Have you heard of aquaponics before? It is a modern farming system that combines fish farming (aquaculture) with growing crops without soil (hydroponics). In simple terms, you raise fish in a tank and use their waste as fertilizer for plants. The plants, in return, clean the water, which goes back to the fish.
This creates a natural cycle where both the fish and crops benefit each other.
How It Works
Fish Tank: You keep fish like catfish or tilapia in water.
Fish Waste: As the fish eat and grow, they produce waste in the water.
Grow Beds: The water carrying the waste is pumped into grow beds where crops are planted in gravel or other media.
Bacteria Action: Helpful bacteria change the fish waste into nutrients that plants can use.
Clean Water: The plants absorb the nutrients, and the clean water flows back to the fish tank.
This cycle repeats again and again.
Types of aquaponic systems
Types of Aquaponics
1. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
A shallow stream of nutrient-rich water flows continuously over the plant roots, keeping them nourished and well-oxygenated.
Best plants: Lettuce, spinach, kale, basil, mint.
Best for: Intermediate to advanced growers – requires monitoring of water flow to avoid root drying if the pump stops.
2. Deep Water Culture (DWC)
Plants are suspended in net pots with their roots fully submerged in a nutrient-rich solution. An air pump supplies oxygen to the water, encouraging rapid growth.
Best plants: Lettuce, bok choy, basil, cilantro, leafy greens.
Best for: Beginners – simple, affordable, and forgiving system.
3. Drip System
Nutrient solution is dripped directly to the base of each plant through a system of tubes and emitters, providing precise control.
Best plants: Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, strawberries.
Best for: Intermediate growers – good for larger fruiting plants, but needs regular maintenance to prevent clogging.
4. Wick System
A wick passively draws nutrients from a reservoir up to the roots by capillary action. No electricity required.
Best plants: Herbs like oregano, thyme, parsley, and lightweight leafy greens.
Best for: Absolute beginners – cheapest and simplest system, though limited to small plants.
5. Aeroponics
Roots dangle in the air and are misted with nutrient solution, maximizing oxygen exposure and boosting growth speed.
Best plants: Lettuce, strawberries, medicinal herbs, and high-value crops.
Best for: Advanced growers – requires technical setup, pumps, timers, and careful monitoring.
Quick Guide:
Beginners: Wick, DWC
Intermediate: NFT, Drip
Advanced: Aeroponics
Why Aquaponics Is Important
Two-in-one farming: You get both fish and crops from one system.
Less fertilizer: The fish provide natural nutrients, so you spend less on chemicals.
Small space: It works even in backyards, not just on large farms.
Year-round farming: Because it’s a controlled system, you can farm in both rainy and dry seasons.
What Can Be Grown
Fish: Catfish and tilapia are common because they grow fast and are popular in the market.
Crops: Leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and ugu do very well. Tomato and pepper can also be tried with extra care.
Earthworm: Earthworms can be grown in the grow beds. Mature ones can be fed to fish.
Shed aquaponic: Rows of crops can be grown above the pond or beside, but higher than the pond
Challenges
Startup cost: You need tanks, pumps, pipes, and grow media to begin. This makes it more expensive at the beginning compared to normal open-field farming.
Monitoring: The system needs attention, especially water quality and pump operation. If the pump fails, both fish and plants can suffer.
Final Note
Aquaponics may sound like something foreign, but it is already being practiced in Nigeria on both small and medium scales. With land becoming scarce and input costs rising, this method of farming can become a good alternative for the future.
If you are new to it, the best advice is to start small, learn how the system works, and then expand gradually.
Leave a Reply