stephengo123 (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} stephengo123) wrote,@ 2010-08-24 05:12:00 |
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How is an Aquaponics System Made?
Aquaponics combines both aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (plant farming) and creates a cyclical, self-sustaining eco system. Let us see how aquaponics systems are made.
Materials needed
The following materials are needed: aquarium (preferably a rubber tub), knife, timer, air pump having airline tubing and air stone, window screen, fluorescent lighting fixture, aquarium sealant, water test kit, vegetable seeding and tilapia (fish).
Area
The area chosen for setting up an aquaponics system should be free from air pollution, should have adequate water supply and sunlight exposure. Some plants may also necessitate use of fluorescent lighting for growth.
Setting up an aquaponics system
1. Cut out a window shaped access in the tank for tube passage and to help check and feed fish later. Pebbles or sand gravels need to be added to help settle fish excretes needed for plant nourishment and to prevent their absorption by the pump tube.
2. Make a hole in the upper part of the litter pan to fit the tube. Make another hole barely above the bottom of the pan and tightly seal the tube holes with a glue to prevent it from being detached from the litter pan. The holes of the tubes may be glued with a small sized round screen strain out solid wastes to and from the litter pan. Insert the tube from the bottom of the litter pan into your fish tank bed to provide access to fish waste.
3. The litter pan will later on serve as the growing bed for plants and must be filled with pea gravel for planting and growing the plant seeds. So ensure that the litter pan has sufficient space for this purpose.
4. The aquarium sealant may be applied to the tank's bed to avoid leaks in future. Fill the tank with filtered water to start with and thus avoiding unnecessary nitrites and nitrates that can kill the fish. This also helps fish to adjust immediately to the new environment.
The aquaponics system you have set up with start yielding results within the first 6 months up to 1 year depending on the type of fish and plant you intend raising.
Aquaponics combines both aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (plant farming) and creates a cyclical, self-sustaining eco system. Let us see how aquaponics systems are made.
Materials needed
The following materials are needed: aquarium (preferably a rubber tub), knife, timer, air pump having airline tubing and air stone, window screen, fluorescent lighting fixture, aquarium sealant, water test kit, vegetable seeding and tilapia (fish).
Area
The area chosen for setting up an aquaponics system should be free from air pollution, should have adequate water supply and sunlight exposure. Some plants may also necessitate use of fluorescent lighting for growth.
Setting up an aquaponics system
1. Cut out a window shaped access in the tank for tube passage and to help check and feed fish later. Pebbles or sand gravels need to be added to help settle fish excretes needed for plant nourishment and to prevent their absorption by the pump tube.
2. Make a hole in the upper part of the litter pan to fit the tube. Make another hole barely above the bottom of the pan and tightly seal the tube holes with a glue to prevent it from being detached from the litter pan. The holes of the tubes may be glued with a small sized round screen strain out solid wastes to and from the litter pan. Insert the tube from the bottom of the litter pan into your fish tank bed to provide access to fish waste.
3. The litter pan will later on serve as the growing bed for plants and must be filled with pea gravel for planting and growing the plant seeds. So ensure that the litter pan has sufficient space for this purpose.
4. The aquarium sealant may be applied to the tank's bed to avoid leaks in future. Fill the tank with filtered water to start with and thus avoiding unnecessary nitrites and nitrates that can kill the fish. This also helps fish to adjust immediately to the new environment.
The aquaponics system you have set up with start yielding results within the first 6 months up to 1 year depending on the type of fish and plant you intend raising.