Advanced aquaponics: Evaluation of intensive tomato production in aquaponics vs. conventional hydroponics
Aquaponics for intensive crop production is a highly complex system in which three different biological systems (fish, plants, and nitrifying bacteria) with different requirements must be merged. Finding the right combination is a serious challenge and the dependencies avoid a high productivity until now. Therefore, a unique and innovative double recirculating aquaponic system (DRAPS) was developed as a prerequisite for a high productivity comparable to professional stand alone fish/plant facilities. It consists of two independent recirculating units a recirculating aquaculture unit for fish production and a closed hydroponic cycle for plant production which were connected unidirectional. This allows the use of fish waste water as nutrient supply for plants in hydroponics and its optimisation for plant growth by fertilizer supply without negative effects on fish rearing. Furthermore it allows a sustainable food production.