Aquaponics

Ryan Sultana

What is Aquaponics?

…‘Aquaponics is the art of growing food with fish poop’, Anonymous

An integration of two systems:Hydroponics and Aquaculture

The process of growing food in an inert medium by controlling and adding nutrients but without soil

The cultivation of aquatic animals or plants for food.

“Essentially, all life depends upon the soil ... There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together.” Charles E. Kellogg

History

ChinampasBuilt by Incas and Aztecs Between 14th -16th century A.D

History

Paddy FieldsIn China and ThailandSince the 6th Century

History

Barrays Built by CambodiansIn Angkor, India

Hydroponics – Growing in water…

The Raft Systemalso known as

Deep Water Culture

Hydroponics – Growing in water…

The Raft Systemalso known as

Deep Water Culture

Other Systems

• NFT – Nutrient Film Technique

• Wick System• Ebb and Flow• Drip System

• AeroponicsNutrient Film Technique

Other Systems

Aeroponics

AquaponicsHydroponics

Bacteria

Aquacultu

re

SUNA Sustainable System

1

2

3

Why Aquaponics ?

Advantages• Reduced labour • Higher production rate • Provides income from two separate

products• Aquacultural waste products are used • A lot of current research and

improvements going on

Why Aquaponics ?

Advantages• Less pests and diseases (if controlled) • Reduced carbon footprint • Reduced water loss• Makes use of dead space

Rooftops 3-D vertical dimension

Vertical Drip System Towers

Disadvantages• High initial cost

To fill up water tanks To build the system (Greenhouse, pumps etc.)

• Requires skill and know-how • Constant monitoring of water parameters• Pests and diseases can be devastating• Limitations concerned with fish species reared • Competitive market prices

Why Aquaponics?

Organic Aquaponics • Natural fertilizer • Natural minerals (snail shells) • Good marketing – labelling

Other Possibilities

Use of Technology• Smart phone applications • Pipe blockage warning• System automation

- Check out ‘urban aquaponics in Oakland’ on youtube or Kijani Grows on a search engine for more ideas -

Growing Indoors• Can be used

underground and indoors• Artificial lighting• May be a life-saviour in

post-apocalyptic scenarios

• The Great Tennessee Pot Cave drug bust

Other Possibilities

Growing Upwards• Futuristic Concepts • Growing locally• Dedicated Skyscraper

Farms• Makes use of limited

space availability• Space missions

Other Possibilities

Other Possibilities

Taken from the movie ‘Sunshine’

Thank You

Ryan Sultana

“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.” ― Masanobu Fukuoka, The One-Straw Revolution