Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics in a symbiotic, recirculating system. Successful aquaponics can yield both edible fish and plants by using the waste products generated by aquaculture to feed plants, thereby eliminating the need for most chemical fertilizers used in standalone hydroponic systems. Tilapia and catfish are the most common types of fish that are raised in an aquaponics system.
The main components of a system are:
- Fish tank: for raising and feeding fish;
- Settling basin: for catching uneaten food, particulates and biofilms;
- Biofilter: where the nitrification bacteria grow and convert ammonia into nitrates
- Hydroponics subsystem or "Grow bed": where plants grow using nutrients from the fish wastes;
- Sump: where water goes to and from the fish tank.