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Most of us have heard of hydroponics but may not be familiar with the term “aquaponics”.
I know this is not something I know well, so I thought it would be a good idea to do some research and learn more about this interesting topic.
aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics where the waste products produced by marine animals such as fish, shrimp, snails and crayfish provide the nutrients needed to hydroponically grow plants.
Plants, in turn, purify the water to keep sea creatures alive.
While we normally associate things like lettuce and herbs with growing in this way, there are many different houseplants for aquaponics.
Aquaculture is the method of growing creatures such as snails, fish, shrimp, and crayfish in tanks while hydroponics is growing plants in water. Combine the two and we have aquaponics.
Literally, with aquaponics, we make fish work to eat and produce waste which in turn becomes the perfect fertilizer for plants growing in the water.
The plants keep the water cool and the cycle begins again.
Contents
What equipment do we use for Aquaponics?
Basically all you need is an aquarium, a water pump, fish and plants to get started.
Of course, the size of the tank will depend on the space you have, and the number of fish you can accommodate will depend on the size of the tank.
What plants can we grow this way?
Aquaponics is particularly recognized for food production.
This method is often used to grow a lot of tomatoes and cucumbers, but it is also possible to grow other things like herbs, vegetables and flowers.
Even indoor plants can be successfully grown this way.
The success of growing plants using this method also depends on the maturity and density of the fish in your aquarium and the nutrient quality of the water.
Vegetables with low to medium nutritional requirements will grow well in aquariums with fewer fish. These include green leafy vegetables like cabbage, spinach, lettuce, herbs and chives.
The plants with the highest nutritional requirements are tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. These need a denser concentration of fish to do well.
In fact, the list of vegetables that can be successfully grown this way is extensive! Shallots, red onions, peas, okra, cabbage, melons, strawberries… the list goes on.
You may also like: What are the best edging plants for small ponds
Top 10 Indoor Plants for Aquaponics
1) Spider Plants
Because these plants thrive in moist soil, growing them in aquaponics is suitable for them.
Water has just the right amount of nutrients to get it right. The spider plant will even grow in the aquarium as long as only the roots are submerged.
It is very easy to propagate the plant this way by simply taking a cutting and placing it in the middle of the pot. You should see roots in about 7 days.
2) Peace lily
peace lily They grow well in aquaponics and aquariums. You can recognize them by their dark green leaves and beautiful white flowers.
They like high humidity, which makes them a good choice for aquaponics.
3) Chinese currency factory
This is another plant that thrives in aquariums, so growing it aquaponically will keep it just as happy.
It is easy to spread, in fact it grows creeping and the roots may need frequent pruning to keep it under control.
4) philodendron
The philodendron the plant will thrive in aquaponics as long as the water is nutritious.
You will notice that they grow bigger and shinier when grown this way rather than outdoors where they have to compete for nutrients.
5) Snake plant
snake plants they are low maintenance plants at best, and they do even better in aquaponics.
6) ferns
ferns they love having their feet in aquaponic water so they don’t have to fight over its nutrients. You will find that they grow enormously and can often be spread and cut back.
They are incredibly easy to grow as long as they receive moderate daily light.
Since they don’t have high nutritional requirements, you don’t need large amounts of fish to keep the plant alive and thriving.
7) worries
Yes, you can grow them! Not only do they add beautiful color to your aquaponics garden, but they also help keep insects away due to their very pungent smell.
8) Water Hyacinth
While some people may consider them invasive in ponds, they do a very good job of keeping the water clean for your fish.
This makes it a good plant if you have fish that don’t like frequent water changes.
9) Lavender
While some people struggle to grow it in soil, it does well in an aquaponic system. The nutritional requirements are low, so you don’t need a lot of fish.
10) chamomile
Although it may be considered an herb, it is a delightful plant in its own right and can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) in height and produce small white flowers that can be harvested.
This plant is also effective in repelling pests.
How does aquaponics work?
Aquaponics uses two breeding methods, namely growing plants without soil and raising fish.
The fish are fed and the waste is collected, they feed the plants that live in a medium other than the ground.
The plants get the nutrients they need from the fish water and the excess is pumped to the fish side of the plant.
So here is what happens:
- Set up your aquarium with a pump to bring water from the aquarium to the plant bed
- Build your plant bed on top of the tank with drainage into the aquarium
- put your fish in it
- add your plants
- Start your system: feed your fish, turn on the pump, make sure the water is pumping through the planting bed and flowing back to the fish.
If you like this article, check out our article on which are the best oxygenating plants for small natural ponds.
How much does an aquaponic system cost?
As with anything, it can be done cheaply or very expensively. If you were to purchase an out-of-the-box setup, you can expect to pay between $2,500 and $14,000. What a difference!
You can of course expect delivery and installation as well as product warranties for these prices.
Some manufacturers base their price on square footage per plant and that can go up to around $2.50 to $3.50 per plant, so it can be included in your budget.
If you’re a hands-on person or know someone who can help you build one yourself, you’ll find that it costs a lot less than buying one.
That said, if you don’t know how to build it, better buy one and know that it won’t jam or leak like that.
Which indoor plants grow the fastest with aquaponics?
Some fast growing houseplants for aquaponics include:
- english ivy
- peace lily
- Pothos – Perhaps one of the fastest growing plants for aquaponics.
let’s talk about water
Since water is what keeps fish and plants healthy, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Water circulates and recirculates nutrients from fish to plants and vice versa. Ideally, you want your water to be nutrient rich to keep your fish healthy and your plants thriving.
Water quality, pH and temperature contribute to the proper functioning of aquaponics.
pH levels should be kept between 6.8 and 7.4, where bacteria will work best.
The temperature should be between 65 and 85 degrees if you have warm water fish, and between 55 and 65 degrees if you have cold water fish.
What are the best low-light aquaponic houseplants?
Just like outdoor plants, your aquaponic plants also need light. However, you will find that your fish prefer shade.
They don’t need sunlight to grow and stay healthy, in fact they need light and darkness.
So what do we mean by low light? You should still be able to read a book in low light conditions. If it’s too dark for that, the area is beyond dark and will need extra light to grow the plants.
If the area doesn’t have enough light, you won’t be able to grow food plants like tomatoes. They will only grow with supplemental light. However, lettuce can grow in low light areas.
Plants known to do well in low light areas include:
- lucky bamboo
- philodendron leaf heart
- snake plants
- peace lily
- bros
final thoughts
Once you learn and understand how different things come into play in aquaponics, you will be well on your way to success.
One of the best items you can buy is a quality water testing kit to make sure your water isn’t too high or too low, too hot or too cold for the type of fish. which you choose.
A good understanding of water, light, and water quality will keep your system and houseplants running smoothly and efficiently for your aquaponics system to thrive.
Written by: Valerie Holyoak
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
Top 15 Houseplants With Red And Green Leaves
How to Use Houseplants for Spiritual Protection
The 7 best shrubs to plant at home