Organic Gardening with Aquaponics

Photo by Chris Wimmer

By now most of us know that organic food is better for us. We are all trying to eat more organic food but it can be difficult to afford or find for some. Aquaponics is a great way of growing your own organic food because it is easy to set up and maintain. This is a pretty new and radical was of thinking but is quite effective. The benefits of Aquaponics are significant and easily outweigh the upfront cost and effort to setup.

Low Water Utilization

Contrary to popular belief, Aquaponics actually uses very little water, as most water used is recycled back into the system. Aquaponics uses about 90% less water than traditional agricultural methods.

Organic and Chemical Free

Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are not necessary as the fish produce a natural fertilizer for the plants. Routine inspections of the vegetation will allow you to quickly and simply address any other issues naturally.

Set Up Almost Anywhere

All you need is a place with direct sunlight, a power source, and an open space of 3 feet by 3 feet.

Setting up a System

The Fish

Setting up this part of the system is easy. You need a container, air pump, air stone, tubing, and fish. If it sounds much like your typical aquarium, it is!

The Plants

You will need a container to grow your plants in. The most common way is to create a floating raft over the fish pond so the plant roots can feed directly.

You can also create a more complete hydroponic system and connect it to the fish pond with a water pump and pipes. To learn more about other popular hydroponic systems, Click Here.

About the Author

Chris Wimmer is an urban hydroponic hobbyist living in Chicago. You can find out more about Chris at Captain Hydroponics.