Biology
- Hydroponics: Microbes play an important role in nutrient cycling. Beneficial bacteria convert organic and inorganic compounds into forms that can be absorbed by plants.
- Aquaponics: Microbial communities in the growing bed convert fish waste into plant-available nutrients. The balance of these communities is crucial for a healthy system.
- Regular monitoring of plant health is essential. Symptoms of nutrient deficiency or imbalance, as well as signs of pests or diseases, should be treated promptly in both systems.
- Nutrient uptake, growth patterns and general vitality provide information about the well-being of the plants.
- Aquaponics: Fish health directly impacts nutrient production. Monitoring water quality parameters such as ammonia, nitrite and pH is crucial to ensure a suitable environment for the fish.
- Understanding fish behavior, feeding patterns and species-specific needs is critical to fish well-being.
- Maintaining optimal nutrient levels is essential for both systems. Regular testing of nutrient concentrations, pH and electrical conductivity will help prevent nutrient deficiencies or poisoning.
- Adjusting nutrient solutions in hydroponics and ensuring proper nutrient cycling in aquaponics are ongoing tasks.
- The availability of oxygen is crucial for both plants and fish. Adequate aeration ensures proper oxygenation in hydroponic nutrient solutions and aquaponic fish tanks.
- In aquaponics, the oxygen content is crucial for the nitrifying bacteria in the substrate.
- Monitoring and controlling temperature is important for both plants and fish.
- Optimal temperature ranges vary for different plant and fish species, and adjustments may be necessary to account for seasonal changes.
- In aquaponics, maintaining biodiversity is key to a balanced ecosystem. The right ratio between fish and plant mass and attention to microbial diversity contribute to the stability of the system.
- In hydroponics, biodiversity focuses on promoting beneficial microbial communities that support nutrient uptake and protect against pathogens.
- Vigilance in disease prevention is critical in both systems. Quarantine procedures when introducing new plants or fish help prevent the spread of disease.
- Good hygiene practices such as cleaning and sterilizing equipment minimize the risk of pathogens.
- Continuous learning about plant, fish and microbial biology is essential. Access to educational resources, workshops and research contributes to informed decision making.
- Staying informed about advances in biological sciences improves systems management.
Subcategories
Fish
It's all about the right fish!The availability of stocked fish is a crucial criterion for the operation, which can significantly limit the choice of fish species. Orientate yourself on this first! In addition, it must be expected at the beginning that the system will need a certain amount of time to stabilize. However , according to fisheries experts from LANUV and the ministry, practical experience shows that new systems only produce around 10% - 30% of the maximum possible biomass in the first few years. In stable operation, recirculation systems are operated at approx. 70% - 80% of their capacity. In order to find the right fish for your own aquaponics system, you can already rely on a large selection of suitable food fish. There are small fish for small systems, big ones for larger systems. However, they all have to meet some basic requirements. As a rule, fish are used that can withstand the high, almost tropical temperatures in a facility. So they have to be heat resistant. Furthermore, they have to get along with many other animals in a small space. This requires the fish to have a certain resistance to stress, which enables breeders to keep, manipulate and care for the fish conscientiously and without hesitation. One of the greatest dangers resulting from open aquaculture farming is the transmission of diseases and the transfer of genetic material from farmed fish to wild fish. This happens when fish escape from aquaculture and come into contact with wildlife. Since the systems in aquaponics form a closed circuit and are located far away from wild fish areas, there is no genetic crossing of farmed fish with wild fish. Another factor that has a strong positive effect on the use of aquaponics. So which species are suitable for aquaponics? Below we have listed all the relevant key data for various fish species, which can narrow down your selection for your purposes based on growth, breeding time, temperature range and many other factors. |
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| Please understand that we only share this information with our customers. Therefore only the first entry in our database is displayed. A list of data for fish in Aquaponik can be found here in german. |
Microgreens (en)
Microgreens - small plants with a big impact
Microgreens are edible young vegetables that are harvested shortly after the “cotyledon” phase. Cotyledon is a phase in the early embryological development of a plant in which the first leaves develop in the seed germ. A short time later, the germ opens and the first leaves emerge from the soil. The precursor to microgreens are sprouts.
This is the time when you can harvest the young green leaves. It is full of high-quality nutrients and contains more proteins than older plants. In short - microgreens are a true superfood. However, a distinction should be made between microgreens and sprouts. Sprouts grow without daylight and without soil, but microgreens require soil as a growing medium and always sunlight. Furthermore, microgreens contain far more chlorophyll than sprouts because they have already formed leaves.
Microgreens have originally been cultivated and grown in Southern California since the 1990s. The career continued to East America via San Francisco, so the little plants have come a long way and are now an integral part of modern cuisine and conscious nutrition. In the beginning, arugula, beetroot, cress, basil and cilantro were grown in America. Today there are hardly any limits to microgreens, but seeds from the nightshade family, such as tomatoes or potatoes, should not be used because their young leafy greens contain toxins.
The favorites among the microgreens can vary depending on taste, one leaf green is a little spicier, the other tastes mildly sour, but they all have one thing in common - they are packed with vitamins, trace elements and proteins right down to the tips of the leaves. Commonly grown microgreens include red cabbage, coriander, amaranth, radish, beetroot or cress. So how can aquaponics / hydroponics be combined with microgreens?
Aquaponics is excellent for growing microgreens. Optimal conditions can be created in greenhouses that enable weekly harvesting. Microgreens can cope with regular daylight, so it is possible to use fish that can withstand medium and high temperatures if the fish are kept in the greenhouse with the plants. 
If the fish farm is housed in a separate and cool building, the types of fish can be adapted to the conditions. You can find a selection of fish species for aquaponics here . In addition to choosing the right fish, it also depends on what characteristics the greenhouse should have.
There are a multitude of possibilities, the limits of which are only set by the imagination. Since the water used comes from the closed cycle of aquaponics/hydroponics, it is free of pesticides and fertilizers and the system can be operated all year round, resulting in a regulated yield of microgreens and fish.
Plants
Which plants grow in aquaponics or hydroponics?
Sprouts
What are sprouts?
Sprouts are the first stage in the development of seeds. Most seeds are very healthy at this stage. Sprouting grains, nuts, beans, and seeds has been a common practice in places like East Asia and Europe for literally thousands of years. In fact, various forms of soaking, germinating, and fermenting seeds were part of almost every culture in one way or another.
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Important : Some sprouts are difficult to digest raw or may even contain toxins . Some toxins ( solanine ) are not destroyed even by intense heating (boiling, frying, etc.). More about it here. Consumer protection even advises against consumption for certain population groups. Quote : The results show that there are microbiological risks when consuming fresh sprouts and seedlings. In particular, consumers with weakened immune systems (e.g. children, seniors, pregnant women) should generally avoid consuming fresh sprouts and seedlings. Read the entire article from the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection . |
Sprouts can easily be grown at home. All you need is water, the seeds and a germination container. There are different cultivation methods to grow the seeds successfully. For non-slimy seeds, germination devices or a germination jar are best suited. For slimy seeds, you should use a cress sieve or combine fleece paper and a germination device. Non-slime-forming seeds need to be watered thoroughly one to four times a day. The slime-forming seeds, on the other hand, may only be sprayed with water once a day. These are not suitable for the germination jar!
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