AQUAPONICS is a form of integrated agriculture that combines two major techniques, aquaculture and hydroponics. In one continuously recirculating unit, culture water exits the fish tank containing the metabolic wastes of fish. The water first passes through a mechanical filter that captures solid wastes, and then passes through a biofilter that oxidizes ammonia to nitrate. The water then travels through plant grow beds where plants uptake the nutrients, and finally the water returns, purified, to the fish tank . The biofilter provides a habitat for bacteria to convert fish waste into accessible nutrients for plants. These nutrients, which are dissolved in the water, are then absorbed by the plants. This process of nutrient removal cleans the water, preventing the water from becoming toxic with harmful forms of nitrogen (ammonia and nitrite), and allows the fish, plants, and bacteria to thrive symbiotically. Thus, all the organisms work together to create a healthy growing environment for one another, provided that the system is properly balanced.
ROLE OF BACTERIA IN AQUAPONICS
The most crucial component of an AQUAPONICS is the nitrifying bacteria. Conversion, or nitrification, of ammonia excreted by fish does not occur automatically. Two types, of bacteria act in stages to convert fish waste into usable nutrients for the plants. While fish produce the fuel to run the system, bacteria are considered as the engine running the AQUAPONICS system.
The two types of bacteria that plays the crucial role are are NITROSOMONAS AND NITROBACTER . These two bacteria works on the waste product of fishes. i.e AMMONIA. NITROSOMONAS convert AMMONIA which is highly toxic to fish to NITRITE which is slightly less toxic to fish. NITROBACTER then convert NITRITE to NITRATE, which is relatively non-toxic to fish and is the most available form of nitrogen available for plant uptake. AMMONIA is a natural product of fish protein metabolism. Freshwater fish excrete AMMONIA from their gills and in feces. Excessive concentrations of un-ionized AMMONIA in water are toxic to fish. The amount of un-ionized AMMONIA in the water depends upon the TOTAL AMMONIA NITROGEN (TAN) present and the water pH and temperature. Un-ionized AMMONIA (NH3) is toxic to most fish species at concentrations of 1 part per million or less. Conversion of AMMONIA to NITRITE by NITROSOMONAS slightly reduces the risk of fish toxicity. However, NITRITE is not a readily usable form for plant growth. Therefore, NITROBACTER is crucial as it converts NITRITE TO NITRATE, which is relatively non-toxic to fish and is the nitrogen form easily absorbed by plant roots and is necessary for plant growth.
The biotic, or living, components of an AQUAPONICS system are thus fish, plants, and two genera of bacteria, all working in unison . The abiotic, or non-living, components of an AQUAPONIC system consist of a fish tank(s), clarifier or solid waste filtration tank, biofilter, plant growing beds, tanks, or troughs, a water pump, and/or an air pump .
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