Background
Aquaponika combines hydroponics (cultivation of plants without soil) and aquaculture (fish farming). The output is an artificial ecosystem, in which there is nothing superfluous: the waste of life of fish is processed by bacteria and assimilated by plants, and purified water returns to fish.
This method comes from the countries of South-East Asia, where in the paddy rice fields bred carp, loach, carp, snails and eels. Animals fertilized water and fought with pests and weeds, and at the same time served as food for local residents.
A similar approach to agriculture differed the peoples of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. On the shores of shallow freshwater lakes, the Chinampas, artificial islands, were built. They were fertilized with lime mud, and constant access to water provided a crop even in the absence of rain. On the chinamps, corn, beans, tomatoes, pumpkin, amaranth and chili were grown. From each island, several crops were harvested per year.
Modern aquaponic systems are serious industrial installations of large sizes and different configurations. They are difficult to scale to such a size that they fit on the windowsill. Now we have AquaFarm – an excellent solution for home or office.
Aquaponica in miniature
“AquaFarm” is a small aquarium with a tray for plants instead of a lid. The tank is made of transparent acrylic, its volume is 11 liters.
White polypropylene tray contains five seats, a slot for the water pump and a special hatch for feeding the fish. The water pump works noiselessly, without distracting you from your work.
The kit includes two packages with stones. In one lies gravel for the bottom of the aquarium, and in the second – porous pumice, a substrate for plants. The substrate is filled in special small mesh pots that are inserted into the lid. Holes in pots allow the roots to freely germinate, so that the plants will not be cramped.
Modest dimensions allow “Aquaferme” to be sheltered on a windowsill, kitchen table or even a workplace. However, the socket must be nearby so that the pump can be connected.
Who lives in an eco-aquarium?
In the set of “Aquaferm” fish is not included – it will have to be bought separately at the pet store. When choosing, it is necessary to take into account the volume of the reservoir: although it is solid, it is still designed for one tenant.
The best bet is a fighting fish, or a Siamese cockerel. Petushki have a bright color, look great and do not get bored alone.
The pallet is best planted with green plants like basil, cilantro, watercress, alfalfa, mint, arugula and parsley. If a cat lives in a room with AquaFarm, then at least one seed should be planted oats or wheat grass to please the animal with fresh and juicy grass. The developers took care of the gardeners: the set includes seeds of wheat, green buckwheat, flax and lentils.
Process tricks
In comparison with traditional aquariums, and with home gardens, AquaFarm requires minimal efforts to install and maintain.
As for any other aquarium, the water will need to be protected for a couple of days. You can not wait, and treat the water conditioner from the set and immediately run “AquaForm”. Before releasing the fish, it should be allowed to get used to the chemical composition and temperature of the reservoir environment. To do this, just pour a little water into the temporary tank with the pet.
Illumination can be the most difficult issue when choosing a place for “Aqua farm”. Plants need sunlight, but warm water with plenty of nutrients will certainly blossom. Under normal conditions, the roots of plants will absorb nutrients and clean the reservoir, but with the invasion of algae, they are unlikely to cope.
As in the case of any other aquarium, snails or an additional air pump will help out. In addition, the walls of the reservoir should be cleaned every 1-2 months.
Growing plants do not need watering, but seeds and sprouts that do not have long roots should be sprinkled with a small amount of water. Growth occurs quickly and violently, so you do not have to water for a long time.
To improve the health of the fish, some owners of AquaFarm advise regularly pouring clean water into the aquarium – about a quarter of the total volume. The developers insist that with adult plants this will be unnecessary.
Farm Frenzy
Enriched by the efforts of fish, water gives impressive results: plants are stretched literally before our eyes. The leaves turn out juicy and healthy, especially with the right amount of light.
In five pots a rather modest amount of edible greens grows. On a full salad is not enough, but it is enough to regularly add fragrant leaves to the main meal. The most important thing is that they are always freshest – only from the garden.
The combination of an aquarium and a mini-garden is most appropriate in the kitchen, but easily fit into the nursery. If you install AquaFarm in the office, the Siamese cockerel is guaranteed to become the favorite of the whole team. Wherever it is, an unusual setting attracts attention as a magnet and becomes an excellent topic for conversation.
You can purchase AquaFarm in the online store Madrobots.ru. Readers of the Lifehacker give a discount of 20% on promotional code AQUALIFE until June 30, 2017.
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