Aquaponics: Farming the Easy Way
Growing plants in an aquaponic garden is much easier than growing them in soil. You place the seeds in the pots and seemingly no time you will begin to see results. For the success of your garden, it is imperative that the water is nutrient rich when you place the seeds.
Many people purchase the fish, place them in the tank and immediately place the seeds in the pots. This is not the recommended approach.
The perfect time to place the seeds in the pots is once the fish waste has become nutrients. After you place the fish into the tanks, they will begin to excrete into the water. Because the excrements contain ammonia, they are highly toxic for the fish. However, do not worry about that, as this issue is solved by nature itself. Bacteria transforms the ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates. In order for your plants to grow they need nitrates, so once the process of decomposing and transforming ammonia is over, the water will be ready to support the plant seeds.
It can take up to three months for the water to become the nutrient rich, natural fertilizer required by your plants need in order to grow well. By prematurely seeding you can cause the plants to wither and die after what seemed like successful growth. There are also ways to speed up the process by inserting nitrates into the water before the fish excrements can transform. However, many people do not like to interfere in nature's way. No matter which way you choose, it is recommended that you monitor the amount of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates in the water, so that you are always aware of the quality of the water for both the fish and the vegetables.
Planting the seeds at the right time is essential if you want a good yield and healthy fish. Monitor the quality of your water frequently, before and after planting. It is the only way through which you can get good results.
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