Learning about aquaponics and hydroponics

KIBLER PARK – “Aquaponics refers to any system that combines conventional aquaculture and fish farming which is a sustainable way of getting fish, be it from the ocean, lakes and land depending on the types of fish, such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns. In normal aquaculture, excretions from the animals being raised can accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity. In an aquaponic system, water from an aquaculture system is fed to a hydroponic system where the by-products are broken down by nitrification bacteria into nitrates, which are utilised by the plants as nutrients. The water is then recirculated back to the aquaculture system.

“Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil.Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite or gravel,” said Jacques.

“Aquaponics was used in a basic sense a long time ago. In China rice can grow on dry land and the Chinese discovered if you flood the beds when transplanting the rice it has a better chance of survival. No weeds want to grow and the rice plant can live in water logged land. Fish are then put into the water logged rice beds which eat the insects. What’s good for plants the fish can eat and what’s good for the fish the plants will eat,” he added.

It was a very interesting morning and the members learned a lot, finishing off with soup and rolls on a chilly winter morning.