We will be growing lettuce and raising tilapia in a closed loop system year round. As we grow we plan on growing additional crops such as basil and tomatoes. General overview of Aquaponics
Aquaponics is a farming practice that mimics the natural ecological processes of nature. In the last couple decades Aquaponics, a farming technique with ancient roots, has resurfaced and has gained a lot of s
upport as a result of the movement to develop a reliable, year-round, environmentally friendly and organic food source for local communities. Aquaponics is the combination of recirculating aquaculture and Hydroponics. Both Fish and plants are grown in one body of water in a closed loop system. It is a method of farming requiring about 1/10th of the water and a fraction of the land used in conventional farming. The fish waste in aquaponics provides a source of nutrients for the plants. Beneficial bacteria convert the toxic fish waste into a form of nutrients usable by the plant. By the plants consuming the nutrient they are cleaning the water for the fish. As a result, Aquaponics solves the problem of large scale waste disposal and frequent water discharge and refilling that the aquaculture industries experiences. It also, eliminates the use of the expensive, nonorganic, manmade nutrients used in hydroponics. Unlike conventional farming chemical fertilizers/pesticides are not necessary, and therefore they are not used. This allows aquaponic farmers to grow truly organic produce to bring to the market.