Aquaponics What is aquaponics? A system that grows fish and

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Aquaponics
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What is aquaponics?

• A system that grows fish and plants together

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Items Needed1. Fish Tank2. Grow Bed3. Water
Pump4. Aerator5. Tubing
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What do plants and fish need to live?

• Plants
• Light
• Water
• Carbon Dioxide
• Nitrates (nutrients)

• Fish
• Food
• Clean Water
• Oxygen

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What do plants make?

• Oxygen and Sugars through photosynthesis
• Clean Water

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What do fish make?

• Waste in the form of ammonia
• Carbon dioxide through respiration

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Carbon Cycle
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Basic Carbon Cycle in Aquaponics

• 1. Plants take in carbon dioxide
• Plants produce oxygen, and sugars (plant
  biomass) through photosynthesis
• 2. Fish consume sugars and breath in oxygen
• Fish produce carbon dioxide through respiration
• Complete!

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Nitrogen Cycle

• How does ammonia turn into nitrates?

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The Nitrogen Cycle
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Fish and Plant Nitrogen Cycle

• 1. Fish eat food
• 2. Waste is rich in ammonia NH4
• 3. Ammonia converted to Nitrite NO2 by
  nitrosonomas
• 4. Nitrite converted to Nitrates NO3 by
  nitrospira
• 5. Nitrates used by plants a nutrients
• 6. Plant material eaten by fish
• Dead plant and animal material decomposes and
  releases ammonia also

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Nitrogen Cycle in Aquaponics
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How it works
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Aquaponic Benefits

• Symbiotic relationship between plants and fish
  (both thrive due to one another)
• Reduction in waste (polluted fish water is used)
• 90 REDUCTION in water use vs. conventional
  farming techniques
• Minimal need for land
• Supports Locavorism (reduces GHG emissions)
• Produces an organic food source

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Disadvantages to aquaponics

• High start up costs
• Systems are not one size fits
• Needs constant monitoring
• May not be aesthetically pleasing in your living
  room
• Difficult to find fish

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History of Aquaponics
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Thoughts Questions

• Is aquaponics a solution for our health problems?

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Items to know for your quiz

• What is aquaponics?
• How does aquaponics work?
• What types of fish can you raise?
• What types of vegetables can you raise?
• How do plants and fish live symbiotically in
  regards to the carbon and nitrogen cycles?
• What is the nitrogen cycle and how does it work?
• What are the pros and cons of aquaponics?
• What ancient citizens utilized aquaponics and
  how?
• What is Sweetwater organics and what do they do?

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