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.

The Nitrogen Cycle

Fish produce waste that contains ammonia (NH₃), a compound that can be toxic to fish in high concentrations. This ammonia becomes the starting point of the nitrogen cycle. As water flows through the system, beneficial bacteria begin to colonize the grow media. The first group of bacteria, called Nitrosomonas, converts the ammonia into nitrite (NO₂⁻). Nitrite is also harmful to fish, but it’s quickly converted by a second group of bacteria, called Nitrobacter, into nitrate (NO₃⁻) — a form of nitrogen that is safe for fish and highly beneficial for plant growth. The plants absorb the nitrate through their roots as a natural fertilizer, using it to produce leaves, stems, and fruit. As the plants remove nitrate from the water, they help keep the system balanced and clean. This continuous process of conversion and absorption, ammonia to nitrite to nitrate, is what keeps both the fish and plants healthy. When the cycle is stable, it creates a self-sustaining ecosystem where waste becomes a resource, and every part of the system supports the other.

How Does our System Work?

In our aquaponic systems, Water from the fish tank is pumped up into the grow bed, the grow bed is filled with a medium of expanded clay pebbles, which supports their roots and provides a large surface area for beneficial bacteria to thrive. The system uses a bell siphon to automatically control the water level in the grow bed. When the growbed fills, it submerges the plant roots and delivers nutrients from the fish waste. When the water reaches a certain height, the bell siphon triggers a rapid drain, pulling the water back down into the fish tank. This creates a natural “flood and drain” cycle. The flooding phase gives plants the moisture and nutrients they need, while the draining phase draws oxygen into the root zone, preventing rot and promoting strong, healthy growth. The beauty of the bell siphon is that it operates automatically, no timers or electronics required, making it a simple, reliable, and energy-efficient way to keep the system in balance.

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