Searching for solutions in aquaculture: Aquaponics

Abstract

Aquaponic production combines intensive production with waste recycling and water conservation. Aquaponic join recirculating aquaculture with hydroponics to use nutrient waste from aquaculture as an input to plant growth. Traditional aquaculture systems treat or dispose nutrient-rich wastewater. In aquaponics, the waste products from the fish are converted by a bio-filter into soluble nutrients which are absorbed by the plants, and allow ‘clean’ water to be returned back to the fish. Thus, it produces valuable fish protein with a minimal pollution of fresh water resources, while at the same time producing horticultural crops. Fish in aquaponic production systems can be raised in ponds, tanks, or other containers. Plants are grown separately in hydroponic tanks, submerged in water but suspended in gravel, sand, perlite, or porous plastic films, as well as on floating rafts. Systems vary greatly in design and construction, but most perform the following key functions: finfish and plant production, removal of suspended solids, and bacterial nitrification. This review discusses applications, effects and perspective of aquaponics.

Akvaponika kombinuje intenzivnu proizvodnju sa reciklažom otpadnih materija i očuvanjem vode, i povezuje akvakulturu sa hidroponikom u cilju korišćenja hranljivih materija iz akvakulture za rast biljaka. U tradicionalnoj akvakulturi, otpadna voda bogata hranljivim materijama se ne koristi. U akvaponici, produkti nastali prilikom gajenja riba se pomoću biofiltera konvertuju u rastvorljive materije koje biljke apsorbuju, a “čista” voda se vraća ponovo u proizvodnju. Na ovaj način se omogućava proizvodnja visoko vrednih animalnih proteina, uz minimalno zagađenje vode, dok se istovremeno dobijaju proizvodi hortikulture. Postoji veliki broj sistema za gajenje, različitog dizajna i konstrukcije, ali se svi baziraju na zadovoljavanju ključnih funkcija: proizvodnji riba i biljaka, uklanjanju rastvorenih materija i bakterijskoj nitrifikaciji. U radu su prikazani primena, efekti i perspektive akvaponike.