How Aquaponics Works
https://aquaponics.com/aquaponics/howaquaponicsworks.php
Aquaponics is the ideal answer to a fish farmer’s problem of disposing of nutrient rich water and a hydroponic grower’s need for nutrient rich water. Essentially, aquaponics mimics every natural waterway on earth. It is used to grow food crops in a concentrated, yet sustainable manner.
The main input to an aquaponic system is fish food. The fish eat the food and excrete waste. More than 50% of the waste produced by fish is in the form of ammonia secreted in the urine and, in small quantities, through the gills. The remainder of the waste, excreted as fecal matter, undergoes a process called mineralization which occurs when heterotrophic bacteria consume fish waste, decaying plant matter and un-eaten food, converting all three to ammonia and other compounds. In sufficient quantities ammonia is toxic to plants and fish.
Nitrifying bacteria, which naturally live in the soil, water and air, convert ammonia first to nitrite and then to nitrate which plants consume. In an aquaponic system the heterotrophic and nitrifying bacteria will attach to the tank walls, underside of the rafts, organic matter, the growing medium (if used) and in the water column. The beneficial bacteria discussed here are natural and will inhabit an aquaponic system as soon as ammonia and nitrite are present.
Essentially, you have three crops to keep alive in aquaponcis – the fish, the plants and the beneficial bacteria. These three living entities each rely on the other to live. The bacteria consume the fish waste keeping the water clean for the fish. In the process, the bacteria provide the plants with a usable form of nutrients. In removing these nutrients through plant growth, the plants help to clean the water the fish live in.
Aquaponics is a very efficient method of growing food that uses a minimum of water and space and utilizes waste, resulting in an end product of organic, healthful fish and vegetables. From a nutritional standpoint, aquaponics provides food in the form of both protein (from the fish) and vegetables.
Here is a great video that explains how Aquaponics works from Green Society Ministries:
Aquaponics Commercial Greenhouse
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Oct01Miguel Rodrigues I plan on having snhmteiog like that but not so advanced and not so expensive also, just to control: 1. water temperature, 2. pH and ammonia and 3. having an electric backup as well as having every device running 24/7 on solar panels.1. Water TemperatureKnowing that i need the water at 20baC i will have a simple aquarium heater ($10 to $20) that will turn on at 19baC and stop at 20baC, wen the water goes to more that 20baC i plan on having a simple setup with an arduino ($1 to $20), a temperature probe ($?) and 2 fans ($10) that i will configure to turn on the fans at 21baC and stop at 20baC.2. pH and AmmoniaI want to know (constantly) the pH and ammonia on the water at a low cost, for that i found a device that give me constant information about this both stats on the water. Just search ebay with the words pH alert ($10). 3. Electric BackupI want to use solar panels to power my pumps 24/7 and use the grid only for backup. For that i will use some car batteries, some solar panels, a solar controller, an inverter and to switch automatically from batteries to the grid ill use a relay. Prices for those will depend on what energy you need and if you can make or not your own solar panels, if you can you know it will be much cheaper.The fish feeder and the time switch for the pump are also cheap, about $10 each.All of these will need some testing but i think will solve most of those problems at a LOW COST and with SIMPLE KNOWLEDGE. The prices are always for ebay items (excluding shipping) just because its the place were i can find the best prices in my case.Best Regards and be Creative