Performance of a small-scale modular aquaponic system

Abstract

Aquaponic systems aim to exploit the advantages of aquaculture and hydroponic systems. A reasonable fish production can be sustained and at the same time a wide range of green plants and vegetables will be beneffited from the nutrient-rich outflow of the fish tanks, providing nitrification services to reduce the ammonia and nitrite loads. In this paper, the performance of a small-scale modular aquaponic system was assessed for the critical initial running period of 14 days during September 2011, using lettuce, basil and Nile tilapia. It was evident from the results that mid-range fish stocking densities and accordingly nutrient loads are able to support a plant harvest at a ratio of 1:4 to 1:5 (amount of fish feed provided: harvestable biomass) in both species, depending on the initial size of the plants. Very small plants with sensitive root system should be avoided, as well as increased ammonia loads. Further improvements could be achieved by fine-tunning of the flow characteristics of the system, the standardization of water quality profile, the appropriate selection of substrate and the addition of extra biofiltration compartment.

Authors and Affiliations

Marianthi Simeonidou, Ioannis Paschos, Evangelia Gouva, Markos Kolygas, Costas Perdikaris

Keywords

Related Articles

Evolution of water quality in the Blue Lagoon from Aghireșu

The Blue Lagoon Lake is the result of anthropic activity in Aghires area, boeing Ander the action of natural factors, since the beginning. The area is rich in caolino quartz sands which were intensively exploited for a w...

 The effect of feeding frequency on growth performance of rainbow trout fingerlings reared in recirculating system.

Growth, feed consumption and conversion ratios of trout fingerlings (Oncorhynchus mykiss) subjected to daily feeding frequencies were evaluated. The trial performed using 295 fish with a mean weight of 5.53±0.25 g divide...

Heavy metals concentration in the tissues of perch (Perca fluviatilis) and bleak (Alburnus alburnus) from Czarna Orawa River, Poland

Two common fish species, Perca fluviatilis and Alburnus alburnus, from Czarna Orawa River were examined for concentration of certain heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb) in their tissues. Significant differences between these t...

Cultivation of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758) in low salinity inland brackish geothermal water

In the course of attempting to culture gilthead sea bream in inland brackish geothermal water, indoor and outdoor research studies have been ongoing from early 2006 at the "Bengis Centre for Desert Aquaculture" of the In...

Conventional PCR assays for the detection of pathogenic Vibrio spp. in shrimp aquaculture in the Philippine

Shrimp culture is considered as one of the major industries in most aquaculture-producing countries in Asia. This industry has grown steadily over the years, but its gradual decline is due to several disease outbreaks of...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP114759
  • DOI -
  • Views 116
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Marianthi Simeonidou, Ioannis Paschos, Evangelia Gouva, Markos Kolygas, Costas Perdikaris (2012).  Performance of a small-scale modular aquaponic system. Aquaculture, Aquarium, Conservation & Legislation - International Journal of the Bioflux Society, 5(4), 182-188. https://europub.co.uk./articles/-A-114759