Aquaponics: Interview with Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems
Alex Cho and Yoon Choi
May 2nd, 2022
May 2nd, 2022
Overview
Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc. is the world's largest supplier of aquatic products and systems. From recirculating aquaculture systems to improving water conditions in pens, Pentair AES provides solutions and expertise to improve growing conditions in any environment.
Edward Boggis is an aquaculture biologist at the Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems.
Questions
1) What are the environmental benefits that come with aquaponics?
Boggis: “This is a good question. The benefits are usually indirect. By using more-sustainable practices we can preserve natural resources. Aquaponics represents an environment that uses waste from aquatic animals to produce fertilizer for terrestrial plants. This means that a farmer will not need to buy and spread fertilizer on land, and they will often need less space to grow the same amount of crops (especially with vertical farming, hydroponics example here: https://www.shenandoahgrowers.com/). Aquaculture, in general, reduces pressure on fisheries, which we know are very vulnerable to human impact. Aquaculture alone is a benefit to the world. We already farm everything else! Aquaponics just uses the waste/nutrients from aquaculture to grow plants, and many more plants by weight than fish or other animals. If you are interested in this concept then you should read about polyculture. Think of a cage of fish, feeding a cage of shrimp, feeding a cage of scallops, feeding seaweed. It just makes sense to utilize all of the natural processes for the species we eat. I'm certain there are many advances to be made in this field, but even in a home aquarium, this is important. My fish feed the algae and coral, the algae feed my snails, the snails feed my algae and coral, etc...
If these systems are indoors (they are often in greenhouses at least) then the grower has better control over pests. It also gives greater control over nutrient/chemical levels. Fish are also better at converting feed to biomass than certain animals such as cows. A tilapia will gain about 2x more weight/mass from feed than cows do. They mostly eat plants too, so you can feed some of the plants back to the fish to replace some of the feed. One farm I spoke with uses about 30% duckweed (grown in their aquaponics system) in the total feed they give to their tilapia.”
Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems is a company that advocates the values of reusing waste from animals to produce more plants and crops. Aquaponics provides more advantages to farmers, as the plantation no longer requires as much land or fertilizer, as the water acts as a natural fertilizer for the plants. The system that aquaponics installs is one that is able to utilize the relationship between fishery and plantation. Especially indoors, it gives a more beneficial outcome of nutrient/chemical levels Aquaponics is also advantageous to marine life, who are less vulnerable to human dangers if inside aquaponic systems. Like Boggis mentions, aquaponics essentially makes use of the waste from marine life for agriculture.
2) Could anyone set up their aquaponics system at home without a large budget?
Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc. is the world's largest supplier of aquatic products and systems. From recirculating aquaculture systems to improving water conditions in pens, Pentair AES provides solutions and expertise to improve growing conditions in any environment.
Edward Boggis is an aquaculture biologist at the Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems.
Questions
1) What are the environmental benefits that come with aquaponics?
Boggis: “This is a good question. The benefits are usually indirect. By using more-sustainable practices we can preserve natural resources. Aquaponics represents an environment that uses waste from aquatic animals to produce fertilizer for terrestrial plants. This means that a farmer will not need to buy and spread fertilizer on land, and they will often need less space to grow the same amount of crops (especially with vertical farming, hydroponics example here: https://www.shenandoahgrowers.com/). Aquaculture, in general, reduces pressure on fisheries, which we know are very vulnerable to human impact. Aquaculture alone is a benefit to the world. We already farm everything else! Aquaponics just uses the waste/nutrients from aquaculture to grow plants, and many more plants by weight than fish or other animals. If you are interested in this concept then you should read about polyculture. Think of a cage of fish, feeding a cage of shrimp, feeding a cage of scallops, feeding seaweed. It just makes sense to utilize all of the natural processes for the species we eat. I'm certain there are many advances to be made in this field, but even in a home aquarium, this is important. My fish feed the algae and coral, the algae feed my snails, the snails feed my algae and coral, etc...
If these systems are indoors (they are often in greenhouses at least) then the grower has better control over pests. It also gives greater control over nutrient/chemical levels. Fish are also better at converting feed to biomass than certain animals such as cows. A tilapia will gain about 2x more weight/mass from feed than cows do. They mostly eat plants too, so you can feed some of the plants back to the fish to replace some of the feed. One farm I spoke with uses about 30% duckweed (grown in their aquaponics system) in the total feed they give to their tilapia.”
Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems is a company that advocates the values of reusing waste from animals to produce more plants and crops. Aquaponics provides more advantages to farmers, as the plantation no longer requires as much land or fertilizer, as the water acts as a natural fertilizer for the plants. The system that aquaponics installs is one that is able to utilize the relationship between fishery and plantation. Especially indoors, it gives a more beneficial outcome of nutrient/chemical levels Aquaponics is also advantageous to marine life, who are less vulnerable to human dangers if inside aquaponic systems. Like Boggis mentions, aquaponics essentially makes use of the waste from marine life for agriculture.
2) Could anyone set up their aquaponics system at home without a large budget?
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Boggis: “Yes, 100%. My friend made a system 15 years ago for his university project. It looked similar to this but smaller:
He had his fish tanks in the middle of his racks. Many people have built such systems, and their ability to do so economically depends on their knowledge. For example, you can spend $1000 on a fish tank, or you can buy an IBC tote for 3-5x less: |
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Knowing what you need from your equipment and how to find a cheap version (if advisable) is important. I could probably make a system to feed two people forever for less than $5,000 (Pentair does not offer design services). You just need to know what things are important to spend money on, and what things you can replace with cheap alternatives. Some advanced equipment, such as UV sterilizers, you would not want to replace with a cheap option.
Another factor to consider is where you are and what likes to grow there, and what products are available. Morningstar Fishermen (I think they are no longer around - a fire destroyed their US facility) installed aquaponics systems in struggling countries. In Malawi they made a system for an orphanage. They grew tilapia (which like the climate) and hot weather plants like moringa (a tropical tree with very nutritious leaves). They used termites for feed and they poured battery acid on iron bars to make an iron supplement for the plants. You would not want to use these species in an environment that was say, 15 deg C though. It would be too cold for the organisms and the cost of heating would be significant. Keep the local environment in mind.
If you are interested in doing this yourself, I highly recommend looking into the research that was done by the University of the Virgin Islands. Their work has served as a model for operations all over the world (and I mean I am told that from people doing aquaponics all over the world). I worked with someone who helped produce these systems and publish them. They have their Ph.D. from the university. The design truly works. Some knowledge of these systems is needed before you build one. I receive requests from all over the world like "I want to produce 10,000 lbs of fish and 40,000 heads of lettuce per year. How much will that cost?". I cannot answer these questions. There are many ways to build a system, and there are many sources for equipment. When a customer says "I have a system of X gallons and Y weight of fish, what aeration equipment do I need?" or "I need to size a biofilter for Y weight of fish and Z weight of feed per day. What do I need?" or "I need a UV sterilizer for a given flow rate and to treat a certain microbe." those I can help with. We help with "sizing" equipment. You have to at least be able to provide some numbers to base these calculations on, and that requires some knowledge. Those that learn in advance tend to be more successful than those who just want someone to do it for them.”
Pentair states that anything is possible with aquaponics even without a large budget. With important equipment essential in building an aquaponic system, some can be easily replaced with cheaper options that can lower the budget. Intelligent spending can help cut corners when building aquaponics, and finding inexpensive alternatives further improves the accessibility of aquaponics to an enlarged population of consumers. However, as Pentair mentions, extensive research is recommended before diving into the details of construction. There are numerous methods of building an effective system. Multiple factors can affect the format of the aquaponics structure, such as the environment and the availability and significance of products. These factors must be taken into account before the development of an aquaponics system, in order for it to work effectively.
These low-budget aquaponic systems can exponentially benefit third-world countries or countries struggling with planting. There are many nations today with eroded soil or unsuitable climates that have an insufficient supply of food. Aquaponics can help with this agricultural deficiency while also being budget-friendly and effective.
Another factor to consider is where you are and what likes to grow there, and what products are available. Morningstar Fishermen (I think they are no longer around - a fire destroyed their US facility) installed aquaponics systems in struggling countries. In Malawi they made a system for an orphanage. They grew tilapia (which like the climate) and hot weather plants like moringa (a tropical tree with very nutritious leaves). They used termites for feed and they poured battery acid on iron bars to make an iron supplement for the plants. You would not want to use these species in an environment that was say, 15 deg C though. It would be too cold for the organisms and the cost of heating would be significant. Keep the local environment in mind.
If you are interested in doing this yourself, I highly recommend looking into the research that was done by the University of the Virgin Islands. Their work has served as a model for operations all over the world (and I mean I am told that from people doing aquaponics all over the world). I worked with someone who helped produce these systems and publish them. They have their Ph.D. from the university. The design truly works. Some knowledge of these systems is needed before you build one. I receive requests from all over the world like "I want to produce 10,000 lbs of fish and 40,000 heads of lettuce per year. How much will that cost?". I cannot answer these questions. There are many ways to build a system, and there are many sources for equipment. When a customer says "I have a system of X gallons and Y weight of fish, what aeration equipment do I need?" or "I need to size a biofilter for Y weight of fish and Z weight of feed per day. What do I need?" or "I need a UV sterilizer for a given flow rate and to treat a certain microbe." those I can help with. We help with "sizing" equipment. You have to at least be able to provide some numbers to base these calculations on, and that requires some knowledge. Those that learn in advance tend to be more successful than those who just want someone to do it for them.”
Pentair states that anything is possible with aquaponics even without a large budget. With important equipment essential in building an aquaponic system, some can be easily replaced with cheaper options that can lower the budget. Intelligent spending can help cut corners when building aquaponics, and finding inexpensive alternatives further improves the accessibility of aquaponics to an enlarged population of consumers. However, as Pentair mentions, extensive research is recommended before diving into the details of construction. There are numerous methods of building an effective system. Multiple factors can affect the format of the aquaponics structure, such as the environment and the availability and significance of products. These factors must be taken into account before the development of an aquaponics system, in order for it to work effectively.
These low-budget aquaponic systems can exponentially benefit third-world countries or countries struggling with planting. There are many nations today with eroded soil or unsuitable climates that have an insufficient supply of food. Aquaponics can help with this agricultural deficiency while also being budget-friendly and effective.
