Aquaponics Growing Fish and Plants Together Tawnya Sawyer
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The integration of: Aquaculture Aquaculture – Farming aquatic species species in a controlled environment Hydroponics – Growing plants in soil-less media Aquaponics is an integrat integrated ed and balanced balanced system using the by-product of one species to grow another, mimicking a natural ecosystem
How Aquaponics Works raised in a tank 1. Fish are raised 2. Water Water from the fish tank is 3. 4. 5.
pumped to the plants Bacteria convert ammonia and nitrite to nitrate Plants absorb the warm, nutrient rich, oxygenated water Filtered water is returned to the fish tank, clean
Fish are Happy! Plants are Happy! Wee get more to eat! W
Looking to the Past for the Future
Sixth century China used duck pens over fish ponds po nds connected to rice paddies and fields f ields of vegetables Peruvian Inca created tiered fish and plant pl ant systems that feed more people than an other method of farming including present day methods Between 8 th and 10 th century Xochimilco (meaning garden of flowers) in the Valley of Mexico created canals and f loating gardens gardens called Chinampa that feed tens of thousands of people
Benefits of Aquaponics
No petro-chemical fertilizer fertil izer,, pesticides or herbicides
Significantly reduced food transportation
Uses a fraction of the water, water, about 10% of soil growing and aqauculture
No soil-borne diseases (E-coli, Salmonella), no tilling, no weeds
Reduced concerns concerns of fish f ish contamination or species depletion
Grow two food products together, together, protein and produce
Greater crop yields, faster production, vertical planting methods m ethods
No waste waste byproducts, all al l waste is naturally reused reuse d
Food security, security, grow your own own food, indoors, year-round
Works Works in draught, draught, places places with poor soil quality quality or challenging climates Enhances the local economy and provides green job opportunities
The Fish
Aquarium Fish Tilapia Perch Trout Catfish Bass Bluegill Carp Koi Goldfish Freshwater Prawns
Photos from aquaponicscommunity aquaponi cscommunity.com .com
The Plants
Lettuces Squash Zucchini Peppers Cucumbers
Strawberries
Peas & Beans Cooking Greens Most Herbs Tomatoes Melons Other plants
Important Considerations
Reasons for building the system, who will benefit? Is the system for you or for others to use? Is it for learning, food production, profit? Is it temporary or permanent, permanent, seasonal season al or year-round? year-round? Is it located indoors in doors or outdoors? Does the location hav h avee electricity, electricity, light, light, water source, ventilation, ventilation, is it protected protected from the elements, free free from pests, possibilities for pollination? How Ho w will the system be monitored?
Aquaponics Basic Components
Fish Tank Place to Grow Plants Water Water Pump and irrigation tubing Air Pump, Pump, tubing and air stone(s) Water Water Heater Heater (Optional) Grow light (Optional) Fish and Plants Fish food Water Water test kit
Small Fish Tanks
Aquarium Stock Tank Half Barrel Rubbermade Tub
Medium Sized Fish Tanks
Bath tubs Plastic or Fiberglass Stock Tanks Tanks Build your own
IBC Containers
Intermediate Bulk Container 275 Gallons full 175 with top cut 12” grow bed Inexpensive Plumbed for f or 2” PVC Note: Not UV stable – Should be protected from sun
Big Fish Tanks
Metal rings and liner Large Stock Tanks Fiberglass Tanks Polytanks
Swimming pools and ponds •
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Covert to a food production system Leave open open or cover with greenhouse Ponds are ecosystems www.gardenpool.org
Safe Materials Make sure all your system components are fish and human safe Polypropylene - labeled PP
High Density Polyethylene Polyethylene - labeled la beled HDPE
High Impact Im pact ABS (Hydroponic Grow Trays) Trays)
EPDM or PVC PVC (poly vinyl chloride) pond po nd liner line r (make sure its UV resistant and avoid avoid fire f ire retardant material)
Fiberglass tanks and grow beds
Rigid white PVC PVC pipe pipe and fittings, black f lexible PVC tubing, some ABS
DO NOT use Copper – Its toxic to the fish
Aquaponic System Designs
Media-Based Media-Based Growbed Growing Po Power wer System Raft System NFT (Nutrien (Nutrientt Film Technique echnique)) Towers VertiGro ertiGro and Wall Designs Designs Pools and Ponds
Media Growbeds Pros Work Work great for hobby aquaponics aquaponics Easy to find components, easy to build Can be built b uilt small or expanded for larger production You You can grow grow lots lots of different different plants in one system Cons Can build-up build-u p anaerobic zones May need to be cleaned out ou t occasionally occasionally (or use worms) Test pH of media before use
Different Differ ent Flood and Drain Types Types Flood and Drain – Fill the growbed for a period of time and then let the water drain out (can also be called Ebb and Flow)
Pump on a timer – 15 minutes ON, 45 minutes OFF, water needs to be distributed around the growbed growbed through pipes Siphon – Allows the growbed to fill to a specific depth, siphon starts, drains growbed and repeats, pump is always running Check out www out www.aquaponicscommunity .aquaponicscommunity.com .com for a wide variety of siphon plans plans and discussion
Grow Bed Depth – ideal 12” Zone 1 - Surface or dry zone The first 2” (50mm) is the light penetration and dry zone
Zone 2 - Root zone 6 to 8” The water drains dra ins away completely complete ly,, allowing for efficient delivery of oxygen rich air to the roots
Zone 3 - Solids collection and Mineralization Zone The bottom 2” of the grow bed. In bed. In this zone fish waste solids and worm castings are collected
Image and copy credit: Murray Hallam Practical Aquaponics www.aquaponics.net.au
Aquarium Systems
www.earthsolu www.earthsolutions.c tions.com om Farm Farm in a Box Box
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Built for in house food production Put your fish to work Year Year round salad greens and herbs 20 goldfish in a 20 gallon tank Needs very little space Great for school systems
IBC Systems Repurpose materials Be cautious about what was in them before you received them
practicalaquaponics.com CHOP2 –
Barrel-Ponics Examples
Invented by Travis Hughey of Faith and Sustainable Susta inable Technologi Technologies es (FAST) Uses readily available, cheap 55 gallon barrels Built around the world to bring food to www.faston www.fastonline.org line.org people in need
Colorado Aquaponics at Growhaus Community Center in Food Desert Farmers in training and seed to seed program help community and youth
www.thegrow www.thegrowhaus.c haus.com om
Growing Power Model • • • • •
Non-profit based in Milwaukee, WI Founded and run by Will Allen Won Won the MacArther Genius Grant Uses multiple tiers over trough fish fis h tanks Water Water acts as Thermal Mass Mass
Raft Method Pros Great for commercial commercial setups set ups Very V ery high yield of both fish and plant crops Small system – 100 lbs of fish, f ish, 925 heads of lettuce lettuce Big system – 7,500 lbs of fish, f ish, 194,400 heads of lettuce Typically installed inside a greenhouse (although in tropical locations they are outside)
Cons Requires more extensive filtration methods Usually grows grows a specific specif ic crop like lettuce or basil
Small-Scale Raft Systems Chicago High School for Agriculture Science (CHAS) Personal-sized raft systems
Raft Method
Method researched and developed at University University of Virgin Islands Isl ands www.uvi.edu www.uvi.edu Research and commercialized by Nelson and Pade, Montello, WI www.aquaponi www.aquaponics.com cs.com
Flourish Farms UVI style raft system in old greenhouse Grew lots of great food
Hybrid Commercial System Sys tem at the GrowHaus
Filtered water trickles through th rough tubes, troughs or runs along root zone Commonly found in hydroponics
Vert ertical ical Wall System
Ecolicious.com.au
Farm Philly – Greensgrow Project
Zip Grow Towers Built by Nate Storey www.brightagrot www.brightagrotech.com ech.com
Vert ertigro igro System
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Strawberry orchard in Florida Adapted for either hydroponic or aquaponic use www.vertigr www.vertigro.c o.com om
Fodder/Forage Solutions
Farmtek Growersupply.com –
www.foddersolutions.org
Wicking Beds
Bottom half gravel with fill pipe pip e Top half soil s oil media, media, wicks up moisture moistu re Dead end system – water added, not recirculated Primarily used for root root crops in aquaponics
Aquaponics Fundament Fundamentals als System System startup and cycling c ycling Keeping your your fish healthy healthy Being a bacteria farmer Managing pH Water Water testing and safe safe levels Plants Plants to grow and not to grow grow The future of food production
Starting the Nitrification Process Fish cycle
Run the fish tank with chlorine and chloramine-free chloramine -free water for a few days to ensure all components work properly Add fish at 20% of of stocking density Aquarium stocking density is commonly commonly 1” per gallon) Food fish is is about 1lb grow out weight to 5 gallons of water
Keep fish food to a minimum for the first 10 days
Monitor water quality and fish fis h behavior
Add 20% more fish every every 4-6 weeks weeks for best outcome outcome
Starting the Nitrification Process Fishless cycle
Use pure ammonia with no additives
Use worm tea made from worm castings
Use pond or stream water (with caution)
Use the filter filter pad or water from from other aquarium
Use feeder goldfish (they may bring disease)
Use humonus (urine) – It’s It’s natural and sterile s terile
Keeping Fish Healthy
pH – Most fish like pH between 6-8 Ammonia and nitrites nitrites are very toxic toxic to fish Nitrates are are fairly safe for fish (and great for plants) Fish need oxygen oxygen (they (the y can die in 30 min. without it) Battery based base d aerators aerators are available available for power power outages
Drastic temp changes cause health issues i ssues and death
Sensitive Sensit ive to to light (avoid direct light)
Feed 2-3 times times per day day
The Bacteria
50% of fish waste is in the form of ammonia released through urine, fecal matter and gills Bacteria consume fish waste, decaying plant pl ant matter and uneaten food Bacteria nitrosomonas converts converts Ammonia (NH3 (NH 3 or NH4+) to Nitrite (NO2-) – Both Bot h are toxic toxic to fish Bacteria nitrobacter/nitrosipra converts converts Nitrite Nitrite (NO2-) to Nitrate (NO3-) Nitrate is primary source of plant nutrition Nitrogen is the good good stuff – it is relatively safe for fish and great for growing growing plants
Bacteria (Nitrification) Cycle
Rising Ammonia for 10 days Then Nitrite levels rise and Ammonia levels fall Another 10 days, days, Nitrate levels rise, Nitrite levels fall Total 20-30 20-30 days to stabilize
Bacteria Maintenance
Bacteria will start start growing growing on their own, own, but systems can be “inoculated” with with bacteria for faster startup and cycling Proper pH 7 – 8 Best temperature 72 - 75* (ideal 77*) No pesticides, pesticides, algaecides, chlorine, chlorimine, cleaning agents or chemicals Started with a fishles fishlesss or fish cycling
pH Information
pH is a measure mea sure of the amount hydrogen ions in i n your water and the acidic or basic characteristics Ideal pH is 7.0. Above 7 and plants may not absorb all nutrients properly. properly. Below Be low 7 and nitrification nitrif ication can slow. slow. Fish are happiest h appiest between 6 and 8. Mature aquaponics systems will have naturally declining pH and an d must be buffered using new water additions additi ons and calcium or potassium (being careful not to adjust pH too dramatically) The water capacity to buffer buffe r will prevent drastic pH swings. Otherwise Otherwis e you can try to increase in crease or decrease pH only to have it return very very quickly to its original state. sta te.
Adjusting pH
Test your water both out of the tap (low) and after out gassing (higher). Test the pH of the gravel media you want to use To help buffer pH use shell grit which will dissolve slowly. Place a bag of shell sh ell grit (chicken scratch) at the water inlet or in the growbed. Remove Rem ove or replace as necessary to maintai ma intain n a buffer. buffer. pH Up
Hydrated Hydrated lime or limestone limes tone chips (calcium hydroxide) Calcium carbonate, potassium bi-carbonate No sodium bi-carbonate bi- carbonate (baking soda). Plants cannot tolerate salts
pH Down
Nitric or phosphoric acid
Water Testing
Safe levels pH 6 to 8 – ideally between 6.6 and 7.0 Ammonia < 1.0 ppm Should stay less than .50 ppm in mature system If ammonia is high, stop feeding, look for dead fish Nitrite < 1.0 ppm Should stay less the .50 ppm in mature system May be caused by too cold or too hot temperatures i s primary Nitrate – Relatively safe at high levels and is source of nutrition nutriti on for plants
Greens
Leaf Lettuces Chards Kales Mustard Collards Bok/Pok Choi Tatsoi Cabbage Arugula Head Lettuce
Herbs
Basil Mint Thyme Cilantro Sage Water Watercress cress Oregano Parsley Sorel Rosemary Stevia
Flowering/Fruiting Vegetables
Tomatoes
Peas
Beans Squash Zucchini Broccoli Peppers Eggplant Cucumber
Root Vegetables Grow in pots or wicking beds Water Water from bottom, bottom, don’t don’t soak Using coir/potting soil mix Carrots Turnips Radishes Onion Potatoes Parsnips Beets
Courtesy of Murry Hallam Practical Aquaponics –
Grasses, Gr asses, Shoots Shoots and Micr Microgreens ogreens Highly nutrient dense, use for juicing, garnish, etc. Quick growth rates, rates, less le ss than 2 weeks Keep moist, don’t overwater Direct seed or use matting Wheatgrass Wheatgrass Corn Barleygrass Beets Alfalfa Herbs Kamut Mustard Oatgrass Pea shoots •
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Sunflower
Stuff Stu ff You You Can’ Can’tt Grow Grow (Well (Well))
Corn (to maturity) Grains (to maturity) Blueberries Raspberries Tree fruits Tree nuts Peanuts
Getting Plants into the System
Start seedlings from seed Take cuttings from “mother” “mother ” plants (cloning) Buy plants (remove soil)
Plant Pests
Pestt Remedies Pes Always Always ensure it is fish and bacteria safe first Worm Worm tea Vinegar and water Olive oil, peppermint peppermint oil Dr. Brommer’s Castille soap Neem oil Botaniguard Sucrasheild Hydrated Lime (slugs)
Lighting Considerations
Plants need different light spectrums during lifecycle Light is measured in various (confusing) ways foot candles, photons, par watts, kelvin temperature, correlated color color temperature, color rendering index Position light appropriate to what you are growing Challenges growing growing “mixed” “m ixed” crops in single bed system Photoperiod is important import ant to proper proper plant growth growth Heat, ventilati ventilation on and energy consumption consumption Greenhouse vs indoor growing trade offs Seasonal vs controlled lighting photoperiods
Lighting Vegetati Vegetative ve Growth Growth “Blue spectrum” T5, Metal Halide, LEDs Use 18/6 lighting scheme •
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Fruiting/Flowering “Red spectrum” T5, High Pressure Sodium (HPS), LEDs Use 12/12 lighting scheme •
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Aquaponics Energy Inputs
Water Water and air pumps Water Water heater (depending upon upon fish stock stocked) ed) Building heat, ventilation and cooling systems Supplemental Supplemental or full time grow grow lights Fish food
Making Aquaponics Sust Sustainable ainable
Solar powered powered pumps with battery batter y backup Building heat and cooling through passive solar construction, geothermal, thermal mass, water walls
Use sun for growing growing plants whenever possible
Use T5 or LED growlights when supplement suppleme nt is needed neede d
Plant low light, cold tolerant crops and fish fis h in winter
Choose fish fis h feeds with alternative protein protein sources
Locate aquaponics system close to the consumers
System Startup Checklist 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Decide on type and size of system to build Draw designs, research where to get parts, plan pla n Buy and assemble assemble components Start plants from seed or find source for seedlings seedlin gs Fill system with water and circulate (at least le ast a week) week) Add plants to to system and nutrient supplement If using a fishless cycle, begin nitrification process Add fish when water is safe at 20% of stocking stocking density Monitor water water quality, quality, partial partial water changes as needed
Media system calculations
Ideal Grow bed volume to fish f ish tank tank volume ratio ratio typically 2:1 Can go up to 3:1 or as low as 1:1 Ideal grow grow bed depth is 12” How do you calculate calculate the volume?
Determine cubic feet of the grow beds and fish fis h tank (Length (Lengt h x width x height) Convert Convert to Gallons by multiplying mult iplying cubic feet x 7.48
1 cubic foot = 7.48 Gallons
Fish Stocking Density
.25lb fish per gallon (conservative) (conser vative) to .5lb per gl (moderate) Important to know final grow out weight of fish f ish to determine appropriate stocking stocking density dens ity Tilapia avg avg harvest har vest size = 1.5lb (from UVI data) Example:
Tank size = 300 30 0 gallon Total fish f ish weight weight = 300 3 00 x .25lb = 75 lbs Number of fish = 75lb/1.5lb = 50 fish f ish Startup fish at 20% total capacity capacity (50 x 20%) = 10 fish
Pump sizing
Pump should cycle total volume volume of tank water once each hour If pump is on a 15 minute min ute timer, timer, it should be sized to pump total tank volume in 15 mins (4x) Consider the both the total GPM (gallons per minute) AND the head height when purchasing a pump
System Sys tem Maintenance Maintenance 1.
Feed the fish daily, daily, monitor moni tor fish fish health
2. Test water quality (every other day for the first
month, then the n about once once a week, then as needed) nee ded) 3. As needed clean out filter screens, filter tanks (if
using), using ), tubing, tubing, water pump, growbed growbed media, etc. e tc. 4. Check plant health, trim t rim back, harvest or take
cuttings 5. Check plants for bugs or nutrient deficiencies
Other Handy Tips and Tricks
Always Always wash your your gravel gravel media media before before putting in the system – otherwise otherwis e you will get very cloudy dirty water Make sure pump screen prevents small fish f ish from getting getting in Use worms worms (red wigglers) wi gglers) in media beds to breakdown solids and reduce anaerobic zones Never use cleaning products, pesticides, algaecides, fertilizers fertiliz ers or like like substances in fish f ish tanks or grow grow beds Maintain your pump and proper water flow f low by cleaning the pump hosing and tubing at least monthly
More Handy Tips and Tricks
If you get aphides on your plants – spray with diluted vinegar and water water solution Avoid direct sunlight on fish tanks, co Avoid cover ver the top to avoid avoid algae and make fish happy Never change more than 1/3 of water at a time. More than that will destroy the good good bacteria bacteria in the system. Cover Cover outdoor plants during a frost, and shade from the scorching summer sun. Make sure you have backup power available for pumps and aerators
Creating the future of local food
Schools
Residents
Office buildings
Retirement homes
Medical hospitals
Places of worship
Community centers
Homeless shelters
Food deserts
Restaurants
Prison and detention centers www.verticalfarms.com
So what will you do with Aquaponics? And what what will Aquaponics do with you? you?
“You never change things by fighting f ighting the the existing reality. reality.
To change things build a model that makes the existing model obsolete.” Buckminster Fuller
Create, Innovate, Innovate, Educate, Integrate, Connect, Evolve
www.color www.coloradoaquaponics. adoaquaponics.com com
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