Summary: Changing Earth Podcast Episode 6 Questions<br> Is Aquaponics a Viable system?<br> Aquaponics is an extremely valid system.<br> <a href="http://theprepperpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/640px-CDC_South_Aquaponics_Raft_Tank_1_2010-07-17.jpg"></a><br> What is an aquaponics system?<br> Aquaponics is the marriage of hydroponics and Aquaculture.<br> Hydroponics is cultivating plant life in a bath of nutrient rich water solution, instead of soil, for large scale production in a smaller area.<br> Aquaculture is a design to grow fish or aquatic life like shellfish, crawfish, snails, or ……….. to help meet the popular fish demand with little impact on the overall aquatic population.<br> Introducing Aquaponics<br> <br> Aquaponics is a marriage of aquaculture and hydroponics.<br> Uses fish to provide the nutrient content for plant life.<br> It gets rid of agrochemicals from typical farming:<br> <br> Problems like the delta of the Mississippi where a wetland is turning into an uninhabitable area<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <a title="TPP 132: Aquaponics Interview on Changing Earth Podcast" href="//www.slideshare.net/KenJensen8/tpp-132-aquaponics-interview-on-changing-earth-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TPP 132: Aquaponics Interview on Changing Earth Podcast</a> from <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/KenJensen8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ken Jensen</a><br> What materials are required for building an aquaponics system?<br> Typical Aquaponic system components:<br> <br> Rearing tank:<br> <br> Tanks for raising and feeding fish.<br> Large barrel or a stock tank, glass fish tank<br> <br> <br> Settling basin<br> <br> Catches uneaten food and detached biofilms, settles out particles<br> <br> <br> Biofilter<br> <br> Where nitrification bacteria can grow and convert ammonia into nitrates<br> Bucket of pebbles or other high surface area media<br> Not absolutely necessary though with a good grow bed<br> <br> <br> Hydroponics subsystem<br> <br> Where plants grow<br> Grow bed<br> <br> Flood table<br> Frame it above the fish tank<br> Half barrels<br> Bath tubs even!<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Sump<br> <br> Lowest basin where water gravity flows. It is then pumped back up to the rearing tanks<br> <br> <br> Water Pump<br> <br> Mag Drive Pump<br> Submersible fountain pump<br> Pump from fish tank to grow bed<br> <br> <br> Air Pump<br> <br> Get an aquarium air pump to oxygenate the water<br> <br> <br> Bell Siphon<br> <br> 30 bucks on amazon, or you can make one from pvc components.<br> Raised pipe in a bigger pipe<br> Bigger pipe has holes drilled in it<br> Medium pipe in top with an air lock on top making it float<br> Drain from grow bed to fish tank<br> <br> <br> <br> Different applications to grow plant life (this could be considered as the Hydroponics Tank):<br> <br> Deep-Water Raft Aquaponics<br> <br> Plants float in Styrofoam rafts in a deep basin<br> <br> <br> Recirculating Aquaponics or Closed-Loop Aquaponics<br> Solid media: (Gravel or clay) in a container. Container is flooded with the aquaculture water.<br> <br> Best for beginners because:<br> Easier to learn<br> Less parts, so it is cheaper<br> Media bed mechanically filters (solids), performs mineralization (breaks down solids), and biofiltration (attachment of bacteria).<br> <br> <br> Reciprocating Aquaponics, Flood-and-Drain Aquaponics, Ebb-and-Flow Aquaponics<br> <br> Flood and Drain is simplest<br> Easy to build<br> Small<br> Best for a 1:1 ratio (grow bed to fish tank)<br> Easier maintenance<br> Same media but it is flooded and drained using siphon drains.<br> <br> <br> Vertical Tower Aquaponics<br> <br> Uses vertical towers that are trickle fed from the top<br> <br> <br> Nutrient Film Aquaponics<br> <br> Sloped bed of 1.1 to 1.4<br>
