Getting Started In Aquaponics The DIY Way

[Codi OBrian]

 “DIY Aquaponics” recommends a simple, efficient, flood and drain systems that use medium filled grow beds for backyard growers. Although this is not the only systems available it is by far the simplest to set up for beginners, especially for home users.

Aquaponics uses no chemicals, requires one tenth of the water needed for  field plant production and only a fraction of the water that is used for fish culture. (Aquaculture)

This style is simple in its operation; water from the fish tanks complete  with waste, rich in nutrients is pumped into the grow beds filled with the hydroponic medium of your choice. Plant roots growing in that medium extract the nutrients from the water; the water is then pumped back to the fish cleaned where it is freshly oxygenated with air pumped through aeration systems in place in the tanks.

The fish water rich in its nutrients is pumped to the grow beds where it is  evenly distributed by a simple system of pipes. The nutrients in the water feeds the plants being produced such as tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and other green leafy vegetables and herbs as it filters through the grow bed medium which can consist of such mediums as professionally manufactured clay 
 pellets or gravel, round river stones etc. It is then returned to the fish  tank via a gravity fed system or it can be pumped back to the fish tanks. 

The water returned is cleaned and ready for use by the fish. In a properly set up aquaponics system, the water will stay Ph balanced and remain crystal clear.