9. Additional topics on aquaponics
This final chapter discusses minor, yet important, topics regarding the management of small-scale aquaponic units. Aquaponics requires several essential inputs, including fish feed, electricity, seeds/seedlings, fish fingerlings, supplemental plant fertilizer and water to replenish the unit. All of these inputs are available for purchase, yet there are simple methods of producing many of them domestically using sustainable practices. These methods may reduce the unit running costs per year and help keep production as environmentally responsible as possible.
Do not allow all of the water to drain from the aquaponic system. Broken pipes, loose fittings or unsecured hoses can drain all of the water. This would kill the fish and make a destructive mess in the process. Several techniques for fail-safes and redundancies are discussed to secure the water level. Finally, there is a brief discussion as to how aquaponics fits among other types of agriculture and how it can be further integrated.