Aquaponics-Integrating Hydroponics With Aquaculture

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800-346-9140

AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF
HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE
Appropriate Technology TransferforRuralAreas HORTICULTURE SYSTEMS GUIDE

www.attra.ncat.org
ATTRA is the national sustainable agriculture information center funded by the USDA’s Rural Business -- Cooperative Service .

Abstract: Aquaponics is a bio-integrated system that links recirculating aquaculture with hydroponic vegetable, flower, or
herb production. Recent advances by researchers and growers alike have turned aquaponics into a working model of
sustainable food production. This publication provides an overview of aquaponics with brief profiles of working units around
the country. An extensive list of resources point the reader to print and web-based educational materials for further technical
assistance.

By Steve Diver, NCAT Agriculture Specialist


February 2000

Aquaponics, also known as the integration of


hydroponics with aquaculture, is gaining
increased attention as a bio-integrated food
production system.

Aquaponics helps production agriculture meet


its goals of sustainability by following certain
principles:

• The waste products of one system serve as food


or fuel for a second biological system
• The integration of fish and plants is a type of
polyculture that increases diversity and
thereby enhances system stability
• Biological water filtration removes nutrients
from water before it leaves the system
• Sale of greenhouse products generates income
which supports the local economy In aquaponics, nutrient wastes from fish tanks are
used to fertilize hydroponic production beds via
Contents irrigation water. This is good for the fish because
plant roots and associated rhizosphere bacteria
The North Carolina State University System ..................2 remove nutrients from the water. These nutrients
The Speraneo System.....................................................3  generated from fish manure, algae, and
The University of Virgin Islands System..........................4 decomposing fish feed  are contaminants that
The Freshwater Institute System.....................................4 would otherwise build up to toxic levels in the fish
The Cabbage Hill Farm System ......................................5 tanks, but instead serve as liquid fertilizer to
The New Alchemy Institute..............................................5 hydroponically grown plants. In turn, the
Miscellaneous Systems...................................................5 hydroponic beds function as a biofilter so the water
Economic Considerations & Related ATTRA Pubs ........6 can then be recirculated back into the fish tanks.
Suggested Reading .........................................................6
The bacteria living in the gravel and in association
Resources........................................................................7
with the plant roots play a critical role in nutrient
Appendix ..........................................................................12
cycling; without these microorganisms the whole
system would stop functioning. Greenhouse

IS A PROJECT OF THE N ATIONAL C ENTER FOR APPROPRIATE T ECHNOLOGY


growers are taking note of aquaponics for several list and to the resource listings in the bibliography
reasons: for more complete descriptions and technical
details.
• Hydroponic growers view fish-manured
irrigation water as a source of organic The North Carolina State University System
fertilizer that enables plants to grow well.
• Fish farmers view hydroponics as a In the 1980’s Mark McMurtry (former graduate
biofiltration method to facilitate intensive student) and Doug Sanders (professor) at North
recirculating aquaculture. Carolina State University developed an aqua-
• Greenhouse growers view aquaponics as a vegeculture system based on tilapia fish tanks
way to introduce organic hydroponic produce sunken below the greenhouse floor. Effluent from
into the market place, since the only fertility the fish tanks was trickle-irrigated onto sand-
input is fish feed and all of the nutrients pass cultured hydroponic vegetable beds located at
through a biological process. ground level. The nutrients in the irrigation water
• Food-producing greenhouses  yielding two fed tomato and cucumber crops, and the plants
products from one production unit  are and sand beds served as a biofilter. After
naturally appealing for niche marketing and draining from the beds, the water recirculated
green labeling. back into the fish tanks. The only fertility input to
• In arid regions where water is scarce, the system was fish feed (32% protein).
aquaponics is an appropriate technology that
Some findings and highlights of McMurtry's
allows food production with re-used water
research:
• Aquaponics is a working model of sustainable
food production wherein plant and animal
• Benefits of integrating aquaculture and
agriculture are integrated, and recycling of
vegetable production are:
nutrients and water filtration are linked.
1. conservation of water resources and plant
• In addition to commercial application, nutrients
aquaponics has become a popular training aid 2. intensive production of fish protein
on integrated bio-systems with vocational 3. reduced operating costs relative to either
agriculture programs and high school biology system in isolation
classes.
• Water consumption in integrated systems
The technology associated with aquaponics is including tilapia production is less than 1% of
complex. It requires the ability to simultaneously that required in pond culture to produce
manage the production and marketing of two equivalent yields.
different agricultural products. Until the 1980s, • Such low-water-use symbiotic systems are
most attempts at integrated hydroponics and applicable to the needs of arid or semi-arid
aquaculture had limited success. However, regions where fish and fresh vegetables are in
innovations in the 1980s and 90s have high demand.
transformed this technology into a viable modern • Organic vine-ripened, pesticide-free produce
food production system. This publication will not and "fresh-daily" fish can bring premium
attempt to summarize the production details prices, particularly during winter months in
associated with aquaponics, but rather it will urban areas.
point to key innovators and published resources • Biofilters (sand beds with vegetables) that are
for further information. alternately flooded and drained with nutrient-
laden fish tank water are called reciprocating
Highlighted below are profiles of several biofilters.
aquaponic greenhouses as models and examples • Reciprocating biofilters provide advantages of
of commercial systems. Most of these operations uniform distribution of nutrient-laden water
can provide technical assistance and/or offer within the filtration medium during the flood
classes or opportunities to visit their greenhouses. cycle and improved aeration from atmosphere
Please refer to articles in the Suggested Reading exchange with each dewatering which

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 2


benefits both nitrifying bacteria and plant The Speraneo System
roots.
• Dissolved and suspended organic materials Tom and Paula Speraneo — owners of a small
accumulate rapidly in aquaculture systems greenhouse operation near West Plains, Missouri
and must be removed for efficient fish — modified the North Carolina State method
production. and raise tilapia in above-ground tanks inside a
• Previous integrated fish-vegetable systems solar greenhouse. The effluent from the tanks is
removed suspended solids from the water by used to fertigate gravel-cultured vegetables in
sedimentation in clarifiers prior to plant raised benches. In addition, the Speraneos
application. Removal of the solid wastes manipulated the watering cycle and use selected
resulted in insufficient residual nutrients for tilapia hybrids adapted to cooler water
good plant growth; acceptable fruit yields had temperatures. They also developed a unique
previously only been achieved with blend of microbes which they sell as an
substantial supplementation of plant inoculant to start new fish tanks.
nutrients.
• Aquaeous nitrate concentrations in The Speraneos grow fresh basil, tomatoes,
recirculating aquaculture can be adequately cucumbers, mixed salad greens, and an
regulated when fish and vegetable production assortment of vegetable, herb, and ornamental
are linked via reciprocating biofilters. bedding plants in their greenhouse. Tom
• Tomatoes may have also assimilated N in estimates they produce 45 to 70 pounds of
organic amino acid forms. In 1950 Gosh and produce for every pound of tilapia. This is a
Burris (Utilization of nitrogenous compounds by significant improvement over the North Carolina
plants. Soil Science, 70: 187-203) found that system, which was getting a produce-to-fish ratio
tomatoes utilize alanine, glutamic acid, of 2 to 1. Thus, the primary income in a Speraneo-
histidine, and leucine as effectively as style aquaponic system comes from greenhouse
inorganic N sources. produce. Fish are a secondary marketable
• Research to determine the optimum ratio of product.
fish tank to biofilter volume ratio on fish
growth rate and water quality found that In the early 1990's, Tom and Paula were raising
stocking density of fish and plants can vary basil which they sold for $12 a pound to gourmet
depending on desired goal. Essentially, fish restaurants four hours away in St. Louis,
stocking density and feed rates are adjusted to Missouri. However, after passage of NAFTA,
optimize water quality as influenced by plant imports of basil from Mexico resulted in a market
growth rate. crash to $4 per pound, so they dropped the St.
Louis market. Now the Speraneos grow a
See the Bibliography on Aquaponics in the appendix diversity of vegetable and herbs, selling locally at
for a listing of publications and articles that a farmers market combined with direct sales out
resulted from the North Carolina research. of their greenhouse.

Dr. Sanders explained that aqua-vegeculture Interest in the Speraneo system has resulted in
research at NCSU has been discontinued because over 10,000 visitors to their small farm in
the technology had evolved to the point where it Missouri, including agriculture researchers and
is ready for grower application. A packet of government officials from dozens of foreign
articles that summarize NCSU's work on this countries. To handle the numerous inquiries and
technology is available on request, contact: requests for assistance, the Speraneos assembled a
resource packet that features a design manual
Department of Horticultural Sciences with technical specifications for an S & S Aqua
North Carolina State University Farm-style aquaponic system. The packet also
Box 7609 includes a 10-minute video documenting the S& S
Raleigh, NC 27695-7609 Aqua Farm greenhouse, and a listing of supplies.
919-515-3283 Response from growers to a practical design

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 3


manual like this has been tremendous. The The Freshwater Institute System
Speraneos have assisted over 130 aquaponic
greenhouses get successfully established. The The Freshwater Institute is a non-profit
resource packet, which sells for $200, is available organization in Shepherdstown, West Virginia,
through: that specializes in aquaculture research and
education. Fresh spring water is an abundant
Attn: Tom and Paula Speraneo resource in the Appalachian region. However,
S & S Aqua Farm protection of spring water quality as it relates to
8386 County Rd. 8820 aquaculture effluent is viewed as a vital
West Plains, MO 65775 component of this technology.
417-256-5124
[email protected] For years, the Institute has specialized in cold-
http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua water aquaculture systems raising trout and
arctic charr. The Institute helps Appalachian
The University of the Virgin Islands System farmers set up two types of cold-water systems:
(a) an indoor, high-tech recirculating tank
Dr. James Rakocy at the University of the Virgin method and (b) an outdoor, low-tech gravity fed
Islands developed an aquaponic system that relies tank method. Treatment of aquaculture effluent
on rain water catchment, rotating mechanical prior to its return to the natural stream flow led
biofilters, and floating polystyrene panels that to collaborative research with scientists at the
hold the plants. This differs dramatically from the USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station
Speraneo and NC State models in which the in Kearneysville, WV, on integrated
vegetable beds themselves serve as the biofilter hydroponic-fish culture systems. Trials at the
for cleaning effluent water. Rakocy raises Institute's greenhouses showed that nitrogen,
tomatoes and leafy vegetables. Like Mark phosphorus, and other nutrients in aquaculture
McMurtry, Dr. Rakocy sees integrated water reuse effluent can be effectively removed by plants
systems as a viable solution to self-sufficient food grown in NFT hydroponic or constructed
production in developing countries and other wetland systems.
locations (such as the Carribean) where fresh
water is scarce. More recently, the Institute implemented an
aquaponic demonstration program based on a
Rakocy has published a series of research reports Sperraneo-style gravel-cultured system.
as well as Extension bulletin on integrated fish- Hydroponic crops include basil, lettuce, and
vegetable production. In addition, he hosts an wetland plants. Tilapia is raised as a warm-water
aquaponics short course through the University of fish species. In addition to providing technical
the Virgin Islands. See the Bibliography on assistance to farmers, the Institute provides
Aquaponics in the appendix for a selection of educational training materials to high school
articles and papers by Rackocy. biology & agriculture teachers. The Institute
Contact: offers 5−6 aquaponic workshops a year, each
lasting 1−3 days long.
Dr. James Rakocy
University of the Virgin Islands The Freshwater Institute Natural Gas Powered
Agriculture Experiment Station Aquaponic System - Design Manual is a 37-page
RR 2, Box 10,000 aquaponic design manual published by The
Kingshill, St. Croix Freshwater Institute in 1997. Included are
U.S. Virgin Islands 00850 diagrams and photos, details on greenhouse
340-692-4020 layout and aquaponic production, parts list with
[email protected] suppliers and cost, estimated operating expense,
http://rps.uvi.edu/AES/Aquaculture/ and further informational resources. This design
aquaponics.html manual is the most detailed instruction manual

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 4


available to the public at low cost. To cover the The New Alchemy Institute
cost of shipping and handling, $5.00 is requested.
Contact: The New Alchemy Institute in East Falmouth,
Massachusetts, conducted research on integrated
The Freshwater Institute
aquaculture systems during the 1970s and 1980s.
P.O. Box 1746
Although the Institute closed in 1991, New
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
Alchemy publications on greenhouse production
304-876-2815
and aquaponics provide historical insight to the
304-870-2208 Fax
emerging bioshelter (ecosystem greenhouses)
Attn: Mr. Marten Jenkins, Mr. Larry Selzer
concept and are still a valuable resource. The
[email protected]
Green Center, formed by a group of former New
http://www.conservationfund.org/
Alchemists, is again making these publications
conservation/freshwater/index.html
available for sale. Contact:
The Cabbage Hill Farm System
The Green Center
237 Hatchville Rd.
Cabbage Hill Farm is a private non-profit
East Falmouth, MA 02536
foundation located about 30 miles north of New
508-564-6301
York City. The foundation is dedicated to the
http://www.fuzzylu.com/greencenter/
preservation of rare breeds of historic farm
home.htm
animals and the practice of sustainable
agriculture and aquaponic greenhouse
Especially see:
production techniques.
The Potential for Commercial Food-Producing
Tilapia fish and leaf lettuce are the main
Greenhouses in the Northeast: A Review of the
products of the Cabbage Hill Farm system,
Literature. Research Report No. 5.
though basil and watercress are also grown in
By Norman L. Marshall. March 1987.
smaller quantities. In addition to hydroponics,
http://www.fuzzylu.com/greencenter/rr/rr005.
water passes through a constructed reed bed
htm
outside the greenhouse for additional nutrient
removal.
Miscellaneous Systems
The Cabbage Hill Farm web site contains an
Instead of locating the fish and vegetable
introductory manual on aquaponics. It provides a
components in separate containers inside a
nice introduction to aquaponics and highlights
greenhouse, fish production can be located in
features of the Cabbage Hill Farm system.
outdoor tanks or adjacent buildings. The effluent
simply needs to be delivered to hydroponic
Aquaponics — Preserving the Future is a video film
vegetable beds.
documenting the research and demonstration of
aquaponics at Cabbage Hill Farms. Cost is $18.00
In warm climates, hydroponic vegetable beds
(tax included).
may be located outside. As an example,
Cabbage Hill Farm the Center for Regenerative Studies at California
115 Crow Hill Road State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 implemented an outdoor integrated bio-system
914-241-2658 that links: (a) a pond containing treated sewage
914-241-8264 Fax wastewater stocked with tilapia and carp; (b)
Contact: Annie Farrell water hyacinth — an aquatic plant very efficient
[email protected] at sucking up nutrients — covering 50% of the
http://www.cabbagehillfarm.org/home. water surface area; the plant biomass generated
html by water hyacinth is used as feedstock for

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 5


compost heaps; (c) nearby vegetable gardens Suggested Reading list below can provide
irrigated with nutrient-laden pond water. quick background reading. The
Bibliography on Aquaponics in the
In addition to locating the fish and vegetable Appendix can be consulted for in-depth
components in separate containers, fish and research.
plants can be placed in the same container to
function as a polyculture. For example, plants sit 4) Visit an aquaponic greenhouse. An on-
on top of floating polystyrene panels with their site greenhouse tour can save you weeks
roots hanging down into the water that fish swim or months of time trying to visualize how
around in. Models include the Rackocy system, these operations work. Keep in mind that
solar-algae ponds (see literature by Zweig and aquaponic growers are busy people
Kleinholz), and the solar-aquatic ponds, or Living who’ve worked hard to learn this
Machines, made popular by John Todd at Ocean business. If you offer to pay a fee for their
Arks International. time and expertise —just like you would
pay for any professional’s time — it can
Economic Considerations and Related ATTRA help you get through the front door.
Publications
5) Attend seminars on aquaponics,
Due to the technical nature of aquaponics and the aquaculture, and hydroponics.
expense associated with greenhouse production,
prospective growers are advised to seek technical 6) Purchase videos and design manuals.
assistance from greenhouse advisors and to visit a The Freshwater Institute’s design manual
working aquaponic operation. Building and at $5 is a good starter — so is The
equipping a commercial-sized greenhouse can Cabbage Hill video for $18. To play
cost $10,000-$30,000, with the aquacultural around on a small-scale and get firsthand
components an added expense. experience with this technology, the
Desktop Aquaponics Booklet from
For general information and supplies associated Nelson/Pade Multimedia is available at
with greenhouse production, see the ATTRA $15. If you are ready to go commercial,
publications titled Organic Greenhouse Vegetable the Speraneo design manual is available
Production and Hydroponic Vegetable Production. A at $200.
complementary publication is Integrated Pest
Management for Greenhouse Crops. 7) If you want to shorten the time and risk
involved getting started, consider hiring a
Evaluating an Aquaponics Enterprise consultant. A few consultants with
expertise in aquaponics are listed in the
1) Aquaponics is one method of greenhouse Consultants Section below.
production. The first step is to evaluate
the feasibility of a greenhouse business in Suggested Reading:
your market location.
Dinda, Kara. 1997. Hydroponics & aquaculture
2) Do not try to re-invent the wheel. working together: A case study. The Growing
Successful aquaponic operations exist Edge. September-October. p. 56-59.
because innovators have implemented
technological modifications for many McMurtry, M.R., et al. 1993. Yield of tomato
years. As a starting point, pick one of the irrigated with recirculating aquacultural water.
existing models and duplicate it insofar as Journal of Production Agriculture. Vol. 6, No. 3.
possible. (July–September). p. 428–432.

3) Read some literature to help you become Modeland, Vern. 1993. Aquafarming on a budget.
familiar with this sort of enterprise. The BackHome. Summer. p. 28–31.

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 6


Smith, John Wesley. 1993. The genius of Send message to:
simplicity. The Growing Edge. Vol. 5, No. 2. [email protected]
(Fall). p. 40–44, 70. In the body of the message, type:
subscribe YOUR NAME
Rakocy, James E., Thomas M. Losordo, and
Hydroponic Lists:
Michael P. Masser. 1992. Recirculating
Aquaculture Tank Production Systems: SoilLess email list
Integrating Fish and Plant Culture. SRAC http://www.aquamist.com/soilless/index.html
Publication No. 454. Southern Region A hydroponics newsletter and email listserv
Aquaculture Center, Mississippi State managed by Aquamist.
University. 6 p.
Hydro Newsletter
Rackocy, James. 1999. The status of aquaponics, http://www.mayhillpress.com/archives.html
Part I. Aquaculture Magazine. July-August. p. 83- These are the archives of the Hydro1
Newsletter from Mayhill Press.
88.
To subscribe, mailto:
Rackocy, James. 1999. The status of aquaponics, [email protected]
Part II. Aquaculture Magazine. September– In the subject line, type:
October. p. 64–70. subscribe hydro1

Watkins, Gordon. 1999. Inslee fish farm: A Aquaculture Lists:


family run aquaponic operation produces chives
and fish. The Growing Edge. Vol. 10, No. 5. Aqua-L Mailing List Archives
(May–June). p. 35–40. http://www.ifmt.nf.ca/aqua-l.archive/
Includes instructions on how to subscribe.
Watkins, Gordon. 1998. Integrating aquaculture
Aquatic-Plant Mailing List Archives
and hydroponics on the small farm. The Growing http://www.actwin.com/fish/aquatic-
Edge. Vol. 9, No. 5. (May–June) p. 17–21, 23. plants/index.cgi
Includes instructions on how to subscribe.
Yarrow, David. 1998. A food production
revolution: Missouri aquafarmers discover huge Publications and Magazines:
benefits in trace elements integrated with
hydroponics. Remineralize the Earth. Spring– Desktop Aquaponics Booklet
Fall, No. 12–13. p. 38–43.
This booklet provides information, directions,
diagrams, photos and drawings on how to establish a
Resources home aquaponic system. It shows how to turn any
aquarium or hydroponic grow bed into a unique,
−Hydroponics—
E-mail Sites for Aquaponics− aquaponic eco-system. Includes:
Aquaculture
• four primary system designs
Aquaponic Lists: • adapting an existing aquarium
• adapting an existing hydroponic grow bed
Tom and Paula Speraneo of S & S Aqua Farm in • set up instructions, picutres and diagrams
Missouri host an Aquaponics List on the Internet. It is • plant and fish selection
also available in digest format. The Aquaponics List • growing medium selection
has become a prominent source of up-to-date • operation and maintenance
information and resource sharing on all aspects of
aquaponics: hydroponics, aquaculture, fish species, Price: $14.95 through Nelson/Pade Multimedia, the
supplies, practical solutions, and resources. publisher of Aquaponics Journal:

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 7


Nelson/Pade Multimedia Myles Harston
P.O. Box 1848 Ringer Foods — Aquaculture Division
Mariposa, CA 95338 Box 40
209-742-6869 Gridley, IL 61744
209-742-4402 Fax 309-747-2152
[email protected] 309-747-2243 Fax
http://www.aquaponics.com/
S&S Aqua Farms
Aquaponics Journal 8386 County Rd. 8820
See address listed above West Plains, MO 65775
http://www.aquaponics.com/ 417-256-5124
Aquaponics Journal is a bi-monthly trade [email protected]
magazine for hydroponic gardeners and fish http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua
culturists who combine these two technologies Attn: Tom and Paula Speraneo
to create a new growing method called
aquaponics. Subscription: $49/year for 6
issues per year; back issues $10 each.
National Agricultural Library:
The Growing Edge Magazine
New Moon Publishing Aquaculture resources available through the
P.O. Box 1027 Alternative Farming Systems Information Center at the
Corvallis, OR 97339 National Agricultural Library include:
800-888-6785
541-757-0028 Fax Perschbacher, Peter W., et al. 1993.
[email protected] Recirculation-Aeration: Bibliography for
http://www.growingedge.com Aquaculture. USDA-ARS, National
The Growing Edge is a bi-monthly trade Agricultural Library Bibliographies and
magazine on high-tech gardening systems like Literature of Agriculture. BLA-124. 78 p.
hydroponics, bioponics, aquaponics, and
ecologically-based pest management. Aquaculture Resources
Subscription: $27/year for 6 issues per year; http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/afsaqua.htm
back issues $5 each. [email protected]

Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses • Aquaculture-related Internet Sites and Documents


http://www.hydroponics.com.au • Directory of Aquaculture Associations
• Directory of Primary Extension Specialists For
Aquaponic Consultants Aquaculture
• Directory of State Aquaculture Coordinators and
Fisheries Technology Associates, Inc. Contacts
P.O. Box 80 • United States Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0080
970-225-0150 Aquaculture-Related Internet Sites and Documents
970-225-0150 Fax National Agricultural Library
[email protected] http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/aqua/aquasite.htm
http://www.ftai.com/consult.htm This is an extensive resource on aquaculture
from the National Agricultural Library. It
Gordon Creaser features aquaculture-related web sites
5431 Bracken Ct organized alphabetically; employment/careers;
Winter Park, FL 32792 FAQ's; graphics and images; aquaculture-
407-671-5075 related publications and topics; and U.S.
407-671-5628 Fax federal government agencies.

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 8


Contact: This is a 3-page web article that features the
integration of tilapia fish to greenhouse
AFSIC, NAL, ARS, USDA transplant production in Texas.
10301 Baltimore Ave., Room 304
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351 Eutrophic Aquaculture-Hydroponics Systems in
301-504-6559 Integrated Wastewater Treatment
301-504-6409 Fax Department of Biosystems and Agricultural
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/index.html Engineering, University of Minnesota
http://www.bae.umn.edu/annrpt/1996/research/wa
ste10.html
Aquaponics on the Web Abstract of paper in Proceedings of the Internet
Conference on Integrated Bio-Systems
Recirculating Aquaculture Tank Production Systems:
Integrating Fish and The Freshwater Institute
Plant Culture Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center, Publication http://www.conservationfund.org/conservation/fresh
No.454 water/index.html
http://agpublications.tamu.edu/pubs/efish/ The Freshwater Institute is a nationally
454fs.pdf recognized program in Shepherdstown, West
This is the Rakocy Agricultural Extension Virginia, that works toward sustainable
Service publication on aquaponics. It is solutions to environmental and conservation
perhaps the only Extension Service fact sheet on challenges. The main focus of the Freshwater
this topic. Institute's programs is the conservation and
efficient use of water resources through the
A Prototype Recirculating Aquaculture-Hydroponic development of cost effective, efficient, and
System sustainable aquaculture technologies. The
By Donald Johnson and George Wardlow Freshwater Institute’s web page contains an
University of Arkansas, Department of Agricultural excellent set of publications and design
and Extension Education AgriScience Project manuals for recirculating and aquaponics,
http://www.uark.edu/depts/aeedhp/agscience/ developed primarily for high school
aquaart.pdf aquaculture learning labs in West Virginia and
This web download is a 10-page reprint of an Alabama.
article the authors originally published in
Journal of Agricultural Mechanization (November The following publications can be found by
7, 1997). It describes a low cost (less than $600) following web links to Education and Outreach
recirculating aquaculture-hydroponic system & Aquaculture in the Classroom:
suitable for use in laboratory settings. Included
is a materials list and approximate cost of Computer Monitoring and Control Technology
materials to set up a 350-gallon aquaponic unit. The Freshwater Institute
http://www.conservationfund.org/conservation
Farming the Water /freshwater/pdffiles/cmc98.pd
By Linda Weimer
http://www.jhu.edu/~jhumag/694web/farming.html Suggested Management Guidelines for an
This is a 4-page web article, originally Integrated Recycle Aquaculture - Hydroponic
appearing in the June 1994 issue of John System
Hopkins University magazine. It highlights the The Freshwater Institute
Bioshelters aquaponic greenhouse operation in http://www.conservationfund.org/conservation
Amherst, Massachussetts. /freshwater/pdffiles/grobedom.pdf

Raising Tropical Food Fish in Small Greenhouse Linking Hydroponics to a 880-Gallon Recycle
Promises Profits for Texans Fish Rearing System
Marty Baker's Tilapia/Greenhouse Project The Freshwater Institute
Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Overton, http://www.conservationfund.org/
Texas. conservation/freshwater/pdffiles/igrobed.pdf
http://overton.tamu.edu/htmsub/tilapia.html

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 9


Operator's Manual for 880-Gallon Recycle Aquaponics from Global Aquatics
System http://www.aquatic-technologies.com/aquaponics.htm
The Freshwater Institute
http://www.conservationfund.org/ Aquaponics Journal
conservation/freshwater/pdffiles/800man.pdf http://www.aquaponics.com/

880-Gallon Recycle Aquaculture System The Growing Edge Magazine


Installation Guide http://www.growingedge.com
The Freshwater Institute
http://www.conservationfund.org/ EcoGenics
conservation/freshwater/pdffiles/sysiman.pdf http://www.dabney.com/ecogenics/

Why Use Aquaculture as an Educational Tool?


The Freshwater Institute Aquaculture on the Web
http://www.conservationfund.org/
conservation/freshwater/pdffiles/whyaqua.pdf Regional Aquaculture Centers sponsored by the
Extension Service:
In addition, a series of very informative lesson
plans on aquaculture from The Freshwater Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center
Institute can be found on the ReadiSkills web http://www.umassd.edu/
site. specialprograms/nrac/
http://www.cesd.wvu.edu/readiskills/
North Central Regional Aquaculture Center
The complete set of aquaculture lesson plans (NCRAC)
costs $275 http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/aquanic/
ncrac/index.htm
Module I: Determining the importance of
aquaculture Southern Regional Aquaculture Center
Module II: Establishing a recirculating system http://www.msstate.edu/dept/srac/
for aquaculture production
Module III: Exploring the biology of aquaculture Western Regional Aquaculture Center
Module IV: Using principles of microbiology http://www.fish.washington.edu/wrac/
Module V: Managing water newsletter.html
Module VI: Reproducing fish
Module VII: Rearing fish Center for Tropical and Subtropical
Aquaculture
S&S Aqua Farm http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/CTSA/
http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua
Aquaculture Network Information Center
Cabbage Hill Farm http://www.aquanic.org/
http://www.cabbagehillfarm.org/home.html
Fisheries Publications at Texas A&M
ADM Aquaculture and Hydroponics http://agpublications.tamu.edu/pubs/
http://www.admworld.com/about/overview/ efish/
aqua.htm
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center
Mineral County Vocational Technical Center − publications at Texas A&M
Aquaponics Project http://agpublications.tamu.edu/pubs/
http://168.216.197.6/aqua.htm efish/srac.htm

University of the Virgin Islands − Aquaponics Aquaculture Magazine’s Product Guide


http://rps.uvi.edu/AES/Aquaculture/aquaponics.html http://www.aquaculturemag.com/
products/product.html
Aquaponics Technology Center
http://www.aquaponics.com/atclinkshtml.html US Tilapia Market & Price Update
http://www.fishfarming.com/usmarket.html

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 10


Aquaculture Journal from Elsevier Rodale’s International Ag-Sieve (Integrated
http://www.elsevier.com/locate/aquaculture Aquaculture issue)
An international journal devoted to research on Volume IV, Number 5, 1992
the exploration, improvement and http://www.enviroweb.org/publications/rodale/ag-
management of all aquatic food resources, both sieve/vol4no5.html#integration
plants and animals. This website provides
Table of Contents and Abstracts for back issues ICLARUM
to 1990. http://www.cgiar.org/iclarm/

Aqua-Vegeculture Systems: Mineral Content and Yield Integrated Bio-System at The Center for Regenerative
of Bush Bean, Cucumber, and Tomato Cultivated in Studies, California State Polytechnic University in
Sand and Irrigated with Recirculating Aquaculture Pomona, California
Water. http://www.ias.unu.edu/proceedings/icibs/ibs/info/
By M. R. McMurtry, P.V. Nelson and D.C. Sanders pomona/index.htm
Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina http://www.csupomona.edu/~crs/page5/
State University
In: Rodales’ International Ag-Sieve, Vol. 1, No. 3 Ecological Engineering journal from Elsevier
http://fadr.msu.ru/rodale/agsieve/txt/vol1/3/ http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ecoleng
art7.html Ecological engineering has been defined as the
design of ecosystems for the mutual benefit of
Integrated Bio-Systems on the Web humans and nature. Specific topics covered in
the journal include: ecotechnology; synthetic
Integrated Bio-Systems in Zero Emissions Applications ecology; bioengineering; sustainable
Proceedings of the Internet Conference on Integrated agroecology; habitat reconstruction; restoration
Bio-Systems ecology; ecosystem conservation; ecosystem
http://www.ias.unu.edu/proceedings/icibs/ rehabilitation; stream and river restoration;
wetland restoration and construction;
Sustainable Aquaculture and Aquatic Feeds reclamation ecology; non-renewable resource
By Ronald Hardy conservation.
Aquaculture Magazine
http://www.aquaculturemag.com/html/hardy.html Wastewater-fed Aquaculture in Temperate Climates -
Nutrient recycling with Daphnia and Fish
Wastewater-fed Aquaculture: State of the Art article by Abstract at the 4th International Conference on
Peter Edwards Ecological Engineering for Wastewater Treatment —
AARM Newsletter, A Quarterly Newsletter of the Managing the Wastewater Resource June 7-11, 1999 -
Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management Aas Norway
Program. Vol. 4, No. 1, January 1999. http://www.isw.ch/horti/aquakultur/publ/
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) post01.pdf
http://www.agri-aqua.ait.ac.th/
scripts/aqua/newsletters/detail.cfm?ID=233 Sustainable Urban Biodegradable Waste Utilization
Modules
Wastewater-Fed Aquaculture Systems: Status and http://www.fishace.demon.co.uk/subwum.htm
Prospects publication by
Peter Edwards
The electronic version of Aquaponics-Integrating
Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management
Hydroponics with Aquaculture is located at:
Program, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/aquaponic.html
http://www.agri-
aqua.ait.ac.th/AQUA/readings/readings3new.pdf

By Steve Diver,
NCAT Agriculture Specialist

February 2000

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 11


Appendix:
Bibliography on Aquaponics

The following bibliography contains the bulk of articles on aquaponics published in the agricultural literature; a
notable exception are those articles that have appeared in the recent Aquaponics Journal. Many of these publications
will only be available through a land-grant university library, the Inter-Library Loan service at local libraries, or
through a document delivery service. Nevertheless, they are provided here as an important time saver to those
seeking technical and popular information on this topic.

North Carolina State University: Speraneo's System:

McMurtry, M.R., et al. 1990. Sand culture of Durham, Deni. 1992. Low-tech polycultural yields,
vegetables using recirculating aquacultural effluents. high profit. Small Farm Today. June. p. 23–25.
Applied Agricultural Research. Vol. 5, No. 4. (Fall). p.
280–284. Modeland, Vern. 1993. Aquafarming on a budget.
BackHome. Summer. p. 28–31.
McMurtry, Mark Richard. 1992. Integrated
Aquaculture-Olericulture System as Influenced by Modeland, Vern. 1998. The Ozarks’ S&S aqua farm.
Component Ratio. Ph.D. Thesis, North Carolina State The Ozarks Mountaineer. June–July. p. 42–44.
University. University Microfilms International, Ann
Harbor, MI. 78 p. Modeland, Vern. 1998. Maturing marvel: S&S Aqua
Farm. The Growing Edge. Vol. 9, No. 5 (May–June). p.
McMurtry, M.R., D.C. Sanders, D.C., P.V. Nelson. 1993. 35–38.
Mineral nutrient concentration and uptake by tomato
irrigated with recirculating aquaculture water as Rich, Doug. 1998. Closed system opens markets. The
influenced by quantity of fish waste products supplied. High Plains Journal. Vol. 115, No. 34. August 24.
Journal of Plant Nutrition. Vol. 16, No. 3. p. 407–409. p. 1–A.

McMurtry, M.R., et al. 1993. Yield of tomato irrigated Smith, John Wesley. 1993. The genius of simplicity.
with recirculating aquacultural water. Journal of The Growing Edge. Vol. 5, No. 2. (Fall). p. 40–44, 70.
Production Agriculture. Vol. 6, No. 3. (July-
September). p. 428–432. Thompson, Nina. 1993. Fish + plants = food. Missouri
Conservationist. August. p. 28.
McMurtry, M.R., D.C. Sanders, and R.G. Hodson. 1997.
Effects of biofilter/culture tank volume ratios on Yarrow, David. 1998. A food production revolution:
productivity of a recirculating fish/vegetable co-culture Missouri aquafarmers discover huge benefits in trace
system. Journal of Applied Aquaculture. Vol. 7, No. 4. elements integrated with hydroponics. Remineralize
p. 33–51. the Earth. Spring–Fall, No. 12–13. p. 38–43.

McMurtry, M.R., D.C. Sanders, J.D. Cure, R.G. Hodson, Rakocy's System:
B.C. Haning, and P.C.S. Amand. 1997. Efficiency of
water use of an integrated fish/vegetable co-culture Bailey, D.S., J.E. Rakocy, W.M. Cole and K.A. Shultz.
system. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. Vol. 1997. Economic analysis of a commercial-scale
28, No. 4. p. 420–428. aquaponic system for the production of tilapia and
lettuce. p. 603–612. In: Tilapia Aquaculture:
Sanders, Doug, and Mark McMurtry. 1988. Fish Proceedings from the Fourth International Symposium
increase greenhouse profits. American Vegetable on Tilapia in Aquaculture. Orlando, FL.
Grower. February. p. 32–33.

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Cole, W.M., J.E. Rakocy, K.A. Shultz and D.S. Bailey. Rackocy, James. 1999. The status of aquaponics, Part
1997. Effects of Solids Removal on Tilapia Production II. Aquaculture Magazine. September–October.
and Water Quality in Continuously Aerated, Outdoor p. 64–70.
Tanks. p. 373–384. In: Tilapia Aquaculture:
Proceedings from the Fourth International Symposium Youth, Howard. 1992. Farming in a fish tank. World
on Tilapia in Aquaculture. Orlando, FL. Watch. May–June. p. 5–7.

Nair, Ayyappan, James E. Rakocy, and John A.


Hargreaves. 1985. Water quality characteristics of a Bioshelters, Inc.:
closed recirculating system for tilapia culture and
tomato hydroponics. p. 223-254. In: Randy Day and Dinda, Kara. 1997. Hydroponics & aquaculture
Thomas L. Richards (ed). Proceedings of the Second working together: A case study. The Growing Edge.
International Conference on Warm Water Aquaculture September-October. p. 56-59.
— Finfish. Brigham Young University Hawaii Campus,
February 5–8, 1985. Spencer, Robert. 1990. Investing in an ecosystem. In
Business. July–August. p. 40–42.
Rakocy, James E. 1984. A recirculating system for
tilapia culture and vegetable hydroponics in the The Freshwater Institute/USDA-ARS:
Caribbean. Presented at the Auburn Fisheries and
Aquaculture Symposium, September 20–22, 1984, Anon. 1993. The future of fish farming. Cooperative
Auburn University, Alabama. 30 p. Farmer. May–June. p. 23–25.

Rakocy, J.E., and A. Nair. 1987. Integrating fish culture Brown, Robert H. 1993. Scientists seek better ways of
and vegetable hydroponics: Problems and prospects. utilizing effluent from fish. Feedstuffs. May 31. Vol.
Virgin Islands Perspectives, University of the Virgin 65, No. 22. p. 10.
Islands Agricultural Experiment Station, St. Croix, U.S.
Virgin Islands. Vol. 1, No. 1. (Winter/Spring 1987). Stanley, Doris. 1993. Aquaculture springs up in West
p. 19–23. Virginia. Agricultural Research. March. p. 4–8.

Rakocy, James E. 1989. Vegetable hydroponics and Williams, Greg, and Pat Williams (ed.) 1992. Fishpond
fish culture: A productive interface. World effluent + iron=good crop nutrition. HortIdeas. Vol. 9,
Aquaculture. September. p. 42–47. No. 11. p. 130.

Rakocy, James E., Thomas M. Losordo, and Michael P. Inslee Fish Farm:
Masser. 1992. Recirculating Aquaculture Tank
Production Systems: Integrating Fish and Plant Culture. Watkins, Gordon. 1999. Inslee fish farm: A family run
SRAC Publication No. 454. Southern Region aquaponic operation produces chives and fish. The
Aquaculture Center, Mississippi State University. 6 p. Growing Edge. Vol. 10, No. 5. (May–June). p. 35–40.

Rakocy, J.E., D.S. Bailey, K.A. Shultz and W.M. Cole. Gordon Watkins System:
1997. Evaluation of a commercial-scale aquaponic unit
for the production of tilapia and lettuce. p. 357–372. In: Watkins, Gordon. 1993. Aqua-vegeculture: more food
Tilapia Aquaculture: Proceedings from the Fourth from our water. Farmer to Farmer: Better Farming in
International Symposium on Tilapia in Aquaculture. the Ozarks. Vol. 3, No. 4. (Winter 1992–1993). p. 1–3,
Orlando, FL. 12.

Rakocy, J.E. 1997. Integrating Tilapia Culture with Watkins, Gordon. 1998. Integrating aquaculture and
Vegetable Hydroponics in Recirculating Systems. p. hydroponics on the small farm. The Growing Edge.
163–184. In: B.A. Costa_Pierce and J.E. Rakocy (eds.) Vol. 9, No. 5. (May–June) p. 17–21, 23.
Tilapia Aquaculture in the Americas. Vol. 1. World
Aquaculture Socity, Baton Rouge, LA. New Alchemy:
258 p.
Anon. 1982. Hydroponics in the Ark. Journal of the
Rackocy, James. 1999. The status of aquaponics, Part I. New Alchemists. No. 8. (Spring). p. 10.
Aquaculture Magazine. July-August.. p. 83-88.

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 13


Baum, Carl. 1981. Gardening in fertile waters. New Guterstam, B. 1996. Demonstrating ecological
Alchemy Quarterly. Summer. p. 2-8. engineering for wastewater treatment in a
Nordic climate using aquaculture principles in a
Burgoon, P.S., and C. Baum. 1984. Year round fish and greenhouse mesocosm. Ecological Engineering. Vol. 6.
vegetable production in a passive solar greenhouse. p. 73–97.
International Society for Soilless Culture (ISOSC)
Proceedings. p. 151–171. Head, William, and Jon Splane. 1980. Fish Farming in
Your Solar Greenhouse. Amity Foundation, Eugene,
McLarney, Bill. 1983. Integration of aquaculture and OR. 43 p.
agriculture, in the Northern United States. New
Alchemy Quarterly. No. 11. (Spring). p. 7–14. Kleinholz, Conrad, Glen Gebhart, and Ken Williams.
1987. Hydroponic/Aquaculture and
Sardinsky, Robert. 1985. Water farms: Integrated Aquaculture/Irrigation Systems: Fish Waste as a Plant
hydroponics in Maine. New Alchemy Quarterly. Fertilizer. U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of
Spring. p. 13–14. Reclamation Research Report. Langston University,
Langston, OK. 65 p.
Zweig, Ronald D. 1986. An integrated fish culture
hydroponic vegetable production system. Aquaculture Kubiak, Jan. 1998. Cape Cod Aqufarm: Combining
Magazine. Vol. 12, No. 3. (May–June). p. 34, 36–40. Ingenuity and Enterprise. The Growing Edge. July-
August. P. 36-37, 39-41.
Miscellaneous:
Langford, Norma Jane. 1998. Cell fish and plant pipes
Anon. 1987. Solar pilot plant feeds hydroponics. and young moms. Maine Organic Farmer and
World Water. September. p. 42–43. Gardener. Vol. 24, No. 4. (December). p. 24–26.

Anon. 1994. Hydroponics unit catches additional Letterman, Gordon R., and Ellen F. Letterman. 1985.
markets. Greenhouse Product News. January. p. 37–38. Propagation of prawns and plants in the same
environment. Combined Proceedings--International
Bender, J. 1984. An integrated system of aquaculture, Plant Propagator's Society. Vol. 34. p. 185–188.
vegetable production and solar heating in an urban
environment. Aquacultural Engineering. Vol. 3. p. Lewis, William M., et al. 1978. Use of hydroponics to
141–152. maintain quality of recirculated water in a fish culture
system. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society.
Belusz, Larry. 1993. Recirculating aquaculture: is it for Vol. 107, No. 1. p. 92–99.
you? Small Farm Today. June. p. 23–24.
Lewis, W.M., J.H. Yopp, A.M. Brandenburg, and K.D.
Bird, Kimon T. 1993. Aquatic plants for treatment of Schnoor. 1981. On the maintenance of water quality
aquaculture wastewater. Aquaculture Magazine. for closed fish production systems by means of
January–February. p. 39–42. hydroponically grown vegetable crops. p. 121–130. In:
K. Tiews and H. Heenemann (ed.) Aquaculture in
Burgoon, P.S. and C. Baum. 1984. Year round fish and Heated Effluents and Recirculation Systems. Volume 1.
vegetable production in a passive solar greenhouse. p. Berlin, Germany.
151–171. In. Proceedings of the 6th International
Congress on Soilless Culture. Held April 28–May 5, McClintic, Dennis. 1994. Double-duty greenhouse.
Luntern, The Netherlands. ISOSC, Wageningen, The The Furrow. March–April. p. 41–42.
Netherlands.
Naegel, L.C.A. 1977. Combined production of fish and
Costa-Pierce, B.A. 1998. Preliminary investiation of an plants in recirculating water. Aquaculture. Vol. 10. p.
integrated aquaculture-wetland ecosystem using 17–24.
tertiary-treated municipal wastewater in Los Angeles
County, California. Ecological Engineering. Vol. 10, Newton, Scott and Jimmy Mullins. 1990. Hydroponic
No. 4. p. 341–354. Tomato Production Using Fish Pond Water. Virginia
Cooperative Extension Service. Fact Sheet No. 31. 3 p.
Creaser, Gordon. 1997. Aquaponics — combining
aquaculture with hydroponics. The Growing Edge. Pierce, Barry A. 1980. Water reuse aquaculture
Vol. 1, No. 9. systems in two solar greenhouses in Northern Vermont.

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 14


Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the World Takeda, F., P. Adler, and D.M. Glenn. 1993. Growing
Mariculture Society. Vol. 11. p. 118–127. greenhouse strawberries with aquaculture effluent.
Acta Horticulturae. Vol. 348. p. 264–267.
Przybylowicz, Paul. 1991. Surfless and turfless: A new Thomas, Luther. 1992. Going for gold. The Growing
wave in integrated food production. The Growing Edge. Vol. 3, No. 4. (Summer). p. 23–29, 40.
Edge. Vol. 2, No. 3. (Spring). p. 28–34, 60–61.
University of California-Los Angeles. 1975. Waste
Quillere, I., D. Marie, L. Roux, F. Gosse, J.F. Morot- Nutrient Recycling Using Hydroponic and
Gaudry. 1993. An artificial productive ecosystem Aquacultural Methods. Institute of Evolutionary and
based on a fish/bacteria/plant association. 1. Design
and management. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environmental Biology, Environmental Science and
Environment. Vol. 47, No. 1. (October). p. 13–30. Engineering, University of California-Los Angeles.
177 p.
Quillere, I., D. Marie, L. Roux, F. Gosse, J.F. Morot-
Gaudry. 1995. An artificial productive ecosystem Watten, Barnaby J., and Robert L. Busch. 1984.
based on a fish/bacteria/plant association. 2. Tropical production of tilapia (Sarotherodon aurea) and
Performance. Agriculture, Ecosystems and tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) in a small-scale
Environment. Vol. 53, No. 1. (March). p. 19–30. recirculating water system. Aquaculture. Vol. 41. p.
271–283.
Rakocy, J.E. and J.A. Hargreaves. 1993. Integration of
vegetable hydroponics with fish culture: A review. p.
112–136. In: J. Wang (ed.) Techniques for Modern Dissertations:
Aquaculture. American Society for Agricultural
Engineers, St. Joseph, MI.
Dissertations on integrated aquaculture-hydroponic
Rakocy, J.E., J.A. Hargreaves, and D.S. Bailey. 1993. systems can provide detailed research data and
Nutrient accumulation in a recirculating aquaculture literature references on this emerging technology.
system integrated with hydroponic vegetable Titles can be found through the Dissertations
gardening. p. 148–158. In: J. Wang (ed.) Techniques Abstracts International database, available at most
for Modern Aquaculture. American Society for land-grant university libraries. For example, both the
Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, MI. Speranneos and Gordon Watkins used Mark
McMurtry’s dissertation as a guide in the design and
Rennert, B. and M. Drews. 1989. The possibility of establishment of their systems. University
combined fish and vegetable production in Microfilms International (UMI) is the sole
greenhouses. Advanced Fish Science. Vol. 8. p. 19–27. distributor of dissertations in the United States. The
Rivera, Gregg, and Bruce Isaacs. 1990. Final Report: A
standard fee for duplication and distribution of
Demonstration of an Integrated Hydroponics and Fish softcover dissertations is $36 each. Contact:
Culture System. Submitted to: New York State
Department of Agriculture & Markets, Agricultural Bell & Howell Information and
Research and Development Grants Program. 15 p. Learning/UMI
300 Zeeb Road
Seawright, D.E. R.R. Stickney, and R.B. 1998. Nutrient P.O. Box 1346
dynamics in integrated aquaculture-hydroponics Ann Harbor, MI 48106-1346
systems. Aquaculture. Vol. 160, No. 3–4. (January). p. 800-521-3042
215–237. 313-973-1426 Fax
http://www.umi.com
Sneed, K. 1975. Fish farming and hydroponics. Aqua-
culture and the Fish Farmer. Vol. 2, No. 1. p. 11, 18–20. Head, William. 1986. An Assessment of a Closed
Greenhouse Aquaculture and Hydroponic System
Spencer, Robert. 1990. Wastewater recycling for fish (Tilapia Diets). Ph.D. Thesis, Oregon State University.
farmers. BioCycle. April. p. 73–74, 76. University Microfilms International, Ann Harbor, MI.
127 p.
Sutton, R.J. and W.M. Lewis. 1982. Further
observations on a fish production system that Khan, Masud A. 1996. Utilization of Aquaculture
incorporates hydroponically grown plants. Progressive Effluent to Supplement Water and Nutrient Use of
Fish Culturist. Vol. 44, No. 1. p. 55–59. Turfgrasses and Native Plants (Ephedra viridis,

ATTRA // AQUAPONICS - INTEGRATION OF HYDROPONICS WITH AQUACULTURE Page 15


artemesia tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Ceratoides McMurtry, Mark Richard. 1992. Integrated
lanata, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, and Cercocarpus Aquaculture-Olericulture System as Influenced by
montanus). Ph.D. Thesis, New Mexico State Component Ratio. Ph.D. Thesis, North Carolina State
University. University Microfilms International, Ann University. University Microfilms International, Ann
Harbor, MI. 218 p. Harbor, MI. 78 p.

Singh, Sahdev. 1996. A Computer Simulation Model for Seawright, Damon Eurgene. 1995. Integrated
Wastewater Management in an Integrated (Fish Aquaculture-Hydroponic Systems: Nutrient Dynamics
Production-Hydroponics) System. Ph.D. Thesis, Virginia and Designer Diet Development. Ph.D. Thesis,
Polytechnic Institute and State University. University University of Mexico. University Microfilms
Microfilms International, Ann Harbor, MI. 150 p. International, Ann Harbor, MI. 274 p.

The ATTRA Project is operated by the National Center for Appropriate Technology under a grant from the
Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. These organizations do not
recommend or endorse products, companies, or individuals. ATTRA is located in the Ozark Mountains
at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville at P.O. Box 3657, Fayetteville, AR 72702. ATTRA staff
members prefer to receive requests for information about sustainable agriculture via the toll-free
number 800-346-9140.

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