Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture. Plants are fertilized and irrigated by water from a fish tank, the plants and their growing media clean the water of waste and return it to the tank. This is a closed system that conserves water, is organic and closely mimics a natural ecosystem.
. The trial system using a fry tank, a board and The large system waiting for fish and plants! recycled plastic containers.
Measuring out the area for the tank excavation. Marking the perimeter. Digging in our hard red clay is hard work.
Placing excess dirt next to an aquaculture My wife, Oh, showing the boys how to dig! The hole for the tank and the raised area pond that will be the next AP system. for the beds are taking shape. The walls are straightened. The floor is leveled. Floor is laid using chicken wire and cement.
Cement blocks are stacked around the excavation in preparation for laying the walls. All of the cement is mixed by hand.
The walls are laid using cement blocks. The hollow blocks are filled with a mixture of clay and cement to make them stronger and more waterproof.The space between the block wall and the excavation wall is then back filled with the clay and cement mixture. The walls have been rendered with Portland cement to make them more waterproof.
Building a footing to hold the base. The base is laid using chicken wire and cement. It is inclined slightly towards the tank.
The grow beds are built with more blocks. Rain storage cisterns will help fill the tank. The grow bed is filled with a mix of coconut fiber, rice husk and gravel. PVC pipe inserts combined with the slope of the grow bed bases allows cleaned water to return to and aerate the tank.
