Aquaponics takes on the hydroponic system and extends it to include a fresh water fish tank. The two parts, plant and fish, work together to balance each other. The maintenance includes feeding the fish, however if one grows their own fish feed a system could be created to generally eliminate maintenance. The fish are fed and their excrement enters the water, rather than building up in the tank, the water is pumped to the plants, where nitrification bacteria break down the waste into plant nutrients, the water then re-enters the fish tank clean. This system can then be used for edible and non-edible aquaculture in addition to plants.
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