The Production of Catfish and Vegetables in an Aquaponic System

Abstract

Aquaponic is a system that mutually integrates aquaculture and plant cultivation (by means of hydroponic). Both crops are combined in a recirculating system that utilizes less water than the traditional farming. Nutrients contained in fish tanks are recycled into plant biomass with the presence of nitrifying bacteria that convert the excreted ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate. In this study, fifteen sets of aquaponic system were developed to study the growth of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and three types of plants; the red and green-red amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica). The combination of aquaculture and hydroponic gives a new insight into increasing the efficiency of food production which respects principles of sustainable agriculture.