Aquaponics is one of the best ways to produce fresh vegetables and fruits and, at the same time, sustain a freshwater fish system. Aquaponics overcomes many common disadvantages of traditional (otherwise known as "dirt") vegetable gardens while utilizing and improving upon the use of a closed freshwater fish systems. With this growing method, you'll be accomplishing two things: raising fish that will thrive in the closed freshwater system and produce the nutrients used by the plants to grow and flourish. The plants benefit from the waste products produced by the fish. As the plants absorb the nutrients within the system, they filter and clean the water, too.
This approach can be sustained for a long period of time and many aquaponic gardeners around the country have already experienced great success with creating sustainable aquaponic systems that regularly produce organic vegetables as well as great-tasting fish. In this system, you don't have to worry about fish growing in polluted waters.
Understanding Aquaponics
Aquaponics is usually defined as a hybrid of two existing methods: aquaculture and hydroponics. Aquaculture is the process of raising fish in closed systems. Hydroponics is a system used to produce fresh fruits and vegetables using water alone -- with no soil to speak of. When you combine these two older systems, you get aquaponics.
Now why would anyone be interested in aquaponics anyway? Here are some of the main advantages:
1. Aquaponics systems can be built in smaller places.
2. You will end up with both fish and vegetables or fruits to consume or sell.
3. It's not too difficult to set up your own aquaponic system.
4. The cost to create and maintain an aquaponic system is not too high.
5. Aquaponic systems are expandable. As you become more familiar and experienced with the process, you can add sections to your existing system to increase your yield/harvest.
6. You can find other aquaponics practitioners throughout the country. You'll be able to reach out to people with the same interests and learn from them when you are just starting out.
Flexible Production
Aquaponic systems can be scaled up or scaled down, depending on your production needs. A small aquaponic system can produce up to 100 pounds of fresh fish such as tilapia twice per year. And let's not forget the 200-pound vegetable yield!
If you want to sell organic vegetables, fruits, and fish, you can expand your operation to produce a greater harvest. You will need more space and a higher-capacity water pumping system, but these are just one-time requirements of the system.
Once you have the expanded system in place, that's it - you won't have any more problems. All you have to do at that point in time is to maintain the system so all your plants and fish grow well. An abundant harvest from an aquaponics system means that the system is clean and enough attention has been given to it on a day-to-day basis.
Remember -- no one is too old or too inexperienced to start their own aquaponics system. If the desire to be self-sufficient is there and you have the passion to get things done, aquaponics is definitely right for you!
Tony Peterson is an aquaponics enthusiast. For more great information on aquaponics, visit http://www.aquaponicsforfun.com.
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