Craig Leppan: co-founder and director. Our aim Promote aquaponic awareness, pool and centralize...
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Transcript of Craig Leppan: co-founder and director. Our aim Promote aquaponic awareness, pool and centralize...
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.
Sharing is caring.