Andy Jacobson - Aquaponics: The Essential Aquaponics Guide: A Step-By-Step Aquaponics Gardening Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruit, Herbs, and Raising Fish

The home gardener is part scientist, part artist, part philosopher, part ploughman. He modifies the climate around his home.

- John R. Whiting

What is Aquaponic Gardening?

Aquaponics is a revolutionary, highly effective gardening system which combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in soil-free media). In a symbiotic environment, it raises both fish and plants in mutual ecological harmony. Like Hydroponics, the aquaponic growing methods dont require any soil and instead make use of highly oxygenated, nutrient-rich water.

Aquaponic gardening is highly productive in growing organic vegetables, herbs, fruits and raising fish. More so, aquaponic systems are four to six times more productive than ordinary gardens and require 90% less water. On a small scale, they provide a cost-efficient alternative to families and anyone seeking self-sufficiency. On a larger scale, they are a potential solution to urban food insecurity.

Not only is aquaponics among the most effective gardening techniques, but it is the easiest way to grow herbs and vegetables. Aquaponic systems are self-regulating: you dont have to water your plants and you dont have to clean the fish tank. Aside from some simple maintenance tasks (which we will outline in Section 10 ), the only thing left to do is to feed your fish and harvest your vegetables!

The Aquaponic Cycle: How It Works

Put simply, as water is pumped from the fish tank to the grow beds, the fish waste is converted to organic food for your plants. Your plants in turn clean, filter and recycle the water for your fish. Because aquaponics is a closed and recirculating system, it gives rise to naturally occurring bacteria (microbes and worms). These bacteria and worms break down the fish waste (ammonium and nitrites) into fertilizer for your plants (in the form of nitrites).

When absorbing these nutrients, plants naturally filter the water. The clean water then streams back into the aquarium, providing your fish with a clean and oxygenated environment in which they can thrive.

This growing method is environmentally-friendly, natural and economical. Using natural bacterial cycles, it eliminates all need for expensive chemical fertilizers and water filters, all whilst avoiding waster wastage.

We will expand on the many benefits of aquaponics in the next section, before moving on to how you can get started on your journey to self-sufficiency and food independence!