1. Starting with the Fish
Young Nile Tilapia fish are warmed by heat radiating
from coils of water connected to a roof-level water tank that
absorbs the sun's energy.
1a. Caring
for Tilapia *
Tilapia eat
duckweed and algea that grow in the nutrient-rich water.
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2. Aerobic Biofilter Habitat
The water falling from the plants above onto the rocks
in the fish pond
creates a habitat with a balance of air, moisture
and nutrients for
microbes that cleanse water.
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2a. Wetland Biofiltration
Beneficial bacteria thrive on the submerged, oxygen-rich
plant roots of papyrus. The bacteria convert the toxic ammonia
in fish waste to nitrate, used for nutrients by vegetables.
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2b. Wetland Plants
Wetland plants have adapted to the anoxic conditions
of marsh depths lacking oxygen by drawing air down from their
stems and leaves into their roots. These oxygen-rich roots are
teeming with aerobic microbes.
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2c. Anerobic Biofilter Habitat
Porous lava rocks lining the pond bottom provide a
home for the teeming anerobic bacteria that transform ammonia
into harmless nitrogen gas that returns safely to the atmosphere.
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3. Duckweed
floats over the gravel bed. It absorbs the ammonia
and converts it into a protein-rich biomass that easy to digest
by fish. Click on the frog to learn more about duckweed:
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3a. Cultivating Duckweed
Duckweed, equal in protein to commercial fish pellets,
produces more protein than soybeans. When combined with plankon
and algea, duckweed provides a complete nutrient source for Nile
Tilapia, while cleansing the water.
Duckweed Aquaculture
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4.
Vermicomposting*
Red earthworms (Eisenia fetida) eat semi-decomposed
foodscraps, yard waste and manures. They can transform dried
fish sludge into vermicompost. Mix in kelp and greensand, if
available, to add valuable trace minerals and grit for earthworms.
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5. Soil-Media and Irrigation
Vermicompost is mixed with shredded coconut hulls or vermiculite
for a soil media. This mix provides balanced nutrients and air,
and wicks up moisture from the flow of water pumped up from the
fish pond below.
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6. Plant Troughs
Almost any vegetable can be grown in the plant trough.
Shallow rooting varieties, ie: watercress, lettuce, salad greens
or basel, do especially well.
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7. Renewed Water
The cleansed water recirculates down into the fish
pond, completing the cycle.
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Aquaponic-Pond Ecosystem
Powered by sunlight, enriched by oxygen from the waterfall,
nourished by fish-waste nutrients, the pond is home for a treasure
of microscopic creatures.
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An 18' pond with nearly 100' of plant troughs.
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Three-tiered Aquaponic System
Build your own system for bio-intensive fish-vegetable
garden.
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Bioshelters
Aquatic Microbial Life
Intervale