Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

CLAIMS
1. An aquaponics system comprising; a tank for housing at least one aquatic animal species; a plant growing apparatus for housing one or more plant species growing in an aqueous environment; and a biofilter module for receiving a waste stream comprising solid waste and water from the tank, the biofilter module comprising; a solids removal means; and a biological waste digestion unit for digesting solids from the solids removal means to produce plant nutrients, which biological waste digestion unit comprises a biological species that at least partially digests solid waste from said solids removal means to plant nutrients; whereby in use, said plant nutrients are transferred to the plant growing apparatus and at least a portion of the water is returned to the tank.
2. An aquaponics system according to claim 1 , wherein said biological species is a species of worm and said biological waste digestion unit is a worm unit.
3. An aquaponics system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said system comprises a nitrification means for treating water, wherein said nitrification means includes at least one nitrification entity capable of nitrifying ammonia.
4. An aquaponics system according to claim 3, wherein said nitrification means comprises a tank for housing said nitrification entity, wherein said tank is separate from the plant growing apparatus.
5. An aquaponics system according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said nitrification entity is chosen from the group consisting of one or more appropriate chemicals, zeolite filters, nitrifying microorganisms or any combination thereof.
6. An aquaponics system according to claim 5, wherein said nitrifying microorganisms include nitrosomas and nitrobacter.
7. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the nitrification means comprises a high surface area media.
8. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said system is a partially closed circuit aquaponics system.
9. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said system is a closed circuit aquaponics system.
10. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said solids removal means is any appropriate means for separating large particles from small particles and water.
11. An aquaponics system according to claim 10, wherein the solids removal means is a filter.
12. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the tank allows reversible unidirectional flow through the tank. \
13. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the tank comprises one or more of a baffle, air jets or water jets.
14. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein said aquatic animal species are selected from the group consisting of fish, crustaceans, shellfish, molluscs, or any combination thereof.
15. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said plant growing apparatus is a stacked apparatus

16. An aquaponics system according to claim 15, wherein said stacked apparatus is a multiple level A frame or aladder type structure.
17. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said system further comprises an insect larvae production module.
18. An aquaponics system according to claim 17, wherein said insect larvae production module includes a reversibly sealable container for housing organic waste and an insect larvae outlet pipe.
19. An aquaponics system according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein said insect larvae production module comprises an insect larvae collection means.
20. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the tank, plant growing apparatus, biofilter module, and nitrification means, and insect larvae production module where present, are at least partially vertically stacked.
21. An aquaponics system according to claim 20, wherein said plant growing apparatus is positioned above both of said biofilter module and tank.
22. An aquaponics system according to claim 20 or claim 21 , wherein said plant growing apparatus is positioned above said insect larvae production module and nitrification means.
23. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 22 wherein there is minimal or no direct contact between aquatic species waste and the plant species.
24. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein a minimal amount of plant growing media is utilised.
25. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein no plant growing media is utilised.

26. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 25 wherein the biofilter module receives a waste stream including waste and water from the plant growing apparatus.
27. An aquaponic method for symbiotic rearing of one or more aquatic species and one or more plant species comprising; a) providing i) a tank which houses one or more aquatic animal species; ii) a plant growing apparatus which houses one or more plant species growing in an aqueous environment; and iii) a biofilter module for receiving a waste stream including solid waste and water from the tank, the biofilter module comprising a solids removal means and a biological waste digestion unit for digesting solids from the solids removal means to produce plant nutrients, which biological waste digestion unit comprises a biological species that at least partially digests solid waste from said solids removal means to plant nutrients; b) transferring solid waste from said tank to said biofilter module; and c) transferring said plant nutrients from said biofilter module to said plant growing apparatus.
28. A method according to claim 27 wherein said method utilises the aquaponics system of any one of claims 1 to 25.
29. A method according to any claim 27 or claim 28 wherein the biofilter module receives a waste stream including waste and water from the plant growing apparatus.
30. An aquaponics system substantially as herein described in the figures and description thereof.

31. An aquaponic method for the symbiotic rearing of one or more aquatic species and one or more plant species substantially as herein described in the figures and description thereof.


AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 13 November 2007 (13.11.2007)
1. An aquaponics system comprising; a tank for housing at least one aquatic animal species; a plant growing apparatus for housing one or more plant species growing in an aqueous environment; and a biofilter module for receiving a waste stream comprising solid waste and water from the tank, the biofilter module comprising; a solids removal means; and a biological waste digestion unit for digesting solids from the solids removal means to produce plant nutrients, which biological waste digestion unit comprises a biological species that at least partially digests solid waste from said solids removal means to plant nutrients; whereby in use, said plant nutrients are transferred to the plant growing apparatus and at least a portion of the water is returned to the tank.
2. An aquaponics system according to claim 1 , wherein the plant nutrients produced in the biological waste digestion unit are transferred to the plant growing apparatus in water and/or leachate exiting the biological waste digestion unit.
3. An aquaponics system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said biological species is a species of worm and said biological waste digestion unit is a worm unit.
4. An aquaponics system according to claim 3 wherein said worm unit is inoculated with one or more strains of bacteria and/or fungi.
5. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said system comprises a nitrification means for treating water, wherein said nitrification means includes at least one nitrification entity capable of nitrifying ammonia.
6. An aquaponics system according to claim 5, wherein said nitrification means comprises a tank for housing said nitrification entity, wherein said tank is separate from the plant growing apparatus.

7. An aquaponics system according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said nitrification entity is chosen from the group consisting of one or more appropriate chemicals, zeolite filters, nitrifying microorganisms and any combination thereof.
8. An aquaponics system according to claim 7, wherein said nitrifying microorganisms include nitrosomas and nitrobacter.
9. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the nitrification means comprises a high surface area media.
10. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said system is a partially closed circuit aquaponics system.
11. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said system is a closed circuit aquaponics system.
12. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein said solids removal means is any appropriate means for separating large particles from small particles and water.
13. An aquaponics system according to claim 12, wherein the solids removal means is a filter.
14. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the tank allows reversible unidirectional flow through the tank.
15. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the tank comprises one or more of a baffle, air jets or water jets.
16. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein said aquatic animal species are selected from the group consisting of fish, crustaceans, shellfish, molluscs, and any combination thereof.

17. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein said plant growing apparatus is a stacked apparatus
18. An aquaponics system according to claim 17, wherein said stacked apparatus is a multiple level A frame or a ladder type structure.
19. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein said system further comprises an insect larvae production module.
20. An aquaponics system according to claim 19, wherein said insect larvae production module includes a reversibly sealable container for housing organic waste and an insect larvae outlet pipe.
21. An aquaponics system according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein said insect larvae production module comprises an insect larvae collection means.
22. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the tank, plant growing apparatus, biofilter module, and nitrification means, and insect larvae production module where present, are at least partially vertically stacked.
23. An aquaponics system according to claim 22, wherein said plant growing apparatus is positioned above both of said biofilter module and tank.
24. An aquaponics system according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein said plant growing apparatus is positioned above said insect larvae production module and nitrification means.
25. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein there is minimal or no direct contact between aquatic species waste and the plant species.
26. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein a minimal amount of plant growing media is utilised.

27. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein no plant growing media is utilised.
28. An aquaponics system according to any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein the biofilter module receives a waste stream including waste and water from the plant growing apparatus.
29. An aquaponic method for symbiotic rearing of one or more aquatic species and one or more plant species comprising; a) providing i) a tank which houses one or more aquatic animal species; ii) a plant growing apparatus which houses one or more plant species growing in an aqueous environment; and iii) a biofilter module for receiving a waste stream including solid waste and water from the tank, the biofilter module comprising a solids removal means and a biological waste digestion unit for digesting solids from the solids removal means to produce plant nutrients, which biological waste digestion unit comprises a biological species that at least partially digests solid waste from said solids removal means to plant nutrients; b) transferring solid waste from said tank to said biofilter module; and c) transferring said plant nutrients from said biofilter module to said plant growing apparatus.
30. A method according to claim 29 wherein said method utilises the aquaponics system of any one of claims 1 to 28.
31. A method according to any claim 29 or claim 30 wherein the biofilter module receives a waste stream including waste and water from the plant growing apparatus.
32. An aquaponics system substantially as herein described in the figures and description thereof.


33. An aquaponic method for the symbiotic rearing of one or more aquatic species and one or more plant species substantially as herein described in the figures and description thereof.

The various features and embodiments of the present invention, referred to in individual sections above apply, as appropriate, to other sections, mutatis mutandis. Consequently features specified in one section may be combined with features specified in other sections, as appropriate.

Various modifications and variations of the described methods and products of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are apparent to those skilled in the relevant fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

Pub. No.: WO/2008/006172 International Application No.: PCT/AU2007/000978
Publication Date: 17.01.2008 International Filing Date: 13.07.2007
Chapter 2 Demand Filed: 12.05.2008

Wonder if they take into account china growing fish and rice in the same field. How long have they been doing that for.

Whats the date on it. Think if they are allready thousand out there they wouldn't give a patent. :