AquavetAquavet®® I 2012I 2012

AQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICS

Johannes Bachmann

ImportantImportant datadata

• 2012: 7 billion people worldwide

• Fish as primary protein for >1 billion people

• >45% of world‘s total fisheries productionfrom aquaculture

• Declining wild fish stocks

• Environmental degradation

• Water shortage

• ......

� There is need for local produced „green“ food!

AQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSAQUAPONICSCC

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DefinitionDefinition

DefinitionDefinition

Combined culture of fish and plants in

recirculating systems.

• Food production without soil

• Raise large quantities of fish in relativelly small volumes of water

• Accumulated nutrients as fertilizer for rapid plant growth

• Vary in size

• Have high potential for a holistic food production

Little Little bitbit of of HistoryHistory... ...

Already the

• Aztecs

• Asian peoples

• Far Eastern cultures

practiced aquaponics!

PrinciplesPrinciples

PerpetualPerpetual motionmotion machinemachine??

• Recirculation and re-use of water

in a very effective way

• Aquaponic systems use only 2% of the water a conventional vegetable farm requires

• Less water-quality management

• Allows production in dry areas

System System designdesign

RearingRearing tankstanks

• Should be operated

continously near max.

production capacity

= critical standing crop (CSC)

• Used fish:

– trout, perch, catfish, carp, ...,

TILAPIATILAPIA Oreochromis spp.

Omnivorous, almost disease resistant, tolerates

crowding and poor-water-quality

Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

StockingStocking methodsmethods

• Sequential:

Several age groups in same tank

• Stock splitting:

Very high densities, splitting ½ when CSC is reached

• Multiple rearing units:

Entire population is moved when CSC is reached

SolidsSolids removalremoval

• Fecal waste should be removed, otherwise it can

depress DO and produce carbon dioxide,

ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide

• Lots of different types:

– Settling basin

– Tube or plate seperator

– Particle trap

– Sludge seperator

– Centrifugal seperator

– Microscreen filters

Clarifier

• All solid-removers must be cleanedconstantly

• In combined systems: Sand/ gravel mustbe replaced, but works simultaneously as biofilter

• In solid filters you can additionally improveaeration and assimilation by earth wormsEisenia foetida

BiofilterBiofilter• Can be combined with solid removal and

additionally with the hydroponic system!

• Substrate: sand, gravel, perlite, Hydroton®

• Needs:

– A large surface area for optimal performing bacteria

– Temperatures between 77-86°F

– pH 7 (-9) as compromise between nitrification and solubility

of nutrients

– Saturated DO (~80%)

„„AquaponicsAquaponics systemssystems havehave thethe onlyonly biofilterbiofilter thatthat

generatesgenerates incomeincome!!““

HydroponicHydroponic systemsystem

• Raft aquaponics

– Floating units in big basins

– Net pots are placed in holes in the raft

– Just touch the water surface

– Easy harvest

– Optimal for leafy greens

• Solid aquaponics

– Sand/gravel/expanded clay beds in a

container

– Continous or flood-and-drain system

– Negative aspect: high weight, clogging

• Nutrient film technique (NFT)

– Many narrow plastic troughs

– Plants roots exposed to a thin film of water, nutrients and oxygen

– Lightweight construction, inexpensive, versatile

– Can also be used in vertical systems

– Optimal for smaller aquaponic systems(backyard aquaponics)

� But: needs a continous water flow!

AmmoniaAmmonia/ / nitritenitrite concentrationsconcentrations of of influentinfluent/ / effluenteffluent

waterwater::

Plants used:

• Most green leaf vegetables, e.g. lettuce,

tomatoes, ..

• Fruits, e.g. melons, strawberries, ..

• Herbs, e.g. basil, ..

• Flowers

• Medical plants?

ThreeThree strategiesstrategies

1. Staggered cropping: Different stages of growth simultaneously

2. Batch cropping:For slow or seasonally growing plants

(e.g. tomatoes)

3. Intercropping: Mix out of both, e.g. crop of lettuce before

tomatoes limit the light

SumpSump

• Should be the lowest point and the only

tank in the system where water level

decrease as a result of overall water loss

• Location for water replacement

• Good location for base addition to the

system

Pest and Pest and diseasedisease controlcontrol

• Pesticides are a threat to fish

• Fish treatment might be concentraiting in

plants

� Avoid diseases by good management...

� Integrated biocontrol against vermin

Main Main inputsinputs

• Water (mostly for the start-up)

• Electricity

• Fish fry/ fingerlings

• Feed

• Plant seeds

• MANAGEMENT

ProsPros

• Conservation of water

• Reduction of the environmental

footprint of crop production

• In private & hobby units:

� Fun

� Autonomically produced food!

• High initial expenses for buildings & equipment

• High costs for energy

• High costs for fish feed

• Challenging logistics & management

ConsCons

� Use already existing buildings/ properties

� Use alternative energy: solar panels/ wind turbines

� Less than for chemical nutrients

�Follow some important guidelines...

GuidelinesGuidelines

• Use already designed aquaponics systems!

• Design for your available space!

• Look for „your“ climate!

� Key design is volume ratio between fish tank [1 ft³] to hydroponic media [2 ft³]

� Daily feed [60-100g] to plant growing area [m²] /d

• In commercial units:– Watch the markets needs and prices!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmy5mFfR0Rw&feature=player_embedded

ThankThank youyou!!

Questions?