Aquaponics – Designing and Installation, Imagine a world where fish and vegetables work together to help each other thrive, all within a single integrated system. Therefore, welcome to the world of aquaponics, where you can produce safe-to-eat vegetables right in your backyard kitchen garden.
Aquaponics: Designing and Installation
Aquaponics offers one of the most significant advantages: its versatility allows tailoring to meet the specific needs of individual clients. Our team has successfully executed numerous projects in Kerala and South India, offering both turnkey aquaponics solutions and equipment supply for those interested in DIY aquaponics.
Aquaponics is essentially the combination of two systems:
- Aquaculture: This aspect fosters fish growth.
- Hydroponics: This element supports plant growth.
The heart of an aquaponics system is the fish tank, which operates in conjunction with a filter system comprising five major components, all working together to facilitate the growth of fish and vegetables.
1) Rearing Tank: This is where you feed and cultivate fish. You can construct rearing tanks using various materials such as silipolin lining, IBC tanks, HDPE potable tanks, or natural ponds. These tanks typically have a minimum depth ranging from 1.2 to 2 meters.
2) Settling Tank: Designed for collecting waste and uneaten food, and facilitating cleaning through a biofilter. Consequently, construct them using materials like Ferro cement, IBC tanks, and HDPE potable tanks, and ensure to include arrangements for waste removal.
3) Biofilter: This is where beneficial bacteria thrive, converting ammonia into nitrates, and nourishing the plants. Consequently, biofilters can be constructed using fibreglass, HDPE drums, IBC tanks, and other materials.
4) Hydroponics Tank: This is where plants grow, benefiting from the nutrient-rich water. Like rearing tanks, you can build hydroponics tanks using silipolin lining, IBC tanks, or HDPE potable tanks.
5) Sump: Functioning as a pit at the lowest point in the system, the sump allows water to flow through and return to the rearing tank. Consequently, it can be constructed using pond liners, IBC tanks, HDPE potable tanks, or other suitable materials.
The concept of aquaponics has ancient roots, with references dating back to 1000 A.D. among the Aztecs. Similarly, the Chinese practised a form of aquaponics by cultivating rice on wooden rafts filled with mud. Modern aquaponics, as we know it today, was researched and developed in the 1980s.
In the past, cultivating fish required extensive space and extended periods for harvest. However, modern fisheries have revolutionized the industry, achieving substantial fish growth within just six months. Fish in such systems can gain 350 to 500 grams in this timeframe.
Here’s a sample calculation for an aquaponics system:
A 1000-litre tank can comfortably accommodate up to 50 fish seeds, with a targeted stocking density of 25 kg at harvest time. This density minimizes the risk of diseases and stock loss. To ensure healthy growth of both fish and vegetables, it’s essential to maintain the water’s pH level between 6.5 to 7.2.
Comprising experts in aquaculture, aquaponics, and high-density fish farming, our team is ready to assist you. Thus, contact us for personalized design and installation of your aquaponics system, and embark on a sustainable and symbiotic gardening journey.