Aquaponics System, Essay Example

Aquaponics is advantageous to use to grown large quantise of food in small areas whilst producing high quality product. Aquaponics is derived from the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics and is a “closed-loop system for growing fish and vegetables at the same time.” [1](Arooka, 2009).  Researchers and growers state this invention has marvelized the agricultural technology around the world. “Rebecca Nelson and John Pade, the directors of Nelson and Pade, Inc., have an intense interest in aquaponic, organic and hydroponic culture.” [2](“About Nelson and Pade, Inc.”). They state that through consulting, teaching and application, hyroponics and aquaponic systems have gained popularity throughout the world.

Many new internet companies are offering equipment, advice and growing start-up kits to help with personal and commercial growth of plants. “Rather than patenting a system, Nelson and Pade, Inc. promotes sharing information because they want aquaponic growers to be successful so the industry can grow in a positive and rewarding manner.” [3](About Nelson and Pade, Inc.) The Pade’s have used aquaponics for years to promote agricultural growth through a maintained system and this is not just a passing fancy for them.

“In aquaponics, nutrient-rich effluent from fish tanks is used to fertigate hydroponic production beds. This is good for the fish because plant roots and rhizobacteria remove nutrients from the water.” [4](Diver, 2006). The beds strip off the ammonia, phosphates, nitrates and nitrites so the freshwater can then be freshly circulated back into the fish tanks. Without the nitrifying bacterial living in the gravel these microorganisms would not survive. Hence they play a key role in the survival of the aquaponic system.

Further I will compare the aquaponics system to the conventional way of growing vegetables and fish farming. Fish based manured irrigation water systems are a prudent source of organic fertilizer for plants to grow remarkably better than the traditional way because of the nutrients contained in the fish manure. The process of a re-use system is much better than a traditional system because it enhances the local economy by lowering the production costs through the reuse of production items. Water limited regions can use aquaponics as their main source to produce fresh vegetables and fish protein in such areas where traditional areas could not produce such items because of the lack of water supply. The production is able to be produced because of the water re-use system. “The entire purpose of an aquaponics system is to sustain food and plant production through integrated recycling of nutrients and water filtration.” [5](Diver, 2006). Research studies appear to show that both low and medium density agricultural products such as lettuce, spinach and tomatoes thrive better in the aquaponics system. Trout, perch and tilapia fish species tend to survive better in the aquaponics fish system. “Tilapia tends to behave better in a recirculation aquaponics system. Critical water components include dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia, nitrate, chlorine and pH.” [6](Diver, 2006).

Some traditional still prefer the use of ordinary growth of vegetables and fish production because the aquaponics system is more expensive to maintain and must be maintained under closer closed system components in order to be successful. A person must maintain the levels of feedstock to those of a normal condition ratio which if not familiar with such the entire aquaponics system will go defiant. If the aquaponics system is maintained efficiently and effectively the operating costs can be greatly reduced to that of a traditional growing system, intensive fish production can be accumulated, and conservation of water supplies and plant nutrients can be accomplished.  Further a need for the use of pesticides can be greatly reduced because of the reduction of insects hovering over the agricultural yields in a closed system. When fish and vegetables are linked together in one aquaponics system, aqueous nitrate concentrations can be easily regulated through the use of reciprocating bio filters.  When fish are introduced to the system prior to the vegetation they can aid in the removal of suspended solids from the system. The removal of suspended solids from the system is essential for the effective production of fish in the system. When prices of fish are at a low level in some areas during the winter months, aquaponics is essential to the traditional methods of fostering the production of fish in an open system.

Though the cost of setting up even a small aquaponics system is very expensive the total output of fish and vegetables normally offsets the start-up costs. On the Caribbean Islands and others such as the Lesser Antilles, fishermen are quite ready for information on aquaponics to improve the marketability of the fish production. A green water tank can serve as a pond to start-up fish expansion measures.

What further makes aquaponics the key to successful growth of fish and vegetables in the future is that the closed system allows for a better sustainable environment which means better crop and fish yield over a longer period of time. At present in the Caribbean they are growing one of the largest aquaponics systems for use of pharmaceutical herbs in Israel. This is a remarkable technology that has come to light over the years and been expansive thus far. I firmly believe that in future generations aquaponics may be of some kind of research to be utilized with jet fuel and diesel consumption for aviators and commercial airlines. If you think back to when you were a school aged child and you built your first aquarium, did you not introduce the fish with the plants and the pump with an air filter and gravel. Well, they probably were not real plant, hence only for show and were not used to keep the sustainability of the water and the fish going, rather for show. Thinking back, the aquaonics concept was contrived from long ago when even a pet fish in a simple aquarium and some remarkable mind came up with the idea of combining the fish and the vegetation to yield products. Perhaps one day aquaponics will be a secondary or alternative to farming such as in the winter months when crops cannot be harvested. This concept is currently being tested on a small scale basis. At present, left over camellia oil is refined and being tested to use for aviation purposes so why not have aquapoinces be used as an alternative to farming?

Aquaponics may be a revolutionized and advantageous technology for Americans to invest in at our current economic condition considering you can eat everything that is put into the aquaponics system, hence there is no wastage. The basic concept is that the fish feed on the plants and the plants clean the water. The food is one hundred percent organic and healthy and the process can be passed down from one generation to the next.

References

[1] Arooka (2009) James Bong’s Ultimate Spy Guide to Marijuana Retrieved September 17, 2009 from, http://books.google.com/books?id=w8N4DwMb19oC&pg=PA97&dq=aquaponics&lr=&ei=dzq0SpboLZ2sNZ6B8dsP#v=onepage&q=aquaponics&f=false

[1] About Nelson and Pade, Inc. (2009) About Nelson and Pade, Inc. Retrieved September 16, 2009 from, http://www.aquaponics.com/AboutNelsonPade.htm

[1] About Nelson and Pade, Inc. (2009) About Nelson and Pade, Inc. Retrieved September 16, 2009 from, http://www.aquaponics.com/AboutNelsonPade.htm

[1] Diver S. (2006) Aquaponics-Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture Retrieved September 16, 2009 from, http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/aquaponic.pdf

[1] Diver S. (2006) Aquaponics-Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture Retrieved September 16, 2009 from, http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/aquaponic.pdf

[1] Diver S. (2006) Aquaponics-Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture Retrieved September 16, 2009 from, http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/aquaponic.pdf

[1] Arooka (2009) James Bong’s Ultimate Spy Guide to Marijuana Retrieved September 17, 2009 from, http://books.google.com/books?id=w8N4DwMb19oC&pg=PA97&dq=aquaponics&lr=&ei=dzq0SpboLZ2sNZ6B8dsP#v=onepage&q=aquaponics&f=false

[2] About Nelson and Pade, Inc. (2009) About Nelson and Pade, Inc. Retrieved September 16, 2009 from, http://www.aquaponics.com/AboutNelsonPade.htm

[3] About Nelson and Pade, Inc. (2009) About Nelson and Pade, Inc. Retrieved September 16, 2009 from, http://www.aquaponics.com/AboutNelsonPade.htm

[4] Diver S. (2006) Aquaponics-Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture Retrieved September 16, 2009 from, http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/aquaponic.pdf

[5] Diver S. (2006) Aquaponics-Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture Retrieved September 16, 2009 from, http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/aquaponic.pdf

[6] Diver S. (2006) Aquaponics-Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture Retrieved September 16, 2009 from, http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/aquaponic.pdf