An Aquaponics Education.

[Eric Warwick]

I recently started a biology/chemistry class with a focus on aquaponics, or an ecosystem with with both biotic and abiotic factors. The class is next to the school greenhouse, and when I got a good look at it, it had a fully functional aquaponics system with an aquarium and a media bed with a giant tomato bush! Now, I've spent over two years researching and studying aquaponics as many of you have. So, when the question of "how-an-aquaponics-system-works" was asked I raised my hand, a bit enthusiastically, and I was called on: "an aquaponic system works by the fish excreting ammonia and nitrifying-bacteria first to it into nitrate,(then a mash-up of nitrite and nitrate) sorry nitrite (I guess I was exited about the plants) then nitrate. Which the plants take up and the water goes back to the fish." Then I mentioned I spent time on the forums, that's you wonderful people and BYAP. Later we walk through the greenhouse. But before that the teacher says: "there's a lot of what you might think is garbage in there; it's actually 'recycled material'." As I walk through the entry way to the greenhouse there are the two aquaponic systems. I, basically, said this, "oh my god an aquaponics system"; the tilapia were quite friendly.   The greenhouse itself was full of "recycled-material". (so I then went nuts over that) The questions became what knowledge is needed to build an aquaponics system. One student says "how does an aquaponics system work", I say, roughly, "what size fish-tank for what fish we're using". (by the way, it's tilapia) Well, that was actually already answered: 50g white barrels and tilapia. So, now we have a research paper to-do before we build it. Here are some of the questions for our papers:

What PH level is best for a system;

How is ammonia produced (and what to do when it gets to high) ;

How do you correct a PH imbalance;

Benefits of aquaponics over regular soil based farming;

Where did aquaponics start (good luck, even we can't agree on that) ;

Best way to feed tilapia;

Kinds of edible plants that grow well in a system;

How to solve aphids; and other questions. Based on these question, I think aquaponics can be a powerful teaching tool. And I hope to learn, and also cheat by asking ya'll how keep the system intact. I'll try and update this soon.

[Mörður Gunnarsson Ottesen]

(I'm a plant guy)

The PH level depends on the plants being used but usually between 6.8-7 is usually the best compromise.

The benefits of aquaponics over soil based farming are many, for me the main benefit is the control. When the system is cycled the PH is usually pretty stable if the right plants are used and you get a steady growth. The cost of nutrients (pertilizer) is not an cost in aquaponics as the sales of fish more than pay for their own food. Aquaponics use less space than soil farming and therefore are a good choice where land is costly. Aquaponics sysem are easier to convert to organic certification than soil based farming. 

There are many more things to say about aquaponics vs soil but sleep needs me more than aquaponics does.
P.s. what school are you in? In working on getting a system set up in my school (agricultural specialities) but need to show how it can be implemented in teaching.

[Eric Warwick]

Update: We had a gravel washing party after a test and we're planting seeds in cleaned gravel.

[Eric Warwick]

Correct in reference to what? (I'll send you my paper via the email I have)

[Kobus Jooste]

that is correct Eric

[Sahib Punjabi]

Great post Sir.

 

It's amazing, we never stop learning :-)

 

God bless