A vertical aquaponic system grows vegetables without soil in columns above a fish tank. By growing vertically, you can produce about twice the amount of plants as you can with a hydroponic system of the same area. One five-foot tower can produce more than 200 heads of lettuce per year. And it uses a small fraction of the water needed to grow crops in soil. It’s important to invest in a sturdy, high-quality, and thick glass fish tank or aquarium for this type of DIY project since it will be holding heavy amounts of water. If you’re looking for a great place to shop for quality fish tanks, some are here on this site.
The system puts fish waste to work as fertilizer for crops. A small pump draws nutrient-rich water from the fish tank to the tops of the vertical columns. The water trickles down through the roots of the plants, gathering oxygen from the air as it falls back into the tank. It releases almost no waste and, because it’s soil free, there’s no need for fertilizer or most pesticides. Also, if you do it right, you won’t have to clean the fish tank much.Click the link below to see how you can build your own.
