UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR PRESENTATION

(ZLY 402)

TOPIC:
AQUAPONICS

PRESENTED BY
OLOBAYO, OLUMIDE DAVID

MATRIC NUMBER: 15/55EK132

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN

DATE :18th MARCH ,2019

 OUTLINE
• INTRODUCTION

• COMPONENTS OF AQUAPONICS SYSTEMS

• HOW AQUAPONICS SYSTEM WORKS

• MERITS AND DEMERITS

• SUITABLE AQUATIC ANIMALS AND PLANTS FOR

AQUAPONICS

• COST OF A TYPICAL AQUAPONICS SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

• CONCLUSION
 INTRODUCTION
• Aquaponics is a form of aquaculture that integrates soilless
crop production (hydroponics) to raise edible plants and fish
(Timmons and Ebeling, 2002).

• It can be practiced in non-traditional locations for agriculture

such as inside warehouses and on marginal lands, and it can
provide locally grown products without using synthetic
pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or antibiotics.

• Essentially, aquaponics mimics every natural waterway on

earth. It is used to grow food crops in a concentrated, yet
sustainable manner.
 INTRODUCTION CONT’D
• In normal aquaculture, excretions from the animals being raised
can accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity but In an
aquaponic system, nutrient-rich effluent (water from an
aquaculture system) is used to fertilize hydroponic production
beds.

• These nutrients are generated from fish manure, algae and

decomposing fish feed which are contaminants that would
otherwise build up to toxic levels in the fish tanks, but instead
serve as liquid fertilizer to hydroponically grown plants.
 COMPONENTS OF AQUAPONICS
• Fish tank
• Plant growth bed
• Electrical pump
• Floating raft
• Plastic piping
 HOW AQUAPONICS SYSTEM WORKS
• Aquaponics recirculates water from a fish tank through a
vegetable grow bed.
• Nutrients from the fish waste feed the plants, and the plants
filter the water to keep the fish healthy.
•  The two main components of the system are the fish tank and
the grow beds with a small pump moving water between the two.
• The water passes through the roots of the plants before draining
back into the fish tank. The plants extract the water and nutrients
(fish waste) they need to grow, cleaning the water for the fish.
•  There are a number of different styles of grow bed designs, the
two most common being flood and drain and floating raft style.
ILLUSTRATION OF HOW AQUAPONICS
SYSTEM WORKS
 MERITS OF AQUAPONICS
• The main benefit from a system like this is the ability  to
grow fish and plants for consumption in the one system.
• Relatively low energy consumption
• Faster growth rates and yields
• Eliminates the need for weeding and tilling of soil
• No soil borne diseases
• Plants are naturally fertilized
• No pesticides or chemicals
• The fish are a healthy source of protein
• No waste water run off in recirculating systems
 DEMERITS OF AQUAPONICS
• High setup cost
• Only leafy vegetables can be planted
• High electricity consumption
• Technical/mechanical malfunction can be
disastrous
 SUITABLE AQUATIC ANIMALS FOR AQUAPONICS

• The most common animal specie used in aquaponics is

the Oreochromis spp (Tilapia) due to its ability to
tolerate crowding
• However other species of edible fishes that will do
well in an aquaponic system include
Cat fish
Sunfish
Crappie
Koi fish
Pacu fish
• various ornamental fish such as angelfish, guppies,
tetras, swordfish, mollies
EDIBLE FISHES SUITABLE FOR AQUAPONICS
 SUITABLE PLANTS FOR AQUAPONICS
• Suitable plants for aquaponics include
Celosia argentea popularly known as Soko-yokoto in yoruba
 Sesamum indicum popularly known as Eeku in yoruba
Corchorius olitorus popularly known as Ewedu
 Solanum melongena popularly known as Garden egg
• Plant yields depends on the stocking density of the fishes
in the tank
• Other plants, such as: Tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers
requires much heavier stocking density to maximize plant
productivity
COST OF A TYPICAL AQUAPONICS SYSTEM
IN NIGERIA
 CONCLUSION
• This review has shown that aquaponics is
capable of maintaining a steady production
level unlike land where it’s nutrients can be
exhausted
• If properly done , aquaponics is the ideal
answer to a fish farmer’s problem of disposing
of nutrient rich water and a hydroponic
grower’s need for nutrient rich water.
 THANKS
FOR
YOUR
AUDIENCE