ABOUT X-APONICS

Hi! My name is Xavier.

I was first introduced to gardening and alternate growing techniques many years ago when my my family went to Walt Disney World. At EPCOT, there is a ride called Living with the Land. The ride showcases how humans have interacted with the land over many many generations. The best part, in my opinion, is the section showing how they have implemented alternative growing techniques and how they can produce more food with less space.

Then COVID hit. The world shut down. We were quarantined in our homes.

While, many teenagers took this time to play more video games and get extra sleep, I took the time to educate myself on gardening and alternative growing techniques. I spent a lot of time learning, developing, and building my first aquaponics system.

This pic is my first system and this is X-Aponics.

Have any questions?

WHAT IS AQUAPONICS?

In a nutshell, the name says it all. “Aqua” means water, and “Ponics” means to work or to grow.

Aquaponics combines hydroponics, growing plants in water, and aquaculture, raising or farming, fish. By combining the systems you gain the benefits of both as well as taking advantage to the drawbacks of both.

For example, in hydroponics the nutrients in the water get pumped out of the system and in aquaculture, the toxic nutrients of fish waste and food are filtered out of the system.

In our aquaponic system, water is saved by continuously cycling the water from fish, to plants, and then back to fish again. The plants use up the nutrients created by the fish and recycle it making it safe for the fish again.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

It all starts with the nitrogen cycle and ammonia.

Ammonia is the byproduct of fish respiration, waste, and fish food. This becomes toxic to the fish if not filtered out.

As this system recycles the water, it creates two naturally occurring and extremely beneficial bacteria, Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter.

Nitrosomona bacteria converts the ammonia to nitrites and Nitrobacter converts nitrites to nitrates.

Nitrates are a great nutrient source for plants.

BENEFITS OF AQUAPONICS

Less water waste
No pesticides
All natural fertilizer
Highly productive
Continuous food production
Environment and human friendly
No soil borne diseases
Protein and vegetable crop
Closed system