Category: Aquaponics

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Aquaponics Sustainable Living

DOES AQUAPONICS REQUIRE SUNLIGHT?

An image of a young girl holding spinach
Does aquaponics need sunlight2

Aquaponics involves growing plants in water with the help of fish.  The fish and plants function in a symbiotic relationship.  The fish provide the nutrients for the plants and the plants in turn filter the water for the fish.  It’s an effective way to grow plants and in particular, veggies.  A commonly asked question is, “Does aquaponics require sunlight?” Read on!

Aquaponics requires light not necessarily sunlight for plants to grow well.  As a result, you can also use artificial lights to meet this need.  

Fish also don’t need sunlight per se, but they do need periods of light and dark in order to thrive.  Without this, they can become sluggish and sick.  This too can be provided by artificial lights.  

As a result, you can see that you can set up your aquaponics systems indoors or outdoors as long as you provide light for your plants and periods of light and darkness for the fish.

When it comes to the amount of light the fish need it depends on the following two factors:

  1. The species of fish you choose
  2. The environmental conditions of your aquaponics system

Generally speaking, however, most aquaponic fish need 12 hours of light each day.

SHOULD YOU CHOOSE SUNLIGHT OR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FOR YOUR AQUAPONICS SYSTEM?

If you live in an area that has a plentiful supply of sunlight then you can set up your aquaponics system outside.  However, it’s important to remember that fish don’t thrive with too much exposure to sunlight.  To counteract this you can cover your fish tank with netting.

If you need to set your aquaponics system up indoors due to space constraints then you will need to go with artificial lighting.

Learning to grow your own food is one of the most valuable things you can learn.  It’s an important factor in off-grid living and the health benefits of eating organic food are numerous too. 

Let’s take a look at some of the health benefits of eating organic veggies:

BENEFITS OF EATING ORGANIC VEGGIES

  • It’s free of chemicals and pesticides
  • Organic veggies are fresh
  • Organic veggie farming is environmentally friendly
  • It’s GMO-free 
  • The veggies have more beneficial nutrients
  • They don’t impact your health negatively

As you can see from the above-mentioned benefits it’s well worth learning how to grow your own organic veggies.  It’s true that you can buy this from the shop or a farmer’s market, however, this can become pricy.  Growing your own organic veggies will help you cut down on these costs.  And in addition, it’s so rewarding to grow veggies and reap the rewards of your efforts!

Contact us for water tank and water filtration quotes, Cape Town!

Categories
Aquaponics

WHAT FISH SHOULD YOU USE WITH AQUAPONICS?

Koi fish in a pond
What fish should you use with aquaponics?

Aquaponics is a method of growing plants in water with the help of fish.  The fish and plants live in a symbiotic relationship.  Each one provides the needs of the other.  It’s an effective way of growing plants, particularly veggies.  If you’re familiar with aquaponics you may be wondering what fish you should use with aquaponics. 

You need to take the following factors into consideration when deciding on the type of fish to add to your aquaponics system:

1. WILL THE FISH BE EDIBLE OR ORNAMENTAL?

If you are wanting to raise edible fish (eg: tilapia) you need to consider that they can be tricky to maintain and need specific conditions to thrive.  Ornamental fish (eg: goldfish) on the other hand, are less costly and easier to maintain.

2. TEMPERATURE

You need to consider the temperatures of the area you live in.  Some fish need cold water temperatures and some need warm water temperatures.  So keep this in mind when choosing your fish.

3. AVAILABILITY IN YOUR LOCATION

Always check what fish are available in your location.  Additionally, it’s also essential to check which fish are legal to farm in your area.  Some fish also require a permit to farm.  So be sure to check into this.

4. THE LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE REQUIRED FOR THE FISH

Fish differ in the level of care and maintenance that they need to thrive. Some are very sensitive and need a high level of care while others are more hardy and require less care. If you’re looking for fish that does not need costly maintenance then choose fish like, tilapia, koi or goldfish.

5. HOW THE FISH BREED

This is an important consideration. Some fish, like tilapia, breed very quickly in captivity. On the other hand, you get fish species that won’t breed at all in captivity. As a result, you need to carefully choose your fish so that you have one that will breed well.

6. THE DIET YOU FEED YOUR FISH

The food your fish consume becomes the nutrients that sustain the plants. As a result, it’s essential to make sure that you are feeding them a diet that is well-balanced with proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins and minerals.

This is important to factor into consideration when choosing the fish for your aquaponics system. If you choose fish with high maintenance needs it will ultimately impact how much you will spend financially.

7. THE SIZE OF THE TANK

The size of the tank depends on the type of fish you choose. Some fish grow big and need lots of space. In addition, some fish also don’t thrive in a crowded tank. So keep this in mind when choosing the fish for your aquaponics system.

We’ve looked at some of the factors to keep in mind when deciding what fish to use with aquaponics. Use these guidelines to help you decide which type of fish to go with for your aquaponics system.

In addition, it’s also a good idea to join your local FB aquaponics group. It’s a great place to ask any questions you may have and get feedback from people who have experience with aquaponics.

Aquaponics is an effective way to grow veggies. Follow the above guidelines to help choose your fish and enjoy growing your own fresh veggies!

Contact us for water filtration and water tank quotes!