Learn the Fundamentals of Aquaponics
- for small scale food production at home
- for larger scale commercial production anywhere - urban farming or rural
- where land is limited, this can be the perfect way to farm intensively, and optimise the harvest from the limited space you have available.
Lesson Structure
There are 5 lessons in this course:
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SCOPE AND NATURE OF AQUAPONICS
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What grows well in aquaponics?
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Home systems
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Commercial farms
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Advantages of aquaponics
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Aquaponics is about balance
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Lesson 1 additional reading
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THE AQUAPONICS SYSTEM
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What media is best for your grow beds?
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What else do you need to consider?
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Lesson 2 additional reading
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GROWING FISH IN AQUAPONICS
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Key facts for growing fish in aquaponics
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Feeding fish
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How many fish?
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Monitoring fish
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Common problems and their symptoms
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Lesson 3 additional reading
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FISH SUITED TO AQUAPONICS
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Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)
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Golden Perch (Macquaria ambigua)
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Jade Perch (Scortum barcoo)
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Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii)
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Barramundi (Lates calcrifera)
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Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)
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Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
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Carp
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Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
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Catfish
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Eel Tailed Catfish (Tandanus tandanus)
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Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
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Silver Cobbler (Neoarius midgleyi)
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Lake Argyle Catfish (syn. Arius midgleyi)
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Eels (Anguilla)
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Tilapia
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Freshwater Crayfish
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Marron (Cherax tenuimanus)
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Red Claw (Cherax quadricarinatus)
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Yabbies (Charax destructor)
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Lesson 4 additional reading
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GROWING PLANTS IN AQUAPONICS
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What system?
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Planting guide
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Planting
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Herbs
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Some herbs to grow hydroponically
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Basil (Sweet) Ocimum basilicum
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Mint (Mentha spp.)
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Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
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Vegetables
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Cabbage (Brassica oleraceae - Capitata Group)
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Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
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Pak-choi and Bok-choy (Brassica rapa - Pekinensis Group)
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Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
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Water Chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis)
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Other
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Iris species (Iris spp.)
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Nutrients and deficiencies
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Mobile and Immobile Nutrients
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Plant Nutrition
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Nutrient Deficiency
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Control of water quality
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Measuring pH and EC
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EC Meters and EC Controllers
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pH Controller
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Plant pest and disease problems in aquaponics
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Pests
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Diseases
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Damping-off disease
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Grey mould
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Powdery mildew
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Wilt
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Lesson 5 additional reading
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Final assessment
Why this Course?
We do offer a longer, more involved 100 hour hydroponics course; but if your time is limited, and your aim is to simply get a solid understanding of the topic in order to get started on an aquaponic system - then this could be the more viable way to begin.
Who is this Course Suited to?
- Someone with a passion for aquaculture, or for hydroponics, who wants to broaden their activity to combine the two.
- Amateurs wanting to try something different
- Anyone seeking to be more sustainable with their food production
- Farmers or business entrepreneurs with an interest in exploring the possibility of investing in aquaponics. This course will provide a broad understanding of the subject, to inform their investment decisions
- Professional development for students or practitioners of horticulture
