Aquaponics Design: The Parts of the System – Sewing Machines Los Angeles

There are two main parts to any aquaponic system design. The first is the aquaculture part or, in layman’s terms, the tank for the fish. The second part is the hydroponic part which will contain the plants. It is the combination of these parts that gives aquaponics its name.

Beyond the two main parts, there are various other smaller parts that are still vital to a successful system. An aquaponic system will typically have the following components:

1. Rearing tank: This is where the fish go.

2. A unit between the fish and plants that will not only filter out solid waste, but also allow the nitrification bacteria to grow. (This bacteria is vital to the system as it converts the ammonia by-product from fish to nitrates, which the plants need and use.) Depending upon the system, this can be one unit or two separate units.

3. An aquaponic grow bed: This is where the plants go.

4. A collection container for the water that has been filtered by the plants. This is found in the lowest area of the system. The water from this container will then be circulated back to the rearing tanks.

And beyond these basic components, there are the necessary elements of water, fish, the feed given to the fish, and enough electricity to pump the water between the parts. If you are looking to design a sustainable food production system, you can easily install a small solar energy collector to run the pumps. If this is your goal, you should take care to plan your system so that the water flows downward as much as is possible. This will reduce the energy needed.

An aquaponic system is extremely effective in its use of water. These systems do not need an exchange of water. They instead reuse and recirculate the water over and over again, with both the fish and the plants taking what they need in the process. A very small amount of water is ever lost and that is by absorption by the plants or simple surface water evaporation. That makes this type of system ideal for areas that have a need to conserve water.

The benefits of an aquaponic garden are immense. As the plants have continual access to the water and nutrients that they need to grow, they mature much faster than their soil-based counterparts. It is quite possible to gain an additional harvest or possibly even two within a single growing season. An added bonus is that you can add fish to your diet as well.

Aquaponics design isn’t difficult. Literally anyone can build their own system for an aquaponic garden. Do you have yours yet?