Aquaponics is a really fun and effective method of simultaneously cultivating fruits and vegetables and raising fish. The word “aquaponics” comes from combining the words “aquaculture” which means raising aquatic animals, and the word “hydroponics” which means growing plants without soil. Aquaponics is becoming popular with a wide range of people from small businesses to government programs. There are many benefits of using aquaponics to grow plants, including substantially greater yields, water and land preservation, and cost-saving. The waste produced by the fish provides nutrients for the plants and the whole system works as one connected biosystem.
If you are interested in aquaponics or already have a system established, here are 7 simple steps to aquaponics system maintenance.
1. Keep The Clay Pebbles Clean To Prevent Water Hardness
The water source in your aquaponics system is very important and if you have a lot of hardness in the water, it will lead to various salts building up in the system. You will see some of that salt forming on your clay pebbles as a white crust builds upon them. Eventually, these salts can become toxic to the plants so it’s important to periodically remove some of the water and clean the clay pebbles to provide a better environment for plants to grow.
2. Maintain Ideal Water Levels And Quality
Water quality and water chemistry are key elements in an aquaponics system as you need the water to be clean enough for the fish but dirty enough for the plants. Likewise, water levels need to be high enough for the fish, but not so high that you wind up flooding the system whenever the plant part of the system ebbs and flows. You can grow a huge number of different plant species if you get the water levels and quality right. Ruth Quinones from Farming Aquaponics (https://farmingaquaponics.com/) says that basil and oregano are two easy herbs to grow in an aquaponic garden. As well as herbs, you can grow all kinds of different fruits and vegetables but only if the water levels and quality are right. Make sure you add water as necessary to make sure the plants have the perfect conditions at all times.
3. Check Environmental Conditions
Aquaponic systems create a very humid environment so large open rooms with good air ventilation around your system are ideal. Once you have your system functioning, you should make sure that the humid environment is not producing mold. The temperature of the system is very dependent on the environment, so if you have light coming in through the windows you may have issues like temperature fluctuations as well as algae that can grow in the fish tank and the plumbing.
4. Create The Right Balance Between Fish Waste And Required Plant Nutrients
The goal of aquaponics is to strike a balance between the fish waste being produced and the plant uptake of those nutrients. If you have more plants than you have fish waste, your plants are going to become stunted and exhibit nutrient deficiencies. However, if you have too many fish, the water can become very murky and you may build up to toxic levels of certain nutrient components in the water that the plants aren’t absorbing. For this reason, occasional water exchange is necessary to reduce the levels of these nutrients to a level that is sufficient for the plants and is safe for the fish. For example, you might build up some of the fish food down in the gravel on the bottom of the tank. The gravel is really important for establishing bacteria to be able to do the nitrogen processing, but it also provides areas for the fish food to settle at the bottom. If bacteria break the fish food down, you can produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which can be toxic to your fish.
5. Regularly Clean To Eliminate Algae From Your System
You want to make sure you’re providing a well-aerated environment so that you can have good beneficial bacteria and provide clean water for the fish and plants. If you notice that your tank is filthy, you may have some algae growing on the sides of the tank. Tanks should be cleaned around once a week to eliminate the algae as not only does it reduce the water quality, but it will also steal the nutrients that the plants need. Furthermore, algae can grow inside your pipes and block them, which will reduce the precious water flow to your plants.
6. Maintain The Correct Ph, Light And Temperature Levels
To maintain the right balance of nutrients in your system, you must make sure that your pH is in the correct range. Typically, pH levels between 6.5 and 7.0 will create the best conditions for the plants and the fish. If you find that your plants are not growing the way they should be, it may be an issue with your light levels. Some plants need a lot of light whereas others don’t need much at all. If you have a plant with a summertime growth period, it may need 16 hours of daylight. Other plants will tolerate 24-hour daylight, but some plants really would need to be 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. Likewise, ideal temperature levels depend on what kind of plants you are growing so you must be knowledgeable about the ideal conditions for the plants in your aquaponics system.
7. Maintain The Right Mix Of Nutrients
Another issue that will affect your plants’ growth is nutrient deficiencies. If you see yellow leaves or mottled discolorations you may have nutrient issues like a lack of iron. For leafy greens, nitrogen is the most important nutrient, but other plants require other nutrients as a priority. Phosphorus, for example, is really important for root growth while potassium is really important for the fruiting of plants. If you’re trying to grow flowers in your system, whether that’s for ornamental reasons or to produce fruit, you may need to supplement your system with potassium as it is not present in fish food. Another reason that your leaves commonly turn yellow is a lack of iron in the water.
Maintaining a healthy aquaponics system requires careful attention and extensive knowledge of the plants, fish, and bacteria. To create the ideal ecosystem for the plants to flourish, there are a great number of factors to get right, but if you maintain your system correctly, you will see fantastic yield. Implements these steps into your aquaponics system management and you will get great results.
