A bright blue PVC pipe pours a stream of water into a grey container filled with smooth, brown river stones. Young, bright green leafy plants with slender stems grow out from the pebble-covered base, stretching upward. In the softly blurred background, additional matching grey containers with growing plants are lined up in a row outdoors.
Marine ScienceMinute
With Florida Sea Grant
Marine Science Minute

Episode 40 – Aquaponics


Marine Science Minute with Florida Sea Grant
Marine Science Minute with Florida Sea Grant
Episode 40 - Aquaponics
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Today on Marine Science Minute with Florida Sea Grant: Aquaponics    

A large, dense bed of slender green grass or chive plants grows inside a greenhouse facility. In the upper-left section, several clusters of round, white globes of pom-pom-like flowers bloom on tall stems above the foliage. In the blurred background, greenhouse structures like wall panels, metal racks, and tables are faintly visible.

Aquaponics is a food production method where plants are raised with fish   It’s the combination of hydroponics, or growing plants in water, and aquaculture, or fish farming.   

In an aquaponics system, the plants use the ammonia waste produced by the fish after it has been converted to nitrate by the specialized bacteria living in the system.  While some think of this as a new technology, this production technique has been practiced for over 2000 years by Chinese, Aztec and Egyptian cultures.   

Several large, round blue plastic fish tanks filled with dark water are arranged in a row inside an indoor aquaculture or greenhouse facility. The tank in the foreground features a rectangular viewing window on its side and has water splashing into it from overhead white PVC pipes. White rectangular breeding tables or troughs line the background under the bright, translucent structure roof.

Aquaponics can be performed on a hobby scale by homeowners or on a commercial scale for local production. Florida Sea Grant staff have the experience and resources to assist with a broad variety of aquaculture and aquaponic techniques. 

For information about this and other coastal topics, contact your county extension office or visit Florida Sea Grant at flseagrant.org. 

 

 

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