Post on 06-Jul-2020
Aquaponics PilotUPPER FRASER INDIGENOUS SUSTAINABLE HARVESTERS ASSOCIATION
Presented by Kelsey Campbell, UFFCA FNFC Fall Assembly - Nov 6, 2019
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
Presentation Outline
What is Aquaponics?
The Aquaponic Nutrient Cycle
Basic System Components
Techniques
What can we grow?
Scale and Application
UFISH Aquaponics
Example Yield
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
• System that combines the growing of fish and plants
• Integration of aquaculture (fish) and hydroponics (plants w/o soil) – both lose water and nutrients
• Complete cycle of symbiotic relationships with the only water loss in evaporation transpiration by plants
• Sustainable, localized, environmentally friendly approach to growing food
What is Aquaponics?
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
Fish produce ammonia-rich waste
Naturally occurring bacteria converts ammonia into nitrites
Bacteria convert nitrites to nitrates
Plants absorb nitrates as nutrients through roots suspended in the water
Ammonia-free water back to fish tank
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
Basic System Components
Fish tank
Swirl
Solid waste composting
Biofiltration
Sump
Plant grow beds
• Infrastructure• Heating/cooling• Oxygen• Water
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
Techniques
Media Raft Tower
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
What can we grow?
Fish• Catfish• Tilapia• Koi• Perch• Trout• Bass…to name a few
Considerations• Best to grow hardy fish that are
adaptable and/or native to the area• Market value• Growth rate
Plants (depends on technique)• Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, kale)• Tomatoes• Beans• Celery• Cilantro and other herbs…to name a few
Considerations• Market value• Space efficiency• Growth rate
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
Scale and Application
Backyard
Commercial
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
UFISH Aquaponics
Project started 2019
• Funding was secured for first phase
• Permitting and infrastructure
• Materials and early project design
900sqft greenhouse
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
Fish tank250 gal
Media 5m2
Media 5m2
Media 5m2
Media 5m2Sump tank (below)
Header tank (above)
Raft bed 10m2
Raft bed 10m2
Swirl
Fish tank250 gal
(air added)
(air added)
(air added) (air added)
Gravity flow in Gravity flow out Pumped
(Stand alone, valve operated)
UFISH Aquaponics
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
UFISH Application
UFFCA Application
• Pilot project
• Research and study
• Tours and education
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
Golden Ratio of Aquaponics
Gf/m2/DayGf – Grams of feedM2 – growing area
Example Yield
Lettuce
20 lettuce/m2/month x 40m2 = 500 lettuce/month or 6000 lettuce/year
Trout
40 m2 of growing area x 30g fish feed = 1200g fish feed
Total fish feed needed for 40 m2 growing area = 1.2kg fish feed
If the feed rate for a grower sized trout is 1.3% body weight the calculation for the biomass of fish needed is:
1.2kg / 0.013 = 92 kg of fish
U P P E R F R A S E R I N D I G E N O U S S U S TA I N A B L E H A RV E S TE R S A S S O C I AT I ON
To come in 2020
• Finalization of design
• Construction
• Secure funding for additional materials
• Secure funding and installation of solar heating system
• Trial and error
• Training
• Stay tuned…
Thank you
UPPER FRASER INDIGENOUS SUSTAINABLE HARVESTERS ASSOCIATION
AcknowledgementsWilliams Lake Indian Band
Northern Shuswap Tribal CouncilSprung Structures
ARK FNFC