In this day and age, more and more people are turning to organic products. Health-conscious individuals want a better diet, and families want the best nutrition for their kids. Restaurants are seeking the tastiest produce, and everyone wants to support sustainable food production to protect the environment. It’s only natural that the demand for organic health food is growing.
Whether you’re a savvy gardener or just a hobbyist, aquaponics is a great way to bring fresh food to the table. This fun and cost-efficient way of raising fish and growing organic plants together is becoming a widely popular trend. Thanks to this sustainable method, you can now grow food all year round, faster and easier. With the availability of aquaponic equipment supplies, you can set your indoor or backyard garden in no time.
A Dramatically More Efficient Garden
Aquaponics gardening is a combination of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants in a nutrient solution). This efficient gardening allows you to create a self-sustainable garden with limited space and resources. The plants are grown in the grow bed, while the fish are placed in the fish tank. The water in which the fish live, along with the fish-produced waste, eventually ends up nourishing garden plants. It’s then recycled to the fish tank.
The plants get the nutrients they need, and the fish get fresh, recycled water. You get organic veggies for salads and fish for the grill. With approximately 90 % less weather than conventional gardening, plants grow faster in the aquaponics system because of their access to nutrient-rich water 24 hours a day. For example, you can have lettuce in just four weeks. With traditional gardening, your lettuce will grow in 10 weeks.
Choose the Right Kit and System for You
Starting a home aquaponic garden in your own backyard or balcony has never been easier. From the wide range of kits and systems available, you can easily choose one that suits your needs. Depending on the space available, you can either choose a floor or a wall installation. The aesthetic factor and the number of fish and plants you can grow also play a big role when choosing adequate aquaponic equipment supplies. From small kits to large aquaponic systems, there’s something for everyone.
If you are limited on space or just curious to learn aquaponics, you can opt for a small system. This aquaponic equipment includes a grow bed of 30 L, a round fish tank of 90 L, an aluminium frame, a water pump, clay pebbles and more specialising fittings. A setup guide is usually included in the kit, and all you need to do is add water, fish, plants and connect to two 240V power outlets. Depending on your needs and the space available, you can opt for a medium or large system.
For vegans and vegetarians who don’t eat fish, automatic wall gardens might be a great choice. You can easily find an automatic system with 5five wall planters to create a vertical garden wall. With a 50L water reservoir and a pump to lift the water to a 1.5m height, your plants might grow three times faster compared to traditional gardening. These systems usually include other aquaponics products such as growing media to plant your plants directly into, fittings required to water the plants and nutrient sachets to add to the water reservoir.
Growing Media Is Important for Plants to Thrive
The media-based aquaponics system consists of a grow bed filled with grow media into which the vegetables are planted. The growing media is dominated by clay pebbles, as they are perfect for the roof structure. They also maximise the surface area available for beneficial bacteria. Clay pebbles or clay balls are the most popular growing media because of their longevity and sinking ability.
Perlite is another popular choice. This heat expanded man-made product is commonly used as a hydroponic growing medium. It can retain enough moisture, which makes it suitable as a hand watered medium, but also has sufficient drainage to be used in a recycling drip irrigation system. It is extremely lightweight and suitable for use in a variety of growing containers.
Maintain a Proper pH Level in the Water
The pH level of the aquaponics system plays a significant role in determining whether your system will work. This is why maintaining proper pH levels in the water is critical. A good rule of thumb is to check up the pH level weekly. Most plants prefer a slightly acidic pH , but fish prefer a slightly alkaline pH, as do the beneficial bacteria. To keep all three happy, a pH of 6.8 – 7.2 might be ideal. If you have a lower pH, you can make adjustments using pH-up products, which usually contain potassium hydroxide and potassium carbonate. Add little at a time until your water pH is raised to the proper level.
Plants that Do Well in Aquaponic
The next decision you need to make is what type of plant content you want to grow. Some plants have low nutrient needs and grow well in a newly built aquaponic system, making them the best “starter” plants for newbies. The easiest and one of the most productive is lettuce. Leafy lettuce thrives in water with minimal nutrients. Watercress is also a good choice because it grows fast and is easy to maintain. You can also grow cucumber and kale. Tomatoes, cabbage and peppers also thrive best in aquaponics, while strawberries are the easiest to cultivate among fruits.
The Best Fish for Your Aquaponic Garden
There are several species of fish that thrive in an aquaponics environment. The more common selections include tilapia, trout, carp and goldfish. Some fish are ornamental, and others may be used as a great food source . Tilapia are currently the most popular and easily raised food fishes. Trouts might be more challenging to raise, but they make excellent food fish. Carp is a good choice for beginners because it’s hardy and adaptable. If you want a freshwater fish, you can opt for goldfish. They can adapt to a wide range of temperatures. Goldfish also produces lots of waste, aka plant food.