Craig Leppan: co-founder and director

Our aim

Promote aquaponic awareness, pool and centralize resources, co-operate and consult for and with market players and share experience and knowledge with the public about aquaponics.

www.myaquaponics.co.za Forum Blog

Courses and workshops

What is aquaponics

Aquaponics is the sustainable cultivation

of plants, fish and bacteria in a

constructed recirculating ecosystem. It is

a combination of Aquaculture (fish

cultivation) & Hydroponics (soilless plant

cultivation).

The bad news globally

Fossil fuel depletion is a problem: petroleum is used in agriculture

Water: 70% of earths area is sea water, 2,5% of this is fresh water, of that 70% is frozen and the balance is what we can use, we don’t use it effectively

World population: 7 billion by 2049 9 billion: protein crunch is coming

Oceans are a trap for heavy metals and that causes problem with contamination of the fish and hence humans. The oceans are being over fished and we have lost 2048 species of fish already

One American consumes the same as 32 Kenyans, leveling this is in itself another problem

If we want things to stay as they are,

things will have to change

Thomas Friedman: 2008

Advantages

Sustainable: logically and environmentally

Natural process: less human intervention than hydroponics

Continuous production anywhere (urban or rural)

Uses 10% of water compared to ground growing

Great market value: vegetables (vegetables cannot be labeled organic but “better than organic”). Fish a very good protein and oil source

No waste: all is used

Food conversion ratios

Fish 1,5 : 1

Poultry 2 : 1

Pigs 4 : 1

Cattle 7 : 1

Sheep 8 : 1

TheoryA natural cycle

The Nitrogen cycle

De-nitrification=alkaline

Nitrification=acidifying

Graph of a system starting (acclimation/cycling)

Six to eight weeks but can be accelerated by seeding bacteria

Commercial system pioneers

Virgin Islands

Australia

Canada

USA

Floating raft or deep water culture

Nutrient film technique

The future

Grown at point of sale

Considerations

Legislation

Nutrient requirements

Environmental conditions

Considerations Water source

Municipal

Borehole

Storage

ConsiderationsMarket value

Turnaround time

Local requirements

Availability of seeds/seedlings

How much can I farm?

3 to 5,8 meters squared growing area to 1 cubic meter of fish tank water (DIY vs. commercial)

30 - 150 fish per cubic meter of water depending on nutrient requirements

Measureables

PH: 7

Dissolved oxygen: > 5mg/l (drops with increase in temperature)

Ammonia: < 0,5ppm (NH4+ -> NH3- constant flux: danger at high temps and high PH)

Nitrite: < 0,5 ppm

Nitrate: < 150 ppm

EC: 250 – 450 (hydroponic systems go as high as 2100 ppm)

“Cradle Aquaponics”

Site leveling and preparation

The site pegging

Tunnel construction

Planter bases

Flood and drain planter walls

Deep water culture planters

Insulation

Positioning of tanks and filters

Completion

Electrical

Piping and pumps

Air reticulation

Cover tunnels

Commissioning

Operational management

Closing

MyAquaponics wishes you the best in your journey of discovery: aquaponics is certainly not a new idea and has been around a long time however new ideas and new approaches are going to change the industry and further benefit the production of protein and vegetables in an even more sustainable manner.

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