Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm just wondering if the nutritional value of food grown in aquaponics is comparable to produce that is grown in the ground? Given proper care and technique used for both growing methods would aquaponics come out on top?

Quatified by what method and value(s)???

Given similar or equal inputs I suppose you would end up being almost equal.

I guess my question is about the minerals and vitamins and whether aquaponic vegetables would contain similar values to vegetables bought from a green grocer. This would be dependant on the fish feed I suppose? (Well for the mineral content as plants make the vitamins)

Buying a good quality fish food would then be very important.

Rupe I'm just interested in the whole cycle and how it takes place. Fish meal at the moment is made by catching fish from the ocean. The smallest creatures must eat algae and these little guys feed bigger guys.

Does that mean almost everything we need is in algae?

What should someone do to ensure an aquaponics system has sufficient minerals?

Also I have read that vegetables that you buy from the super market might be very low in certain minerals because they are grown in the same soil over and over again. Is this true?

Article about the quality of produce grown in the ground on a large scale:

http://www.time.com/time/health/article ... 45,00.html

If people knew that aquaponic grown vegetables are richer in minerals and vitamins than the ones bought at the shop then I think more people would do aquaponics.

The stuff bought at the shop is a big unknown for example the quality of the water, quality of the soil and the use of pesticides.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10581

Dietary Mineral:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_mineral



Not sure if all these minerals could be obtained from produce grown in aquaponics.

Sorry for the erratic nature of this thread. I have come to the conclusion that there are far too many variables but at least you would know what is going in to the system if grown at home.

Exactly.. which is why I asked... comparing what to what...

In reality the minerals we get from plants are there because the plants need them. While some plants will have excesses of those, plants and fruits with robust growth are pretty good sources of those minerals.

I think Timmy had some AP produce tested... But that may have been for heavy metals and nasty stuff maybe...

Yea i read in a post today that it was for nasties.
I dont think AP could produce food as good as grown in a good quality soil, Wicking beds would be as good, but not straight AP - just my opinion.
However, it will still be better than supermarket/greengrocer food as in the case of fruits, they are picked too early for good nutritienal conent.

Thanks everyone for responding.

I've sent several samples for tissue analysis over the past 2 years and they have consistantly come back at levels the college (who did the testing)deemed extremely nutritious and comparable to fresh harvested premium quality produce. I've also sent hydro grown samples for comparitice analysis. Data is worth gold boys and girls!

I have no doubts AP can grow superior quality produce under the right supervision.

Thanks Ryan your produce looks excellent

Ryan, my 'extension service' in Nevada would only say that there is data only for produce at different seasons... not for how it was grown.

I tend to think that the Ag industry has no investment in the data--- if it were clear that home grown exceeded grocery store options... that might cut into sales.
How sad.

It does suggest that the system is invested only in profit, not in the health of the general population, at all.
Dare I ask to whom (lab) you sent your produce... what kind of document you got, and what the rough cost was?

I'm not even running, yet... but I am interested in the data.

Running tests on different 'fish food diets' would be very interesting.
Finding a balanced eco-system, so we didn't have to feed fish meal and could supply a balanced diet (say, green waste/ cutting; worm/ insect culture ; algae; seed meal?

Balanced eco-systems don't exist... even in nature....

Eco-systems are always in a state of flux.... the balance always shifting....

Anything that involves human input... basically means that it's neither "balanced"... nor an "eco-system"...

This idea that aquaponics is a "naturally balanced (or otherwise) eco-system.... is pure nonsense...