Removing the solids in any system allows a grower to stock the fish tanks more densely, resulting in higher production of both fish and vegetables. The solids that have been removed can be processed by bio digestion and used within the system or composted or dried and utilized to fertilize soil in traditional farming. However used it is full of nutrients and should be used not thrown out.
Solids capture is one of the most important processes in an aquaponic system. If solids are not effectively removed, you will have problems with waste build-up which will cause toxicities in the water, the plumbing will become clogged with waste and the plant roots will become coated with fine solids, which reduces the plant’s ability to uptake the nutrients.
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These same factors are an issue in media-filled bed aquaponics. The build-up of organic material, coating of plant roots and fouling of the media result in reduced plant growth. In media filled bed aquaponics, after the system has been operational for a period of time, eventually the media and plants have to be removed and cleaned, causing a disruption in the plant and microbial growth.
The filtration components in aquaponics prevent these problems and a complete system clean-out is not required in aquaponics. In fact, it is discouraged because it reduces the population of beneficial bacteria and disrupts the planting cycle.
A bio-filter is simply a place for the beneficial bacteria to colonize. These bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. In raft aquaponic systems, a separate bio-filter is not usually used because the rafts, tank walls and all other surfaces in the system provide sufficient area for the bacteria.