Tips For A Successful Aquaponics Garden Design
Achieving an effective aquaponics garden design may not always be easy, but once you have it in place, you can enjoy the benefits of a well-functioning, efficient, low-cost (in terms of water and energy usage) and low-maintenance home gardening system.
Follow the helpful tips on aquaponic garden design below, to help increase your harvest and ensure the overall success of your aquaponic system.
Aquaponics Garden Design Tip # 1-
Use Shorter Tubes
Having a home garden should not mean you have to spend a fortune on electricity or water bills. The tubes we´re referring to here are the ones used for flooding the fish-effluent water into your grow beds then recycling the freshly-cleaned water back through to your fish tanks.
Using shorter tubes to pump the water in your aquaponics system will reduce the strain on the pump and help minimize your gardens energy needs.
Aquaponics Garden Design Tip # 2 -
Lower The Height Of Your Tank
Though many gardeners prefer using fish tanks which are 30 inches in height, these tend to be a bit larger than is often needed. A 24-inch tank provides enough space for fish to grow and thrive while still ensuring your grow beds are at a comfortable height for you to harvest your crops.
Placing your plants at a height that is easy to reach saves you from all the strain and bending that can be so hard on your back. Isn´t that why you gave up conventional gardening to begin with?
Aquaponics Garden Design Tip # 3 -
Install a Sump Tank
If you´re planning to set up two beds or more, then you should install a well-connected drainage system capable of capturing the run-off water, recycling it and sending it back to your fish tank.
In the process, you may find that the tank gets filled too quickly and also drains off very fast. That´s why it´s a good idea to install a sump tank just below the surface of your fish tank. Apart from catching the run-off and reducing the speed of water fill-up, it can also help avoid drastic fluctuations in your water levels.
Aquaponics Garden Design Tip # 4 -
The Advantages of An Auto-siphon
Effective aquaponics design allows you to automate your garden to the point that minimal effort and resources are required when it comes to watering and harvesting your crops.
Using an auto-siphon helps keep your water tank levels from sinking too low or becoming empty. The water dripping from the plants is collected by smartly designed auto-siphons and fed back into the tank. Along with ensuring consistent water levels, auto-siphons also help to protect your fish.
Aquaponics gardening is all about utilizing the symbiotic relationship between fish and plants. A carefully chosen design will ensure you get the most out of your aquaponics system. You´ll be able to supply your family with loads of fresh, homegrown veggies without having to spend weeks and months doing it!
