A Career in Aquaponics

If you have an interest and passion for the "green" movement, and love of agriculture and science, you may want to consider a career in aquaponics.

Aquaponics is combining fish farming and hydroponic agriculture into one production system. Water from fish tanks is circulated to a soil-less growing system that feeds plants roots and is then circulated back to the fish tank. No chemicals are used in the nutrient system other than the natural nutrients supplied by fish waste. Fish waste is produced first as ammonium and is then converted by bacteria into nitrate, a form of nitrogen that plants are able to use.

The aquaponic farmer breeds and raises fish for consumption without affecting native fish populations, and produces totally organic produce while conserving natural resources.

The technology for wide scale commercial application is a bit complicated and has been steadily advancing over the last two decades with a big jump in the last ten years. It has opened up new areas in the fields of scientific study and research, biology, fish husbandry, and agriculture that require a full range of educational degrees one can attain from the best colleges online.

Fish Species

Typical fish species being farmed include tilapia, bass, trout and perch, however most commercial operations are focusing on tilapia, a white fish that is growing in popularity with consumers. Tilapia is a warm water fish that is tolerable of fluctuating water conditions and adapts well to the re-circulating tank culture.

Plant Species

The selection of suitable crop plants directly relate to the stocking level of fish and the concentration of plant nutrients they produce. Specialty greens, herbs and lettuce have a low to medium nutrient requirement while crops such as fruit bearing tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers have a much higher nutrient level need. Other factors include the light and humidity needs of the plants which are all things one gains from the study of agriculture and plant physiology. Managing a commercial system also requires a background in engineering.

The Basics

While the commercial operation of aquaponics is at a grand scale, the basic principals of the science can be applied to small scale home operations. With a small aquarium, house plants can grow from the top of the aquarium, or water may be pumped from the aquarium to a second container that houses a variety of plants and pumped back to the aquarium in a set up that is easy to build. Hobbyists who have aquariums often change the water and use the dirty water to feed house plants, or use plants to filter the aquarium water. This is an easy way for a student to experiment with aquaponics and see first hand its affect on plant growth.

The field of aquaponics is dramatically growing with future opportunities for students who have a passion for the environment and want to choose a career that makes a difference in the world.