Aquaponics
Aquaponics means the symbiotic cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a water cycle.
In a closed system or aquarium (e.g. an aquaculture-circulation-system) the excrement of aquatic animals (e.g. fish offal) accumulates in the water as a byproduct of the livestock breeding. The water that is highly enriched with the animal wastewater, enormously increases the plant nutrients, which are, simultaneously, toxic for the aquatic animals.
![Aquaponics with catfish]()
The plants are cultivated in a form (e.g. hydroponic systems), that they take advantage of the nutrient-rich water. The plants absorb the nutrients and reduce or eliminate the toxic concentration of the water for the aquatic animals.
The water, which is now cleaned, is reverted into the living space of the aquatic animals and the circular flow starts again. Aquaponic systems do not drain or exchange water. The systems are based on the relationship between the aquatic animals and the plants, to sustain the environment. Water is only added to replace the water loss that results from the absorption of the plants, the evaporation or from the removal of the biomass from the system.
Aquaponics vary in their size from small internal units up to big commercial installations. Depending on the type of aquatic animal and vegetation, they can use fresh- or saltwater.
In a closed system or aquarium (e.g. an aquaculture-circulation-system) the excrement of aquatic animals (e.g. fish offal) accumulates in the water as a byproduct of the livestock breeding. The water that is highly enriched with the animal wastewater, enormously increases the plant nutrients, which are, simultaneously, toxic for the aquatic animals.
The plants are cultivated in a form (e.g. hydroponic systems), that they take advantage of the nutrient-rich water. The plants absorb the nutrients and reduce or eliminate the toxic concentration of the water for the aquatic animals.
The water, which is now cleaned, is reverted into the living space of the aquatic animals and the circular flow starts again. Aquaponic systems do not drain or exchange water. The systems are based on the relationship between the aquatic animals and the plants, to sustain the environment. Water is only added to replace the water loss that results from the absorption of the plants, the evaporation or from the removal of the biomass from the system.
Aquaponics vary in their size from small internal units up to big commercial installations. Depending on the type of aquatic animal and vegetation, they can use fresh- or saltwater.