Research article1

Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST: Opportunities for Aquaponic systems for new firms in Cambodia.

José Manuel Ramos Sánchez2 & Tong Sokhom3

.

Received; Accepted;

Academic Editor:

Copyright © 2015. José Manuel Ramos Sánchez.

Abstract

Aquaponic is a combined organic culture of fish and plants, in recirculating systems. As the
aquaculture techniques rely on the utilization of living beings with low degrees of chemical use it
can be somehow defined within the organic movement ways of production. Regarding to this issue
this publication provides an introduction to Aquaponic systems and provides extensive resources to
draw a comparison to Hydroponics. One example of a new start-up firm in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia,
working on these bodily processes and the transitional factors from one to the other production
approach is shown to the audience. The following elements and considerations try to cater to
prospective growers to assess their abilities to success, and the hazards that should be considered
when resolving to choose between hydroponics or moving into other kinds of aquaculture systems.
Thus, this document does not merely seek to describe cases embedded in different production
methods in a comprehensive technical detail, but also to offer a summary of central components and
considerations, regarding the process of adaptation from Hidroponics to Aquaponic and therefore, to
obtain conclusions from a developing nation, able to be extrapolated to other areas.

Keywords: Aquaponic, Hydroponics, Cambodia, Entrerpreneurship, Education.

1
The article was funded by the European Commission through Erasmus Mundus Action 2 Lotus unlimited program.
2
Correspondence should be addressed to: agrurexam@gmail.com.
Ph.D. in Natural resources and Environment management, University of Córdoba, Spain
3
Correspondence should be addressed to: sokhomtong@yahoo.com
M.Sc. in Integrated management of Agriculture and Rural development, Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia.
2 José Manuel Ramos Sánchez & Tong Sokhom.
1 Introduction
Aquaponic, considered as the integration of
hydroponics with aquaculture, is gaining
increased attention as a bio-integrated food
production system and the effects that it can
provide to increase local food productions.
It serves as a beneficial case of sustainable
food production where: i) The waste products
of one system are the nutrients for other
biological system; ii) The integration of fish
and plant yields multiple products; iii) Water is
split out and re-circulated; iv) Local production
enhances the short market chain economic
system.
Aquaponic represents a fresh opportunity to
grow organic products in countries without
much soil substrate. It can enable the
production of fresh organic veggies and fish
proteins in arid regions and on water limited
farms, since it is a water re-exercise scheme,
but still relying on other outside inputs.
Due to its good prospects for commercial
application, Aquaponic has also become a
popular training on integrated bio-systems with
vocational agriculture programs and schools
and on farm training centers. It also can be
seen as a secondary source of dealing out cash
for those coaches that can teach these methods
and help to establish and reproduce the
management of these systems.
In Cambodia, like in other growing
countries its development is linked up with the
demand of quality green products by urban
dwellers. This issue is due to the poisoning and
overuse of chemical inputs, with the
consequent deficiency of confidence of many
current consumers to conventional vegetable
products.
This document shows these circumstances,
risks and opportunities, demonstrating how one
new firm does when turning in these systems
and how has considered to impress to the
organic side due to the rise of inputs prices.
Consequently, some economic and marketing
reasons will be shown as factors shaping this
election.
2 Hydroponics and Aquaponic: Main
characteristics
Departing from Hydroponics these technical
methods can be defined as the production of
plants in a soilless medium whereby the
nutrients supplied are given through liquids. It
is a method of developing plants, especially
herbaceous leafy greens, without tarnish.
Indeed, plants are grown in a water and
chemical solution from which they take up
nutrients through their roots (Smith, 2000).
Most of the times, liquid hydroponic systems
use three methods: The nutrient film technique
(NFT), floating rafts, and non circulating water
cultures.
Aggregate hydroponic systems employ inert,
organic, and mixed media contained in a bag,
trough, trench, pipe, or bench setups. Aggregate
media used in these systems include perlite,
vermiculite, gravel, sand, expanded clay, peat,
and sawdust.
Normally, hydroponic plants are fertilazed
(with a soluble fertilizers mix, injected into
irrigation water) on a periodical cycle to
maintain moist roots and provide a constant
supply of nutrients. These hydroponic nutrients
are usually derived from synthetic commercial
fertilizers, such as calcium nitrate, that are
extremely soluble. However, Hydroponic
recipes are based on chemical formulations that
deliver precise concentrations of mineral
components. The controlled delivery of
nutrients, water, as a fixed receipt, and the
environmental modifications under greenhouse
conditions are major reasons why hydroponics
is so successful once that the technology is
learnt and used in large scale terms.
Combining hydroponics and aquaculture
allows the chemical nutrients needed for
hydroponic plant growth to be replaced with
fish wastes that might otherwise be discharged
and cause possible environmental degradation
(Bernstein, 2011).
In this manner, it is possible to raise both
fish and plants together in a balanced system
that closes the aquaculture waste stream and
adds a second source of income derived from
plant harvests. Thus, Hydroponics is the
3 Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST: Opportunities for Aquaponic systems for new firms in Cambodia.
method of cultivating plants with roots
submerged in aerated, dilute nutrient solutions
(Marr, 1994).
Therefore Aquaponic can be seen as one
method of hydroponics, and hydroponics as one
method of greenhouse and aquaculture
production. It has been defined as a sustainable
farming system that joins aquaculture and
hydroponics in an enclosed symbiotic, re-
broadcasting environment (Nelson, 2008).
As water in the system is re-distributed
through the hydroponic component of the
system, the fish waste metabolites, in the form
of ammonia and nitrogen-bearing compounds,
are retired, thereby transforming the water
suitable for re-use in the aquaculture
component (Rakocy, Masser & Losordo 2006).
Therefore, this technique for food production
combines aquaculture and hydroponics in a
symbiotic relationship (Bernstein, 2011; Nash,
2011). In re-circulating aquaculture, water is
cleaned and re-applied in a closed-loop system
(Timmons & Ebeling, 2007).
These nutrients – generated from fish
manure, algae, and decomposing fish feed –
would otherwise build up to toxic levels in the
fish tanks, but instead serve as liquid fertilizer
to hydroponically grown plants.
Thus, it is suitable for environments with
limited state and water because it comes about
three to half a dozen times more vegetables
than in soil terms (Resh, 2004) and uses
roughly 1% of the fresh water used by
traditional aquaculture (Rakocy et al., 2006).
Aquaponic can play a full component in
increasing the availability of nutritious food at
present and future food systems. Low to
medium-scale Aquaponic systems require very
little blank and can be used in houses,
backyards, basements, balconies and rooftops
as in the event of the house shown in this
document, and to increase jobs and community
local food sovereignty (Bernstein, 2011).
As consumers are becoming more cognizant
of the shock of their food choices on both their
own health and the environment Aquaponic
systems may be able to meet the needs of this
growing market (Graham, 2003).
And although it is a growing promise, there
are also potential challenges that may restrict
its progress as a widespread food production
technology. Its extremely technical nature is
much missed; to keep a system balanced, water
levels, temperature, pH and nutrients must
match the demands of both the plant and fish
species, as considerably as the crucial nitrifying
bacteria (Tyson et al., 2004).
Crops and fish must also be overseen at a
ratio of nutrient inputs/outputs for optimal
output, which varies according to species,
establishment size and cropping unit systems
(Rakocy et al., 2004). Additionally, the rise of
Aquaponic systems is threatened by external
agents such as the wild versus farmed fish
debate, strict regulations, cultural ignorance of
different fish species, lack of potential and
actual consumers and food safety issues
(Graham, 2003). For Aquaponic to overcome
these barriers, there is a rising demand for more
rigorous training in a miscellany of subjects,
and to advertise its benefits and values among
an increased public consciousness.
Aquaponic practitioners must be
comfortable and experienced with the blueprint
and construction of systems, the physics of
water flow, testing and troubleshooting water
chemistry and the biota of both fish and plants,
in parliamentary procedure to induce a system
in the long-term.
Additionally, operating a profitable
commercial Aquaponic system can involve
knowledge in commercial enterprise, finance
and marketing. The ongoing care required of
Aquaponic systems may also promote
responsibility, leadership and teamwork, while
fostering a sense of a team and social equity
when the start-up firm grows.
These small systems can be built from
reused materials and within the constraints of a
limited budget (Bernstein, 2011).
Aquaponic technology can also be applied
in a diversity of ways. In cold climes, an
Aquaponic system can be located inside, or in a
greenhouse, while it easily exists outside in
tropical regions. In the case of Cambodia the
low oscillations in the temperatures permit to
settle their infrastructures in most of the open
spaces, representing a relative advantage for the
immense quantities of factors of production
4 José Manuel Ramos Sánchez & Tong Sokhom.
(land, water, abundant labor hand, mild
weather, etc...) that this nation still enjoys.
Fig. 1: Model of drip hydroponics system.
Source: Lapere (2010)
Aquaponic has the advantage of producing
vegetables that taste uniquely tasteful and are
grown organically, as fish and pesticides are
incompatible while reducing the prices of those
inputs needed in the production system.
However, despite its good prospects
Aquaponic is still economically challenging for
new entrepreneurs, as it cannot tolerate low
prices for vegetables, low system biological
performance, high capital expenses, or high
operational expenses and remain profitable.
Besides its organic presumption organic
production of crops and livestock must ensure
foods and food products labeled and required to
obtain “certified organic” status to be sold in
certain grocery stores. That pattern still seems
not to be accepted or respected by most of the
organic certification authorities or associations.
Organic trout, tilapia, salmon and other fish
species are grown in Europe, United States of
America, Australia and other countries use
production standards developed by
international organic certification agencies. In
Cambodia, by now these opportunities still are
under inspection.
3 Hydroponics vs. Aquaponic
Unfortunately for Aquaponic, there is not a
plant tied to regulate a fixed fish biomass ratio
to result in optimum nutrient concentrations for
plant absorption. Indeed, generally nutrient
concentrations found within Aquaponic
systems can reach comparable nutrient
concentrations found in hydroponic systems
(Rakocy, 2006). Nevertheless, some surveys
show that hydroponic nutrient solutions are
typically ten times higher in nutrient
concentrations than Aquaponic solutions
(Pantanella, 2013).
It is significant to compare the productivity
of new-old novelty technologies (Aquaponic)
with an already proven technology
(hydroponics). And despite all the minor cases
of entrepreneurship in rich and developing rural
areas there is very little research comparing
hydroponic and aquaponic production
moreover apart than from the technical or
motivational point of view (Nichols and
Savidov, 2012).
Besides the actual capacity of Hidroponics to
offer more products in scales basis Pantanella
et al. (2012) reported comparable production
between aquaponic and hydroponic yields for
romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in terms of
ceteris paribus equality of input-outputs
systems. Nichols and Lennard (2010) also
found comparable and even better yields (in the
case of Aquaponic productions) for multiple
lettuce cultivars between aquaponic and
hydroponic systems. Both studies suggest that
leafy greens have comparable yields in
aquaponic and hydroponic systems (Nichols
and Savidov 2012).
For fruiting crops, Roosta and Afsharipoor
(2012) observed significantly higher
hydroponic yields than Aquaponic for
strawberries (Fragaria sp.). Also Roosta and
Hamidpour (2011) reported higher yields in
hydroponic tomato (Solanum sp.) production
compared to Aquaponic.
Hydroponic production of crops such as
lettuce is a well proven organization. If one
likes to grow fish as well, or to use an organic
method in order to trim down the prices of
compounded inputs the producers would decide
5 Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST: Opportunities for Aquaponic systems for new firms in Cambodia.
to do Aquaponic. In an Aquaponic system, fish
feed passes through the fish and provides
nutrients for plant evolution at a regular low
cost rhythm. The quantity of fresh water needed
to grow lettuce is also lower as normally found
in most of the other models.
Following to Kratky’s (2009) a non-
circulating hydroponic concept for growing
lettuce could be advanced in the usage of these
farms. Electricity and pumps are not needed
and the entire crop can be produced with only
an initial application of water and nutrients. At
seeding or transplanting time, the growing
containers are backed up by the tank cover with
their lower portion being immersed in nutrient
solution. This moistens the growing monitoring
and shared costs for operation and
infrastructure. Compared to field production,
the aquaponic system would save substantial
labor associated with weeding, but would
involve additional labor for seedling
replacement, due to higher rates of death rate.
Regarding to other agents and the offset of
the productivity one this Aquaponic firm
showed that the veggies would get 4.6 times
more income than the fish. However, the fish
contribute to add extra value to the organization
through consistent nutrient generations and the
elimination of the demand for excessive water
quality monitoring or frequent water
replacement.
To boot to this feature, from the
environmental point of view, Aquaponic
systems have biological filters that generates
low but constant incomes, which are picked up
from the sale of hydroponic produce such as
vegetables, herbaceous plants and flowers
added to the addition of a second source that
gives away the logic of monoculture and the
problems derived from a possible lack of
diversification. In these schemes, which
employs raft hydroponics, only calcium,
potassium and iron are added on. In the event
of a single fish production the nutrients
provided by the fish would normally be fired
and could contribute to contamination of the
surrounding areas of the very polluted Cheung
Ek Lake (Seyha, S. and Tuan Anh, V., 2004;
Teang, 2010).
Removal of nutrients by plants prolongs
water use and minimizes discharge. Aquaponic
systems require less water quality monitoring
than individual recirculation systems for fish or
hydroponic plant production. Since Aquaponic
systems are designed as enclosed recirculation
systems, their agricultural waste and
environmental footprints decrease, compared to
other conventional agriculture practices.
Furthermore, the use of diverse cases of
plants as secondary crops reduces the pollution
load (waste concentration) through nutrient
uptake and assimilation (Timmons and Ebeling
2007). Nitrate accumulation has been
established to be reduced by 97% within
aquaponic systems compared to regular
recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)
(Lennard 2006). Since water within systems is
re-circulated, the amount of water needed to
operate the system is minute compared to most
fish and harvest production systems. On
average, 98% of the water in Aquaponic
systems is recycled for the continuance of the
operation (Al-Hafedh et al., 2008). The
periodical input of water has been just
necessary when too much water has
disappeared from the organization.
Aquaponic systems also decrease the
amount of space needed to get on two crops at
once. This allows plants and fish to be got up
together within a relatively small environment.
Theoretically, Aquaponic can range from an in-
home counter top system for big scale
commercial schemes. Additionally, on average,
it uses less than 1% the soil, compared to
conventional agriculture systems.
These systems use fewer resources than
average crop and fish production systems due
to symbiotic relationships (Treadwell et al.,
2010). For example, Aquaponic utilizes 90-
99% less water than conventional agriculture
systems. Likewise, carbon dioxide (CO2) from
fish rearing tanks can also be applied to
increase crop production within an indoor
facility (Timmons and Ebeling, 2007).
Furthermore, aquaponic systems can be
deployed in several environments, setting aside
for a year round crop production, and
potentially a closer farmer-to-consumer
interaction. Lastly, successful systems utilizes
6 José Manuel Ramos Sánchez & Tong Sokhom.
secondary crops that are of economic
importance or beneficial to the aquatic
organisms being produced (Timmons and
Ebeling, 2007).
Jones (2005) noted several advantages for
hydroponic systems as well. These advantages
can also be applied to Aquaponic and vice
versa. First, crops can be produced essentially
anywhere, in disregards to soil conditions.
Second, labor found in traditional farming
practices are excluded (tilling, cultivating, etc.).
Third, maximum yields are likely. Fourth,
soilborne plant diseases are greatly diminished.
Lastly, managers can thorough control of the
growing environment if ran indoors.
As with whole food production schemes,
there are a few disadvantages in comparison
with aquaponic systems. Foremost, the ratio of
hydroponic growing area compared to the fish
rearing surface area is comparatively large. The
ratios have been used ranging from 1:1 to 10:1,
which are dependent upon the scale of the
organization, the main species of focus, and
quadriceps. Another disadvantage includes the
labor involved with plant management. The
majority of aquaculturists does not have
horticulture experience or cognition, so
additional personnel or trainings are much
needed.
Furthermore, due to the close relationship
between fish and plants within an aquaponic
system, poor management practices can easily
move the contracting organization. Pesticides
cannot be utilized within systems and hence,
biological control or natural methods must be
used to make rid of plant pests (Timmons and
Ebeling, 2007).
When inserting into a competitive market,
aquaponic producers should evaluate
competitors and their species of production.
Nevertheless, it has been stated that
hydroponics can produce heads of lettuce
cheaper than what aquaponic systems can
produce (Ako & Baker, 2009).
Hydroponic disadvantages may include
comparative higher capital costs for
construction, incidences of root disease and the
introduction of diseases, quick plant reaction to
nutrient element insufficiencies (Jones 2005),
and anoxic conditions that may impede ion
uptake (Wignarajah, 1995).
Also, hydroponic nutrients are brought
away with refined minerals that are mined from
the ground. Furthermore, ammonia production,
utilized in hydroponic nutrients, originates from
non renewable resources such as natural gas,
coal, or petroleum (petroleum naphtha,
propane, butane, or petroleum coke) for
hydrogen production. The hydrogen is then
combined with nitrogen to form ammonium
hydroxide. These disadvantages can also be
applied to Aquaponic and vice versa. The target
pH should be between 7.0 – 8.0, and depending
on the ammonia level (2ppm) and condition of
fish and plants – I-4 Rush Hour Foliar or root
feed plants can achieve increased overcome
deficiencies.
4 Materials and methods
The aim of practicing organic methods in
this production system is indispensable to
improving quality which in turn can bring
higher returns, once sold out in the grocery
store. In view of the above, an attempt has been
constituted to protrude out and extract the
knowledge of this firm, to learn about the
techniques utilized to maintain the caliber of
their output and the changes done during their
short life.
The present study was carried in two
purposefully selected dates, set up in the
surrounding locations of Phnom Pehn. Their
tillage was localized and visited to see its
reality by observant participation. Two oral
interviews with its employees were performed
in two different meetings, in March and May of
2015. The open questions asked for his
manager are displayed in the Annex I.
Data Analysis. Data were analyzed using the
NVIVO program for use of Qualitative data
(version 10).
7 Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST: Opportunities for Aquaponic systems for new firms in Cambodia.
5 A local Aquaponic system: Aquaponics
Cambodia-EAST
In the case of "Aquaponics Cambodia-
EAST"4 this firm is located in the area of
Dangkor neighborhood, in the South of the city
of Phnom Pehn and close to the Cheung Ek
Lake.
His owner followed a Bachelor Degree in
Agronomy and subsequently completing his
degree, he got a M.Sc. in Integrated
Management of Agriculture and Rural
Development. In 2012, after following some
advices by teachers, he afforded the firm in his
30 m2 house yards, close to the Royal
University of Agriculture Campus. His
activities started obtaining information by
internet and other resources, in a self- learning
process.
Most of its output is sold locally to regular
clients from the university staff and to his
neighbors. They are boosting their natural
processes using internet tools and a
spokesperson to voice strategy. However, the
percentage of the market seems small for its
merchandise, but they are fighting to spread the
benefits of these actions through the
arrangement of seminars and shops to show the
accomplishment of those expert skills to others
potential entrepreneurs.
He, with the assistance of other members of
his team raises Tilapia (Uroleptis hornorum)
due to the fact that they can adapt easily to
different pH, water makeup and are immune to
high temperatures and other local species along
with red lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and other
vegetables, grown in water, and put forward by
the symbiosis created by aquaculture fish.
His firm just commercializes vegetal
products and due to personal believes they do
not use fishes for eating or selling in the
grocery shops. The price of a Kilogram of
lettuce is about 4 USD.
4
This young firm is located in Kva village, Sangkat &
Khan Dangkor (close to Royal University of
Agriculture), Phnom Penh. Aquaponic Cambodia
provides training and consulting services on Aquaponic
System Installation. Its aim is to boost Chemical-Free
Farming (CFF) products.
He receives only few trainees from RUA
helping him in his squad. Thus, it can be
identified as a self-entrepreneurship project.
A low capital, simple to operate system is
being sprung up, as an integration of fish and
vegetable cultivation. Initial work has been
done with the red sails variety of leaf lettuce. It
was found to turn well in this arrangement.
Other varieties of veggies, such as Manoa
lettuce or romaine lettuce were also set up to
mature well; Kai Choi and bok Choy (Brassica
juncea) and basil (Ocimum basilicum) have
likewise done well in his installations. These
are produced from polypropylene tube trays
constructed, lined with plastic, and sated with
water. Lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber
platelets are placed in small “net pots” inserted
in holes in the panels and tubes suspended over
the water by resting their edges on the walls of
the trays.
The lettuce roots take up nutrients from the
water in the trays. The nutrients are provided
by added effluent water used up from
traditional tanks in which fishes are created
(using some supplemental chemical nutrients
added). The liquid from the lettuce trays is
recycled in the fish tanks and fish-culture
effluent water is added to the trays.
They packed in different trays in the set-up
infrastructures, shown in the photos. The only
electrical component in the system is three air
pumps to aerate the fish tanks, providing the
fish with oxygen and preventing denitrification.
Each tray costs about $200 to construct and
is capable of producing 48 heads/bunches of
lettuce every 25 days.
Lettuce plants require partial shade to grow
well in warm climates. Lettuce grew well under
40% shade cloth, due to the shadow cast by his
household during the mornings. A single tray or
two-tray, set-up can do it with a lower shade
cover, which can be lifted off to tend the
system. The construction is covered with 40%
green or white shade cloth secured to the frame
with zip ties.
Almost 20 percent more lettuce seeds than
needed should be germinated as the rate of
germination is off 80%. Principals projections
should be ready to harvest after 4 weeks from
8 José Manuel Ramos Sánchez & Tong Sokhom.
the cubes positioned in the trays, depending on
the quantity of sunshine that they take in.
Aquaponic is very labor intensive
(Tokunaga et al., 2014) and automation is
welcomed. For each lettuce greenhouse, they
received a 500 liters cattle watering trough as
the fish tank. A 32-watt air pump was sufficient
to aerate at least three of such tanks. A 2.6-
gallon submerged biofilter was placed in each
tank side by side to the air stones.
The biofilter serves as a “home” for a
bacterial colony to break in; the bacteria will
help to convert ammonia and nitrite to the
nitrate that will nourish the lettuce. To make
this biofilter, a cylinder 40x10 inches are made
from extruded plastic netting and filled with a
PVC biofilter medium.
The fish tank must be shaded to prevent
micro-algae from developing. A 5x10-ft blue
tarp make it. Before the biofilter was colonized
with bio-remediation bacteria, the initial fish
stocking density was kept down, until nitrifying
bacteria could be created to colonize that space
from the environs.
Mosquitoes are not a frequent trouble in
this case, as they are in other raft Aquaponic
systems, considering that not stagnant water
can accumulate in grow beds.
They grew tilapia obtained from strains that
he keeps at the tank. The initial stocking
density of fish was 2.5 kilos and it was
produced until the current quantity of the 100
fishes per tank. The fish tanks are too shaded to
prevent micro-algae from growing. A 15 cm
ruler is shown for size reference.
The fish are fed four times daily, one time in
the mid-morning when water temperatures start
to climb, and many one times in short
quantities during the afternoon and the evening.
Fish eating is found out by the owner fishes as
they show how a good deal they desire to eat.
The slow increase should allow for the
development of bacteria, which are recruited
from the environment to detoxify the water.
Figure 2. Fishes in the tank.
Source: Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST.
Initially, they measured water quality
weekly, hence that the accumulation of
toxicants such as ammonia and nitrite could be
supervised and their decline observed as the
biofilter bacteria grew. Broadly speaking, it is
considered that toxic levels at water pH 8 are
17 mg/L for ammonia and 8 mg/L for nitrite.
Water quality is tested twice a week, so that
toxicants such as ammonia and nitrite could be
monitored to insure they are declining as
biofilter bacteria grow. They do not use a YSI
55 DO meter to test the water as it is expensive,
but the director is concerned that the DO is
very important in Aquaponic. Dissolved
oxygen must be kept above 5 mg/L in the fish
tanks for the fish to be fed vigorously, and
above 2 mg/L anywhere in the system to
prevent denitrification. They use a portable pH
paper meter in the performing area and
generally aim to keep the pH at 7.0. If it falls
below, they add potassium carbonate to the
water at a level of 1 teaspoon for every 80
teaspoons of feed fed to improve pH5. They are
feeding slows or stops if pH is lowered too.
Total ammonia and nitrite may be measured
using inexpensive API or Tetra kits, though
Hach and LaMotte kits are more accurate and
5
Total ammonia may be converted to unionized
ammonia by using the Henderson-Hasselbach equation:
pH = pKa + log (unionized ammonia/total ammonia).
Ph is measured and pKa is 9.25 for ammonia. Total
ammonia or TAN (total ammonia nitrogen) is assessed
using the kit. Once the unionized ammonia value is
calculated, it must be kept in mind that 1.46 mg/L is
lethal for tilapia. Nitrite values must be multiplied by
0.31 to get nitrite-nitrogen. Bioremediating bacteria and
nutrient levels should stabilize after about a month.
Levels of toxins should be low (Evans et al., 2006).
9 Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST: Opportunities for Aquaponic systems for new firms in Cambodia.
should be looked at the golden banner when
considering the impacts of toxic amounts in the
urine.
Looking to the managerial activities about
training and teaching, he attests that most of the
students decide to record in his courses after
following previous ones on Hydroponics. In
one case that they reveal about these systems
they understand that Aquaponic can represent
an alternative to reduce the cost of production
and increase the margins and niches of markets,
due to the organic characteristics that are
integral to it. He declares that 3 out of the total
of his pupils have started to work
independently on their own Aquaponic firms.
About the obstacles and challenges he shows
that frequent electricity shortcuts, high
temperatures and nutrient deficiencies, like in
the examples of potassium, iron and calcium
are problems that fortunately can be solved out
thanks to the fact that these systems can be
entirely controlled by man.
In the final stage, he argues that his primary
expectations have not been fulfilled by 100%,
but he is feeling committed to the organic
philosophy within of his task and wants to
continue fiddling and memorizing from it.
Some recommendations are given to other
entrepreneurs in the sensory faculty that they
must accept as impossible to replicate most of
the examples furnished by the academia, NGOs
and other firms and that a higher progression to
be adapted to the internal features of each
arrangement must be observed to deliver the
goods or to extend in that line of employment.
6 Conclusions
After researching around the factors that
impulse the start-up of this forum some
noteworthy recommendations arise. One that
makes financial sense is that of diversification
of the income streams has absolutely needed to
hold the firm operating in the long term.
Strictly talking, diversification refers to a
strategy that boils down the exposure to risk by
mixing investments that are unlikely to all
move in the same direction (Firer et al. 2008).
Some thoughts can assist to promote these
systems, and furthermore than the classical
training or workshop taught to new
entrepreneurs by their proprietors.
Agritourism or school farming is often
employed in conjunction with Aquaponic in
developing nations. It seems that the concept of
Aquaponic and Hydroponics are intriguing to
many masses and can be stretched out to a wide
range of people of all ages and economic and
societal conditions.
The farm operator can receive hard
currency from the merchandising of fresh
products to visiting groups of tourists while a
guided tour within the facility can be catered by
the owners and explained about how the
Aquaponic farm operates. Some Aquaponic
farmers also provide courses on Aquaponic.
These natural processes can take forth some
extra incomes for the performance of the firms.
This aspect could improve the profitability
of the Aquaponic system to a large extent as the
profitability of the organizations and the
outputs are extremely sensitive to the selling
price of the products, that can be conformed to
these forms of committed customers.
Other suggestions for diversification and
increase of value are listed below these details:
• The farm operator could incorporate
snails, frogs or others popular eatable
insects in small productions, into the
system as in the operations;
• A bit of different vegetables or herbs
could be interlined and planted then
that if one vegetable type performs
badly, the income from the other
vegetables can mitigate the loss;
• Therefore, a research about the
allelopathy effects of inter cropping in
these aquaculture systems should be
enhanced and promoted in further
works;
• Algae can be raised in parliamentary
procedure to eat chickens or fish or
harvest low prices commodities, like
those always demanded by pharmacies
and wellness shops, like spirulina;
10
• Other natural processes connected to
social farming like to set up
agreements with schools and academic
visitors´ tours can provide a secondary
origin of hard currency;
• A prospect for bigger economies of
scales, as successfully observed in
other hydroponic firms is necessary to
demonstrate that Aquaponic can be
both environmentally friendly and
economically feasible.
Witnessing to the extremely technical
natures of Aquaponic and Hydroponics there is
a must to thoroughly investigate production
methods and potential markets in developing
nations, where actually these technologies can
make a divergence in the production of
abundant amounts of nutritive sources of fresh
rich in elements veggies and fish proteins.
Building and fitting a commercial-sized
Aquaponic greenhouse can cost more or less
money, depending on the system plan and the
selection of components, but certain inputs are
fixed like nutrients or greenhouses and/or trays´
infrastructures.
These sustainable systems are advantageous
in other terms, compared to other agriculture
production systems, and has become really
popular today by scientist´s data and several
contrasted points of view (Rakocy et al., 2006).
Therefore, these advantages cannot be
measured only in monetary terms, as if a part of
the system is not getting the anticipated
income, the other products could mitigate the
loss incurred by the regulating body.
A situation like this can occur for a number
of reasons, such as the grocery store price for a
certain product unexpectedly drop or the
capacity of the house cannot be consequently
adapted to the economic system of scales and
balances of costs and incomes, needed to make
the firm reasonably profitable.
The aquaponic farmer could add value to
the productivity of the system by processing the
products. Some ways in which to do this
include:
José Manuel Ramos Sánchez & Tong Sokhom.
• Packaging the production into
marketable size packages;
• Establishing formal alliances with
sound middlemen and dealers that
permit a commercial expansion of the
home.
• Filleting, smoking or breading the
fishes;
• Processing the vegetables or herbs into
local pickles, salsas, or pickles.
In these instances, it was evident that this
case study as a system is a good opportunity
when the monetary value of the location
permits to orientate the selling of the products
to urban regions´ costumers, as it is in this case.
Aquaponic greenhouses yield two main
essential food products. More products could
be experienced to be included in these bio
systems. To evaluate greenhouse profitability,
obtain typical yields and market prices for
hydroponic vegetables and Aquaponic fish
production, to investigate about local and
regional markets and those related point of
sales require a long on farm study based on a
linear baseline study that require elements
exceeding the size and objectives of this
document, but which are offered to following
local researchers.
Some clues are given to diversify and
increase the revenue incomes and sources of
Aquaponic operations through the inclusion of
new species and the conservation of these
wares. That can permit to maintain and even to
increase the add-value of the products, being
less dependent on the availability of a constant
supply of new productions.
These tributes have been previously named
after the economic review and research some
other authors (Konschel, 2009, Cuthbert, 2007).
These authors were, still suspicious that these
actions are advised to make Aquaponic
ventures feasible and in any way more
profitable than they actually and currently are.
The author found no evidence of an
economically viable Aquaponic system in
Cambodia in comparison with the Hydroponic
farm.
And then, yet conceived the good
appreciation for the environmental friendly
11 Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST: Opportunities for Aquaponic systems for new firms in
Cambodia.

features of this Aquaponic firm it should be
pointed out that the economic points must not
be overestimated and many features, as the
increased lack of constant revenue problems
can be controlled and judged from this inquiry.
As shown in these cases of study
Aquaponic increases profit potential in the long
term, due to free nutrients for plants, lower
water requirements, liquidation of a separate
biofilter and adaptation to less water quality.
But Aquaponic seems that is less able to be
competitive in terms of producing scale
amounts of vegetables to prevent the systems
operating forward ahead than just locally.
Further linear on time studies should be
performed to establish the development of these
and other firms in the long term and to arrest
the pattern or behavior of these new
entrepreneurs from one to other biosystem.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to convey his gratitude to the staff of the Royal University of Agriculture
of Phnom Penh (RUA) and to the help provided by the staff of the firms quoted in this text file. Our
special gratitude is shown to Prof. Dr. Seng Mom to advise us on how to publish this article.

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13 Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST: Opportunities for Aquaponic systems for new firms in Cambodia.

ANNEX I:

Questionnaire: Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST. May, 2015.

• How did you find out about Hydroponics/Aquaponic?

• Why did you want to get into Aquaponic/Hydroponics at your firm? What subject/grade do
you teach/learn?

• Why do teach these topics? How good are students to reproduce these systems?

• Can you tell me about the system(s) that you have?

• When did you start the process of using/building a system?

• Can you tell me about the process of setting up your system(s)?

• How many employees or people is working in your firm?

• What varieties of vegetables do you produce?

• How long does it take to produce them from the seed to the market?

• What fish species do you raise?

• What are your main consumers?

• How much space, how many trays?

• Do you know if some students have begun a new farm?

• What were some of the challenges you faced in this process?

• If you had to pick, what were the 3 biggest hurdles/limitations you came up against?

• How did you (and your students) work through these?

• How do you handle the system maintenance? What has that been like?

• How were your experiences with your system compared to your original expectations?

• Can you tell me about your original goals/expectations/hopes for your system?

• Would you say that your goals for the system have been met? How/why?

• Would you recommend Hidroponics/Aquaponic to another teacher/entrepeneur? Why?

• What advice might you have advice for them?

14 José Manuel Ramos Sánchez & Tong Sokhom.

ANNEX II: Visual information about the installations and advertisements of the firm.

Source: Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST.

Transition from Hidroponics to Aquaponic in new firms in Cambodia 15

Aquaponic Cambodian East

Source: Aquaponics Cambodia-EAST