Part 4 Fixing the dead zones

Aquaponics- an overview of the solution

I want to start this section by acknowledging what a terrible graphic that is to describe aquaponics. The main reason it is terrible is because aquaponics IS NOT A CLOSED SYSTEM. It always has, and always will require some kind of input. Usually in the form of nutrient. (That is a little foreshadowing into how aquaponics will work in this system.)

The next thing I want to point out is that aquaponics is not the entire system, but its principles and practices are at the very core of it. But before I start wandering into the weeds of how the entire system works in detail and the potential issues and advantages of it; lets take a look at what aquaponics is, how it works, and what its normal applications are.

“Aquaponics is a sustainable agricultural system that combines aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soilless plant cultivation) into a symbiotic ecosystem. In this innovative method, fish and plants are cultivated together in a closed-loop system, where the waste produced by the fish becomes a source of nutrients for the plants, while the plants help filter and clean the water for the fish. This mutually beneficial relationship creates a highly efficient and eco-friendly method of food production

At the heart of an aquaponics system lies a recirculating water system. Fish, typically species like tilapia, trout, or catfish, are kept in tanks where they produce waste rich in ammonia. Beneficial bacteria in the system convert this ammonia first into nitrites and then into nitrates, which serve as essential nutrients for the plants. The nutrient-rich water is then circulated to the hydroponic beds where plants, such as lettuce, herbs, or tomatoes, are grown. These plants absorb the nutrients, effectively purifying the water, which is then recirculated back to the fish tanks, completing the cycle.

One of the key advantages of aquaponics is its efficiency in resource utilization. Compared to traditional farming methods, aquaponics requires significantly less water, as the water is continuously recycled within the system. Additionally, it eliminates the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, making it an organic and environmentally friendly approach to farming. Aquaponics systems can be scaled to fit various sizes, from small home setups to large commercial operations, offering a versatile solution for sustainable food production in both urban and rural settings. Overall, aquaponics represents a harmonious integration of aquaculture and hydroponics, providing a promising avenue for addressing food security challenges while minimizing environmental impact.”

So lets look at that in the context of cleaning up the river systems to reduce nutrient flowing into the ocean where it is causing dead zones. From a broad view, it is simply a matter of removing the fish production from the equation and inserting the river water.

Typically, aquaponics systems are used as a means of producing fish and food plants…which is the application that I studied while doing work in the Permaculture field. It is an extremely effective (if hard to control or predict productivity) means of growing a large amount of food with a minimum of inputs or effort. Which leads us to our first major problem.

Using aquaponics to clean the river is not suitable for food production. The reason for this is a matter of pollution that is not nutrient based. The runoff that feeds all this excess nutrient into our rivers if rife with other chemicals, including petroleum products, medicine, and whatever else you can imagine.

The good news here is that there are a great number of plant products that are grown which are not food based. My initial focus will be on textile production, with a variety of other experiments which I think will bear fruit (figuratively will have to do here). There will be several follow up articles in this space.

There are several other issues we will discuss in upcoming articles, with the main ones being control of nutrient flow, predictable production, and measuring environmental clean up.