Setting Up an Aquaponics System

To set up an aquaponics system has only few steps to follow; but location, materials and maintenance have to be considered.

Aquaponics sytem is a system wherein a relationship is made between aquatic animals and plants to maintain the environment.

When planning to set up an aquaponics system, these are the steps to follow:

Location

The first step is to decide the best area for the system.To prevent evaporation, make sure that the fish tub is placed in an area where  little shade is present. The hole that will be  dug for the fish tub to go into should also be under ground level to have a constant good and stable water temperature.

Grow Tub

The second step is to create a few holes in the underside of the growtub to create a drainage. This will allow the water to go back again into the fish tub. Next,  find an area to put the growtub where the fish tub is as near as possible to prevent the pump to work as hard.

Hose and Timer

The third step is to attach a hose from the fish tub to the grow tub. Use a digital power timer to make the pump switch on and off automatically for a specific length of time.

Fishes

The fourth step is to add dechlorinated water followed by the fish into the fish tub. Afterwards, do a few test runs to see if the water is correctly flowing from the fish tub towards the grow tub and then back out.

Gravel and Seeds

The last step is to put washed crushed rock  into the grow tub. Afterwhich, sprinkle some seeds inside the grow tub and then cover it lightly with a little more crushed rock.

Maintenance

To keep the system in shape, maintenance includes feeding the fishes, and  monitoring on the following: pump cycle, water level and the fishes’ health in the tub.

In an aquaponics system, the animals produce waste that become plant nutrients. And in return, the plants, after utilizing the nutrient-rich water, reduce or eliminate the water’s toxicity for the animals. For more information on this, visit regularly Aquaponics Blog.