Aquaponics is a system that combines raising aquatic animals with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. It can be done on a large scale or on a smaller scale inside the home. Growing plants over your existing fish tank is an easy adaptation which will provide you with vegetables in a short amount of time.
The pros and cons of aquaponics include the ones for hydroponics. Both hydroponics and aquaponics have clear benefits over soil-based gardening, however many believe aquaponics is a better option over hydroponics when choosing a water-based growing system.
- Aquaponics saves more water because there is no need to change the water.
- There is no need to add liquid nutrients; all you need is to feed the fish.
- There is even lower susceptibility to pests and diseases.
- There is no need to use artificial fertilizer to feed the plants.
Similar to hydroponics, the same vegetables that can and cannot be successfully grown apply in aquaponics.
It may sound complicated but it’s not hard to replicate at home. So, how do we scale down and use aquaponics in the home?
Koi or goldfish are popular ornamental fish used in aquaponics. They are also easy to care for. We were given a bottom feeder (plecostomus) that we named Bob. He is low maintenance and eats the algae in the tank. After some research, we realized he loves zucchini and squash. He also eats little bits of dried salmon. He also requires a warm temperature so a heater and thermometer was added. This ended up being beneficial for the plants as well since they grow faster in warmer water.
We bought the ECOLIFE Conservation ECO-Cycle Aquaponics Indoor Garden System with LED Light to add to the top of our tank. The growing plants replace the filter for the fish tank. The plants use the fish waste as their food. This system uses clay rocks to support the plants. Since it doesn’t have an automated light system, we purchased an electrical timer to make sure the plants get at least 4-8 hours of light with the least amount of effort. We have planted everything from herbs and lettuce to succulents.