Aquaponics     From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aquaponics (IPA: /’ækw?’p?n?ks/) is the symbiotic cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment.

Aquatic animal effluent (for example fish waste) accumulates in water as a by-product of keeping them in a closed system or tank (for example a recirculating aquaculture system). The effluent-rich water becomes high in plant nutrients but this is correspondingly toxic to the aquatic animal.

Plants are grown in a way (for example a hydroponic system) that enables them to utilize the nutrient-rich water. The plants take up the nutrients, reducing or eliminating the water’s toxicity for the aquatic animal.

The water, now clean, is returned to the aquatic animal environment and the cycle continues. Aquaponic systems do not discharge or exchange water. The systems rely on the relationship between the aquatic animals and the plants to maintain the environment. Water is only added to replace water loss from absorption by the plants, evaporation into the air, or the removal of biomass from the system.

The basic idea is to have a source of fresh-grown foods all year!

Aquaponic systems vary in size from small indoor units to large commercial units. You are our welcomed guest whether you are here to learn, or here to teach others! Stay tuned to this website for new photos and designs of working systems, and contributions of information too!

At Aquaponics Texas, we are also encouraging the use of Self-Cloning Marbled Crayfish in all sizes of systems. They quickly grow into colonies and are used as feeders for fishes, and are useful by themselves in smaller systems which do not use edible fishes.