Aquaponics Masterclass
In this masterclass you will explore how to design an ecologically functional aquaponics systems - based upon natural pond designs that are aesthetically landscaped and connected to passive solar designed glasshouses, for year-round production of nutrient-dense food.
This represents a highly adaptable model that can be changed to suit many different scales and contexts. But it has been themed on how to integrate the permaculture design methodology into the creation of an aquaponics system.
The module is heavily dependent upon online involvement in forums - where you share reflections upon the content explored within a collaborative learning environment.
The topics covered in this course are as follows:
On completion of the course you will have the design knowledge to create a functional and aesthetic aquaponics system to meet the requirements of your site.
This represents a highly adaptable model that can be changed to suit many different scales and contexts. But it has been themed on how to integrate the permaculture design methodology into the creation of an aquaponics system.
The module is heavily dependent upon online involvement in forums - where you share reflections upon the content explored within a collaborative learning environment.
The topics covered in this course are as follows:
- System Designs: Covers the design of ponds, glasshouses and the hardware and strategy to create an integrated aquaponics system
- Health of fish: Looks at the requirements of fish to thrive in your aquaponics system
- Health of Plants: Looks at how to optimise plant growth n an aquaponics system.
On completion of the course you will have the design knowledge to create a functional and aesthetic aquaponics system to meet the requirements of your site.
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Free Ebook
For an introduction to the creating aquaponics in farming systems - see the free Ebook below and content in the page below. This topic is covered in full as part of the online Permaculture Design Certificate Course.
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Introduction to Aquaponics
Aquaponics refers to any system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. In normal aquaculture, excretions from the animals being raised can accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity. In an aquaponic system, water from an aquaculture system is fed to a hydroponic system where the by-products are broken down by Nitrifying bacteria initially into nitrites and subsequently into nitrates , which are utilized by the plants as nutrients, and the water is then recirculated back to the aquaculture system.
As existing hydroponic and aquaculture farming techniques form the basis for all aquaponics systems, the size, complexity, and types of foods grown in an aquaponics system can vary as much as any system found in either distinct farming discipline.
Aquaculture is the growing of human food, both plant and animal, in water. There is a constant supply of water whereas land based systems are often limited by a lack of water which limits production capability. The solubility of nutrients in water is of particular ease for plant uptake. An aquaculture system provides more produce for the same area of land than any animal farming method. It is the most efficient way to develop high quality meat with lots of protein, fats and oils. Even a small pond provides enough fish to improve diets and health significantly.
In permaculture the aim is to use the behavioural constants of water to our advantage in design. In doing so, we mustn’t only address water harvesting and storage, but we also should think about hydrating the landscape and using water to enhance life and biodiversity. Our goal is to use water many times over before letting it leave a site and also to purify the water moving through a landscape so that the water does not burden connected natural waterways with increased nutrient loading.
In terms of ecological and energy efficiency, greater productivity can be achieved in a sustainable way by creating beneficial relationships between aquaculture and other elements in the landscape, eating lower down the food chain (e.g plants or omnivorous fish), and using polyculture to 'fill as many niches' as possible. Ecological aquaculture is the implementation of aquaculture ecosystems which produce not only economic, but also social and ecological profit. Ponds are often multi-functional and build resilience into the overall system.
As existing hydroponic and aquaculture farming techniques form the basis for all aquaponics systems, the size, complexity, and types of foods grown in an aquaponics system can vary as much as any system found in either distinct farming discipline.
Aquaculture is the growing of human food, both plant and animal, in water. There is a constant supply of water whereas land based systems are often limited by a lack of water which limits production capability. The solubility of nutrients in water is of particular ease for plant uptake. An aquaculture system provides more produce for the same area of land than any animal farming method. It is the most efficient way to develop high quality meat with lots of protein, fats and oils. Even a small pond provides enough fish to improve diets and health significantly.
In permaculture the aim is to use the behavioural constants of water to our advantage in design. In doing so, we mustn’t only address water harvesting and storage, but we also should think about hydrating the landscape and using water to enhance life and biodiversity. Our goal is to use water many times over before letting it leave a site and also to purify the water moving through a landscape so that the water does not burden connected natural waterways with increased nutrient loading.
In terms of ecological and energy efficiency, greater productivity can be achieved in a sustainable way by creating beneficial relationships between aquaculture and other elements in the landscape, eating lower down the food chain (e.g plants or omnivorous fish), and using polyculture to 'fill as many niches' as possible. Ecological aquaculture is the implementation of aquaculture ecosystems which produce not only economic, but also social and ecological profit. Ponds are often multi-functional and build resilience into the overall system.
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How it works
The main principle of aquaponics is very simple and mirrors nature. Fish are grown in tanks and nutrient-rich water from these tanks is pumped into hydroponic beds where vegetables, herbs, flowers and other crops absorb the nutrients for growth and purify the culture water, which is returned to the fish rearing tanks. Although the fish are living in a tank, in essence they are being raised in a river where their waste products are swept away and replaced with clean water. The plants are grown in water containing high levels of oxygen and nutrients – everything they need – without the problems associated with soils, such as weeds, soil diseases and pests, heavy metal and other toxicant issues and an often-experienced lack of oxygen or moisture. Plants remove only the water they need for growth. |
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