Aquaponics

Figure 2. Pump

Figure 3. Fish Tanks

Figure 1. Fish Feeding

Figure 4. Grow Tables

What is aquaponics?


  • Defined as a combination of growing fish (aquaculture) and plants (hydroponics) without soil.

  • The systems designed for this purpose are inexpensive and can be very variable using primarily PVC pipes, a reservoir, and a pump.



Figure 5. Simplified Diagram of an Aquaponics System

How does it work ?


The conceptual basis of aquaponics is that the waste produced by the fish provides the minerals to be used by plants, and the plants purify the water for the fish, producing one continuous cycle which mimics nature.

This system is based mainly around the nitrogen cycle. When the fish produce waste in the form of ammonia, bacteria break it down into nitrates. Phosphates and other organic matter will also be in the water as by products of the fish digestion. A pump then carries this water, which is high in nitrates, to the grow bed where plants are growing. The plants draw their mineral requirements from the water, which both feeds the plants and cleans the water, making it safe to return to the fish tank. From this process there will be a harvest of both the plant crops, as well as the fish.

This cycle repeats over and over, with the fish providing nutrition for the bacteria, the bacteria breaking down the fish waste and feeding the plants, and the plants cleaning the water to return back to the fish. Simple!


Assess

Plan

Develop

Profit

Conclusion


If you are interested in growing your own food, and you have limited space, this may be the right system for you!

REMco., will aid in the plan and design of the system, and will monitor pH, BOD, DO and other water quality parameters to ensure that both plants and fish are growing optimally.


In this business model, the infrastructure will be purchased by the property owner and left on site. REMco will maintain and monitor the system and ensure optimal growth. REMco will also aid in the marketing and distribution of produce. Therefore, all that is left for the property owner is to collect on their investment.