Aquaponics Commercial Farming
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Aquaponics Commercial Farming
Aquaponics is a system of farming that is increasingly developing root in modern world. It refers to the system of agriculture in which the aquatic animals such as farmed fish release waste products that are subsequently utilized by plants that are grown through hydroponic system. In return, the plants help to purify the water of the waste products, making it conducive for the farmed animals. This technology-based farming heavily relies on the concept of symbiosis, with each member of the Aquaponics system benefiting another member of the same system in one way or the other. For instance, the farmed fish metabolize ingested nutrients and release waste product. Accumulation of such waste materials in the water would render it unsuitable for habitation and would thus result in the death of the aquatic organisms. The introduction of the plant component in the system exploits the nutrients in these wastes for plant metabolism. Consequently, the plant is able to obtain vital nutrients to facilitate its survival. On the other hand, the utilization of the wastes as sources of nutrients for the plants detoxifies the water hence ensuring survival of the fish and other aquatic organisms. The symbiotic process is thus circular and continuous.
Parts of the Aquaponic System
The aquaponic system can be utilized for subsistence or commercial production of fish and plants. In all cases, however, the system must have specific components and designs. Generally, the system can be classified into two sections; the aquaculture section and the hydroponic section. The former part is vital in raring fish and aquatic animals (Backyard Aquaponics, 2012). On the other hand, the hydroponic component is vital in plant production. The effluents from the aquatic section are fed into the hydroponic section to provide nutrients. The purified water from the hydroponic section is channeled back to the aquaculture component. The components of aquaponic system are further sub-categorized based on the functionality of each specific part. The first key part of the system is the raring tank. This sub-component provides homage to the fish. The feeds are added in this component which also serves as the reservoir of wastes and uneaten feeds (Backyard Aquaponics, 2012).
Closely linked to the raring tank is the settling basin whose main function is to catch uneaten food. This component is also the part where fine particulates settle. Another subcomponent of the system is the biofilter. This part is used to effect nitrification process. It is impregnated with suitable bacterial species which help to convert toxic ammonia into nitrates that can be utilized by the plants (AquaBiofilter, 2016). This subsection is constituted of two major classes of bacteria; the nitrosomonas and the nitrobacter. The former is involved in the primary recycling process and it effects the conversion of the ammonia-rich wastes to the less toxic nitrite form. However, nitrites are inaccessible for plant use hence need for further conversion to the readily utilized nitrate form. This last step in the ammonia conversion chain is mediated by the nitrobacter (AquaBiofilter, 2016). Next, the system is constituted of the hydroponics sub-system which utilizes nutrients from the biofilter subcomponent. The water from the hydroponics subsystem flows back to the sump which is the lowest point in the system (Maggi & Pallud, 2010). From the sump, the purified water can then be pumped back to the raring tanks.
Insight into the Hydroponic Subsystem
From the previous determination, this subsystem is key in purifying the water of the wastes to make it usable by the fish in the raring tanks. Plant growth in this system considerably deviates from normal setups in which soil is used as a growth medium (National Agriculture Library, 2016). On the contrary, the hydroponic plants are grown with roots immersed in the effluent water that is rich in nutrients. The water passed through this system is thus freed of toxic components. It is also oxygenated since the aquatic organisms need oxygen to effectively carry out metabolic processes. There are different forms of hydroponics that can be used, hence different classes of aquaponics.
The first class is the deep-water raft aquaponics which involves the plant components floating above the aquaculture section (Lennard & Leonard, 2006). Alternatively, the recirculating aquaponics can be used. This second class uses gravel or clay beads in a container where plants are grown the container is then flooded with water. Reciprocating aquaponics, on the other hand, is based on the flood and drain model (Lennard & Leonard, 2006). The stability of nutrient concentration in the water is realized through integrated production of plants at different stages of development. This integrated approach is based on the precedence that different stages of plant growth require different amounts of nutrient.
Operation of the System
The aquaponics system requires critical operation to ensure that all variants for growth and development of the different components are satisfied. The inputs to this system include water which is a medium for biochemical processes and light which is critical in phototrophic utilization of nutrients by plants, especially during the photolytic stage of photosynthesis. The fish also require light to activate biochemical processes. Other inputs include electricity to pump water and facilitate continued flow throughout the system (Maggi & Pallud, 2010). Oxygenation of the water is also important based on the criticality of the gas in respiratory process. In light with the defined important parameters and inputs, it is essential for the operator to follow a set of principles that govern the operation of the aquaponics system. Some of these principles include the focus on feeding ratio, maintenance of the vital constants, supplementing through addition of calcium, potassium and iron, adequate aeration of the system, and regular removal of solid wastes among others (National Agriculture Library, 2016).

References
AquaBiofilter. (2016). Floating Wetlands, Floating Islands, Aqua Biofilter, Biofilter Grows Rice on Fish Pond, Floating Wetlands, Floating Reedbeds, Floating Reed Beds, Floating Islands, Fishery Algae Control, Algae Control, Algal Bloom, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Biofilm. AquaBiofilter. Retrieved from: http://www.aquabiofilter.com/
Backyard Aquaponics. (2012). Importance of fish. Backyard Aquaponics. Retrieved from: http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/guide-to-aquaponics/fish/
Lennard, W. & Leonard, B. (2006). A Comparison of Three Different Hydroponic Sub-systems (gravel bed, floating and nutrient film technique) in an Aquaponic Test System. Aquaculture International,14(6), 539-550. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10499-006-9053-2
Maggi, F. & Pallud, C. (2010). Space agriculture in micro- and hypo-gravity: A comparative study of soil hydraulics and biogeochemistry in a cropping unit on Earth, Mars, the Moon and the space station. Planetary And Space Science, 58(14-15), 1996-2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2010.09.025
National Agriculture Library. (2016). Aquaponics: Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from: https://afsic.nal.usda.gov/aquaculture-and-soilless-farming/aquaponics