Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

(0:05 – picture 1: fish tank)
In 2008 the two-year EcoFutura trial was concluded. In this project, the technical and economical viability of coupling aquaculture and greenhouse horticulture was researched. In the trial system, the tilapia swim underneath the tomato plants, so that they can optimally use each others surpluses.
Besides the fertiliser left in the water by the fish, the fish also produce CO2 which is directly absorbed into the tomato plants. The space is also used more efficiently.
Fish feeding happens fully automatically, and the exact feeding amount is logged so the amount of nutrients in the water can be determined. This is because the specially designed fish feed is the main source of minerals for both the fish and the tomatoes.

(1:28 – picture 2: belt filter & supplementation rainwater)
The solid wastes and the fish feed that is not consumed by the fish, are removed from the water by a rotating drum filter. These wastes can be re-used outside of the system; for instance as soil improver or in a fermentation system.

(1:57 – picture 3: UV-desinfection)
The water that was cleaned by the rotating drum filter, is now disinfected by UV-rays.
(picture 4 (temperature control) is skipped in this video)

(2:09 – picture 5: trickle-filter)
In the trickle-filter, the biological conversion of ammonia into nitrate takes place. Also, CO2 is removed from the water, and oxygen is put back in. To speed up this process, a fan is mounted at the top of the trickle-filter installation.

(2:31 – picture 6: measuring section)
In order to follow the aquaculture processes closely, an advanced computer was used. All readings can be read directly from the computer screen, and there are also time-graphs for more information.

(2:46 – picture 7: dirty water, picture 8: UV-desinfection and picture 9: disinfected water)
The “blown-out” fish water (I think they mean the water from the trickle filter) is sent to the technical room, where it is mixed to the right ratio for watering the tomatoes.

(3:06)
During the EcoFutura project, the combination of fish and plants was researched on a small scale. After two years, they came to the conclusion that both the water and the excess heat from greenhouse horticulture is fine for use in aquaculture. The fish in turn return CO2 and nutrients to the plants. By using the space in a smart way, the aquaculture part can fit efficiently into the greenhouse. The combination is therefore a good way to produce ecologically and economically viable produce, and sustainable fish. Delicious fish and tasteful vegetables are the final result.
The EcoFutura project is a cooperation between Aqua-Terra Nova, Green Q, Groen Agro Control and Priva.

The total population of the world is growing, but the amount of fish in the sea is declining. Fish is food that is relatively cheap and healthy. That’s why closed-system aquaculture is in the centre of attention. Four companies took the initiative for the project “Proeftuin Aquacultuur” (Aquaculture ‘experiment garden’ / laboratory / ‘tasting garden’). This consortium consists of the following companies: Green Q, Groen Agro Control, Aqua-Terra Nova and Priva. The technical and economical viability of growing both vegetables and fish in one greenhouse, using a closed circulation system, was researched. The project started at the end of 2006. The researches chose to concentrate on tomatoes and tilapia (a species of fish that is easy to rear). The “Improvement Centre” (the name of the building, located in Bleiswijk, NL) was the ideal location to research the viability of the “Proeftuin Aquacultuur” project. Priva supports the project with existing technologies and products. The application of these, for the combined cultivation of tomatoes and fish, is however unique.

If you find any more information in Dutch that you would like for me to translate, just send me a PM.

I have this old Dutch porn movie.........

Hows your system going Xzorby, is it still running?