Aquaponics mimics a natural ecosystem, where fish create waste that benefits plants, who can then clean and aerate the water for happy, healthy fish. In an aquaponics system, nutrient-rich water is cycled through the environment in order to allow chemicals to be absorbed and transformed. Filters catch solids and waste to convert toxins like ammonia and transform them into nitrogen. Since this water is never changed, run-off is virtually eliminated, and the tanks themselves only require occasional topping off due to normal rates of evapotranspiration.
Aquaponics presents an exciting opportunity for farmers around the world, even in some very hard to reach, or cold, places. Providing a relatively self-sustaining source of dual-income, with no major impacts on the local environment or extreme power/water requirements, is a powerfully appealing concept. These systems can range from a small counter-sized herb aquarium, to industrial commercial-scale tanks. Aquaponics farmers are able to harvest both fish and the plants from their systems, providing a dual-source of income.
