The
ingenuity of the human mind is amazing, and one example of this is
aquaponics. Who would imagine that one could grow healthy food
without traditional media like soil? You can. And you can do it
yourself, easily at home. Aquaponics takes the best of two worlds,
hydroponics (growing plants in water) and aquaculture (raising fish,
snails, crayfish etc. in water and fuses them together.) Even
more astonishing is the variety of aquaponic methods available for
the DIY aquaponics enthusiast. Here is an overview:Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
The
nutrient film technique works by creating an environment where
the roots of plants have constant access to a moving stream of
nutrient rich water. Imagine plants growing in a shallow “film”
of nutrient filled solution and you will get the idea. The great
thing about this is that plants have access to a ton of oxygen, more
so than they would in traditional soil. The basic structure is that
the plants are placed at an angle so that the nutrient solution can
loop around and around providing the root systems constant food and
oxygen. Overall this is a very viable option for nearly any
plant/vegetable you want to grow. However, it is best suited for
light plants that grow and will be harvested quickly. Plants like
tomatoes and zucchini can be grown, but you have to be sure you have
the right support systems for the stems so they plants do not lop
over. This method is generally not used for aquaponics but is
commonly used in commercial hydroponic applications.
Deep Water Culture (DWC)
The
deep water culture method of aquaponics is one that is seemingly
counterintuitive. Plants are constantly placed in non-moving water
(aka “arrested” water). It seems that this is a disaster waiting
to happen. Talk about overwatering and giving roots a chance to rot
out! But actually, the fact is that if the environment is the right
temperature, has enough oxygen and the right minerals, plants thrive! Who knew?
Usually,
plants are “planted” in a Styrofoam platform that sits on top of
the water. The tank is deep with lots of room for the plant roots to
grow downward. An air pump keeps bubbly oxygen constant and, voila,
it is plant nirvana! Any do it yourself aquaponics grower can do this.
Media Filled Grow Beds
This
kind of aquaponics looks more “normal”, in the sense that plants
are grown in some kind of “stuff”, not just water. This is
usually gravel, or expansive clay pellets, but there are many options
besides these most popular ones. If you use gravel, the trick to this
type of aquaponics is that the media has to not have too much space
between the gravel, nor too little so the oxygen balance remains
healthy. You also have to be aware of the weight of the media
so that you have a strong enough stand or bench to place it on.
Once this is set up, then water from a fish tank is pumped in to the
media. This type of aquaponics is one of the best ways and is
preferred by most growers, commercial and individual. Media filled
grow beds tend to be preferred because it allows for diversity of the
plants you can grow, and is low maintenance.
Aquaponics
is an amazing technology that anyone can begin to do at home. It is
relatively inexpensive and yields healthy food you can use for your
family. Further, it utilizes the basic symbiotic relationships in
nature so there is less waste and no chemical pesticides. Aquaponics
is a great hobby and an effective way to have alternatives to
store-bought food. Get started today! You will be glad you did.
