aquaponics - uwsp educational... · commercial aquaponics outdoors –tropical climates ......
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Combining Hydroponics and Fish Farming
Ron Johnson - Aquaculture Outreach Specialist
Aquaponics� Combining techniques of hydroponics (soilless plant
culture) and fish farming�Waste water from fish culture supplies the nutrients
for plants� Plants assist in nitrification process and act as biofilter� No herbicides because there is no soil�Water is recycled� Large volume of food crop can be grown in small space� Plants are the major product- fish a bi-product
History of Aquaponics� References to Ancient Egypt & Babylon
History of Aquaponics� Dates back to Aztec in 1,000 AD – Chinampas
History of Aquaponics� Poly-culture in Asia
Modern Aquaponics� Community/Social Aquaponics� Growing Power
� Urban Aquaponics� Sweet Water
� Village Aquaponics� Third World
� Back Yard Aquaponics� Educational Aquaponics – High Schools� Commercial Aquaponics� Wisconsin – Nelson/Pade, Future Farm, KP – Simply
Fresh
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Community/Social Aquaponics� Growing Power – Milwaukee – Will Allen� Sustainable Community Food Systems� Social Development� Grant Supported
http://www.growingpower.org/
Urban Aquaponics� Revitalize Urban Business� Renovation of Existing Businesses � Sweet Water Organics & Foundation – Milwaukee
http://sweetwater-organic.com/blog/
Village Aquaponics� Third World Countries – Plants & Protein
Back Yard Aquaponics� Home Grown Food
Educational Aquaponics� High Schools with aquaculture/aquaponics classes� Math/Science� Chemistry� Food for school
Commercial Aquaponics� Business Plan� Location� Species – both plants and fish� Systems
� Marketing Plan� Where/what is your market� Global Competition� Niche Market – Fresh/Local
� Economically Viable –”If it doesn’t work on paper it probably won’t work in real life”
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Commercial Aquaponics� Outdoors – Tropical Climates
� Greenhouse/ Environmental Control
Wisconsin Commercial FarmsPade & Nelson-KP Simply Fresh-Future Farm
Aquaponics Fish Systems� Based on RAS Technology� Design dependent on fish species� Temperature – compromise between plant/fish� Aquaponics vegetables +/- 70˚� Tilapia – grow best at 78-80˚� Compromise 72˚
� pH compromise between plant/fish� Most fish 7.5-8.0� Plants 6.0-6.5� Compromise 7.0-8.0
Aquaponics Fish Systems
Aquaponics Plant Systems� Raft – High plant densities, larger volume of water for
buffer� Nutrient Film Technique (NTF) High ratio plants/fish� Media Filled Bed – Least expense , good for home use,
solid waste used within the system
Fish Species�Water conditions, growth rates, densities, markets� Tilapia� Koi/Goldfish� Catfish� Bass� Blue Gill� Yellow Perch
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Plant Species� Match market to species, growing conditions,
economics, time to harvest (over 60 species grown)� Leaf lettuce� Herbs� Watercress� Cabbage� Fruiting Vegetables� Cucumbers
Market Range $5.33 - $213.81/sq ft
Aquaponics� Most asked questions for Aquaculture Extension
Specialists� Food for the future?� Fresh and Local� Simple to complex models� Fad or Sustainable?� Farming for the future?� Is there a Tribal Model?
Questions