categorized into two main classifications - solution culture and medium culture hydroponics. The difference between the two types of hydroponics is that the solution culture does not use a solid medium for the roots, just the nutrient solution. While the medium culture method of hydroponics has a solid medium for the roots. In this article, we will discuss the different types of solution culture and variations of medium culture method.

There are three known primary types of solution culture of hydroponics. One is the static solution culture wherein plants are developed in containers of nutrient solution, such as tanks, tubs, plastic buckets or glass Mason jars which is typically used in-home applications. The other type of solution culture system of hydroponics is the continuous flow solution culture. In this hydroponics, as the name suggests, the nutrient solution continuously flows past the roots. A popular example is the nutrient film technique or NFT whereby a very low stream of water holding all the dissolved nutrients essential for plant growth is circulated constantly past the plants' bare roots in a watertight thick root mat. Consequently, there is a plentiful supply of oxygen to plants roots, thus generally this hydroponics method is considered one of the more productive techniques in hydroponics. The third main type of solution culture in hydroponics is known as aeroponics. Aeroponics is a method where roots are incessantly or sporadically kept in an environment saturated with fine drops of nutrient solution. The system involves no substrate and requires growing plants with their roots suspended in a deep air or growth chamber with the roots occasionally wetted with a fine mist of atomized nutrients. Aeroponic method has attested to be commercially doing well for propagation and seed germination.

Since the second type of hydroponics medium culture method utilizes solid medium for the roots, the different variation of this method are named after the type of medium used. For instance, sand culture, gravel culture or rockwool culture. All of the medium can either be sub-irrigation or top irrigation.

Passive sub-irrigation is a method where plants are grown in a static spongy medium that carries water and fertilizer to the roots by passageway action from a detached reservoir as required, reducing labor and providing a steady water supply to the plants roots.

Ebb and flow, also called flood and drain sub-irrigation, is also common method of medium culture in hydroponics. In its simplest form, the tray above a reservoir of nutrient solution is either pots of medium stand in the tray, or packed with growing medium and planted directly.

In a Run to Waste type system, another variation of medium culture method of hydroponics, nutrient and water solution is occasionally applied to the medium surface. This may be done by manually applying a nutrient and water solution one or more times per day. However, in commercial environment watering frequency is multi-factorial and administered by PLC based controllers.

Deep water culture is a hydroponics method of plant growing by process of suspending the plant roots in a solution of water that is nutrient rich and oxygenated.

Bubbleponics is another hydroponics method. It is the art of distributing extremely oxygenated nutrient solution straight to the plants root zone. The difference between Deep Water Culture and Bubbleponics is that Deep Water Culture entails the plant roots hanging down into a reservoir of water below while the term Bubbleponics describes a top-fed hydroponics. Fundamentally, top feeding can be described as the water is pumped from the reservoir up to the roots.

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