Aquaponic applications for the small farm are becoming all the rage, but how can it truly produce profitably? You need a complete system that supplies it's own feed that is mercury free, soy free, GMO free.
1. N2
Denitrification
NO2
NO3 Nitrification
NH3 Ion Balance
H+
NH4+
Gas Stripping
TAN Mineralization
BOD Bacteria
Solids
Alkalinity Addition
CO2 BOD Reduction
Dissolved Refractory
Management
Inert Aeration
Solids
O2
Solids Removal
Modified version from Ronald F. Malone, Dept of Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University
2. Conventional Aquaponics
Grow Medium:
Perlite, rock wool,
coir, peat, synthetic
Tank Solids Hydroponic
Biofilter Sump
Culture Removal Subsystem
Plants Grown in
soil less medium
Flood and Drain
Raft method
NFT
7. Advanced Aquaponics
Grow Medium: Gravel for Flood and Drain
Potting soil (Wick) for Raft and NFT
Tank Solids Hydroponic
Biofilter Sump
Culture Removal Subsystem
Plants Grown in
soil, compost etc.
Flood and Drain
Raft method
NFT
9. Convenient Aquaponics
Grow Medium: Gravel for Flood and Drain
Potting soil (Wick) for Raft and NFT
Tank
Culture Solids Hydroponic
in Biofilter
Removal Subsystem
Sump
Plants Grown in
soil, compost etc.
Flood and Drain
Raft method
NFT
11. Convenient Aquaponics
Grow Medium: Gravel for Flood and Drain
Potting soil (Wick) for Raft and NFT
Tank
Culture
in
Sump
3/4” Gravel for Flood and Drain
Ebb and Flow
17. Some Nutrient Exchanges in Nature
CO2
waste produced by fish 2
O
Suspended solids
filter
Ammonia
fecal NH +
(50% + secreted through gills and 4
urine)
matter Ammonium
NH3 Biofiltration
Nitrifying bacteria
(Nitrosomonas bacteria)
Mineralization
Heterotrophic CO2
bacteria consumes
fish waste,
No -
Biofilters perform optimally
2
decaying plant
at a temperature nitrite 77 to
range of O2
86 °F, a pH range of 7.0 to 9.0,
matter Saturated DO, low BOD (<20 mg/liter)
and total alkalinity of 100 mg/liter
and uneaten food,
converting all NO -
3
(Nitrobacter)
three to ammonia
and other
nitrate
compounds.
58. Quic kTim e™ and a
decompress or
are needed to s ee this pic ture.
Grow Your Own Feed
High protein vegetative feed
--Azzolla--
59. Timed Feeding
Intestine
Stomach
Stomach and intestine of tilapia.
White arrows show path of feed when fish are fed before the
stomach empties. Tan arrows show path of feed when fish are
fed at proper intervals.
73. Eggs
present in clumps of up to 300
laying to hatching takes 1 day
Larva - 1st instar
1 1
Initially feeds on fluid exuded from the matter
migrates into body
hatching to first moult takes 1 day
Larva - 2nd instar
moves around in maggot mass
first moult to second moult takes 1 day
2 1
Larva - 3rd instar
still moves in mass
greatly increases in size
second molt to pre-pupa takes 2 days
Juvenile fly
Pre-pupa
migrates away from the corpse seeking a suitable pupation site,
(usually in soil) Eats with mouth 2
does not feed and vomit
transforms into pupa 10 4
pre-pupa to pupa takes 4 days
Pupa
resides within puparium
undergoes transformation from larval body form adult fly
does not feed
pupa to emergence takes 10 days
9 day cycle to Pupae
Adult fly
mates on emergence from pupa
feeds on protein from body fluids
lays eggs on corpse 19 day cycle to adulthood
emergence to egg laying takes 2 days
These development times are generalized. They vary depending on the species and the temperature. 2 week lifespan
74. Grow Your Own Feed
Size comparison
Blow Fly
Black Soldier Fly
BSF
ermetia illucens)
75. Grow Your Own Feed
The Black Soldier Fly Grub Culture
(Hermetia illucens)
Eats with mouth
and vomit
Does not Eat
Does not have mouth
or vomit
76. lack Soldier Fly Grub Culture
(Hermetia illucens)
Grow your own Feed
77. The Black Soldier Fly Grub Culture
(Hermetia illucens)
Grow your own Feed
78. The Black Soldier Fly Grub Culture
(Hermetia illucens)
35º
35º
Grow your own Feed
79. The Black Soldier Fly Grub Culture
(Hermetia illucens)
Grow your own Feed
80. Actively feeding grubs will secrete
The Black Soldier Fly Grub Cu
a natural fly repellant called a (Hermetia illucens)
synomone (an interspecies,
chemical communication) that
alerts and warns other kinds of
flies to stay away from the food,
since BSF are already present
auto-collecting
side bucket
continually
harvests grubs
35º
Grow your own Feed
Uses for Liquid Tea
1. Natural Filth Fly Repellent
2. Female Attractant for Restarting Colony
3. Liquid Plant Fertilizer (dilute 20:1)
81. The Black Soldier Fly Grub Cultu
(Hermetia illucens)
Grow your own Feed
body Pair of angled, 35˚
filler migration ramps allow
for natural migration
and auto-separation
screw of grubs. Inner edge
of 1" ramps possess a
raised lip to guide
grubs and optimize
wood crawl-off. Ramps
spacer converge at top into a
Ramp detail single vertical exit
port.
82. ack Soldier Fly Grub Culture
(Hermetia illucens)
Grow your own Feed
Pair of angled, 35˚
migration ramps allow
for natural migration
and auto-separation
of grubs. Inner edge
of 1" ramps possess a
raised lip to guide
grubs and optimize
crawl-off. Ramps
converge at top into a
single vertical exit
port.
83. he Black Soldier Fly Grub Culture
(Hermetia illucens)
Grow your own Feed
Leachate collection
84. Grow your own Feed
Egg Depository
The Black Soldier Fly Grub Culture
(Hermetia illucens)
85. Grow your own Feed
Grubs
“Phoenix worms”
Female
Black Soldier Fly Grub Culture
(Hermetia illucens)
86. Grow Your Own Feed
Blow Fly
Control
(Filth Fly)
(House Fly)
(Bottle Fly)
Juvenile fly
Egg
Maggot
Pupae
Adult
88. Grow Your Own Feed
The Black Soldier Fly Grub Culture
(Hermetia illucens)
Actively feeding grubs will secrete a Does not Eat
natural fly repellant called a synomone Does not have mouth
(an interspecies, chemical communication) and vomit
that alerts and warns other kinds of flies
to stay away from the food, since BSF are
already present
Uses for Liquid Tea
1. Natural Filth Fly Repellent
2. Female Attractant for Restarting Colony
3. Liquid Plant Fertilizer (dilute 20:1)
89. Grow Your Own Feed
Fly
Control QuickTime™ an d a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are need ed to see this p icture .
Biological Control: The use of Fly Parasites on a regular basis along with traps and
natural baits
The need for chemical sprays can be eliminated by adopting a program of Biological Fly
Control. Such a program includes regular releases of Fly Parasites, aimed at
destroying flies at their source, or breeding sites.
90. Grow Your Own Feed
Fly
QuickTime™ and a
Control Quic kTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompress or
are needed to see this picture.
TIFF (Uncompress ed) decompres sor
are needed to see this picture.
Biological Control: The use of Fly Parasites on a regular basis along with traps and
natural baits
The need for chemical sprays can be eliminated by adopting a program of Biological Fly
Control. Such a program includes regular releases of Fly Parasites, aimed at
destroying flies at their source, or breeding sites. It also includes the use of traps with
attractant baits which will help eliminate the adult fly population.
Cultural Control: Using good sanitation practices
Do not allow manure to pile up around the farm.
The manure should be piled or composted .
This reduces the surface area and results in
heat generation within the pile, driving the
pest larvae to the surface within reach of the
control method. Elimination of as many wet
areas as possible while using EME and EM
98. Algae tank life
•zooplankton, insect eggs,
larva
•large bodied animals
mosquito larvae and
bloodworms which come
from midges, nymphs and
larvae from damsel and
dragon fly, springtail and
mayfly
100. EM Floating Feed Blocks
Wet mix, tight compression
and complete drying
101. Bokashi Blocks (Fish Fe e d) Tilapia - w/ Fish M e al & High CP Gulay
Crude Protein P/ 50K sack
Cost Cost
B Meg 32.00% 1,300.00 26.00 P/ Kilo
Fermented EM Feed 32.35% 400.00 8.00 P/ Kilo
Ingredient Crude Protein Weight (K) Cost P/Kilo CP Units COST
Tiki Tiki 14% 1.00 9.00 0.14 9.00 P
Copra Meal 22% 1.00 9.00 0.22 9.00 P
Fish Meal 72% 0.70 20.00 0.50 14.00 P
Azolla- Gulay 44% 1.00 0.00 0.44 0.00 P
Livestock Lime 0% 0.10 8.00 0.00 0.80 P
Rock Dust Minerals 0% 0.02 2.00 0.00 0.04 P
Charcoal - fine 0% 0.01 1.00 0.00 0.01 P
Fish Sliage (FAA) 33% 0.10 6.00 0.03 0.60 P
Molases 3% 0.10 8.00 -- 0.80 P
EM 1% 0.10 8.00 -- 0.80 P
4.03 1.30 34.25 P
EM Floating Feed Blocks
Grow and process Azolla meal
to lower cost of feed