Aquaponics: Alternative Types and Approaches

Abstract

Whilst aquaponics may be considered in the mid-stage of development, there are a number of allied, novel methods of food production that are aligning alongside aquaponics and also which can be merged with aquaponics to deliver food efficiently and productively. These technologies include algaeponics, aeroponics, aeroaquaponics, maraponics, haloponics, biofloc technology and vertical aquaponics. Although some of these systems have undergone many years of trials and research, in most cases, much more scientific research is required to understand intrinsic processes within the systems, efficiency, design aspects, etc., apart from the capacity, capabilities and benefits of conjoining these systems with aquaponics.

Integrated pest and disease management in aquaponics: A metadata‐based review

“…System-specific dilemmas in employing IPDM procedures Background information on coupled and decoupled aquaponic systems (DAPs), in general, has been provided in the supplementary text. Scanning the available literature, comparative advantages and disadvantages of IPDM between coupled and decoupled aquaponic systems are summarized in Table 1 (data from Jarvis 1989;Stanghellini 1993;Stanghellini & Rasmussen 1994;Ehret et al 2001;Song et al 2004;Tyson et al 2004Tyson et al , 2011Date et al 2005;Sommerset et al 2005;Rakocy 2007;Appels et al 2008;Pedersen et al 2009Pedersen et al , 2010Rakocy et al 2012;Goddek et al 2015;Kloas et al 2015;Jones 2016;Sirakov et al 2016;Monsees et al 2017a, b;Schmautz et al 2017;Yavuzcan Yildiz et al 2017, 2019Bartelme et al 2018;Goddek & Keesman 2018;Roh et al 2018;Delaide et al 2019;Kotzen et al 2019;Mori & Smith 2019;Stouvenakers et al 2019). We encountered some system-specific dilemmas (i.e.…”

The complex microbiome in aquaponics: significance of the bacterial ecosystem

“…Welldocumented algal species involved in nitrogen and phosphorus removal are Scenedesmus, Chlorella, and Spirulina (Xin et al 2010). Algae cause diurnal pH and DO variations due to photosynthesis and respiration, respectively, and they are adaptable to different environments (Addy et al 2017;Kotzen et al 2019). In aquaponics, algae may also block water pipes, attract insects, and negatively affect water quality (Kotzen et al 2019;Somerville et al 2014).…”

“…Algae cause diurnal pH and DO variations due to photosynthesis and respiration, respectively, and they are adaptable to different environments (Addy et al 2017;Kotzen et al 2019). In aquaponics, algae may also block water pipes, attract insects, and negatively affect water quality (Kotzen et al 2019;Somerville et al 2014). Despite these negative effects, an experiment to evaluate the role of microalgae in the floating raft-aquaponics system showed that algae of the genera Chlorella spp.…”

“…As such, the addition of composting worms to an aquaponics system could influence the bacterial ecosystem by affecting nutrient availability to the microbiome. The growth rate of worms is partly influenced by a dark environment and moisture content, and these conditions in aquaponics are optimised by providing suitable quantities of media in the grow beds and flow rate adjustments, respectively (Wani and Mamta 2013;Kotzen et al 2019). Flood-and drain-media beds are ideal because worms are not constantly under water.…”

“…Aquaponics can be integrated with the production or farming of worms (vermiculture), thus creating a potential side-stream income. Aqueous extracts of vermicompost can improve plant growth, enhance beneficial microbial communities, improve nutrient availability to plants, and induce plant defence compounds synthesis (Pant et al 2009;Wani and Mamta 2013), but their current applications in aquaponics are limited (Kotzen et al 2019). Within the context of aquaponics, the need for the farming of earthworms was reported by Somerville et al (2014), who documented the presence of "earthworms, isopods, amphipods, larvae and other small animals in aquaponics systems".…”