Vocabulary
Define Aquaculture
the cultivation of aquatic organisms (such as fish or shellfish) especially for food
Why it might be beneficial to raise fish and plants together in one system?
•The fish waste is not released into the environment.
•The waste produced by the fish is used as fertilizer for the plants.
•The plants purify the water for the fish.
•Food can be produced using less water than traditional growing methods. This allows food to be produced during droughts or in areas with little water.
•Fish and vegetables can be raised at the same time.
•Food can be produced in a small space and does not require fertile soil.
•Food can be grown in highly populated urban areas where fertile soil is scarce.
•Food can be produced indoors where weather and pests are less of a problem.
•No weeding is required.
Name the wide variety of foods that flourish through aquaponics farming.
lettuce, beans, broccoli, cucumbers, peas, herbs, strawberries, melons, and tomatoes, for example—all
What do fish eat?
Different types of fish eat different types of food. Fish feed on microorganisms, smaller fish, worms, crustaceans, plankton, sponges, algae, aquatic plants, or commercial fish food.
Do fish drink water?
Freshwater fish do not actively drink water. The water flows into them through their gills and skin. Saltwater fish actively drink water through their mouths. Their bodies process the water to filter out the salt.
Define Aquaponics
A system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water
What are the four needs of a plant?
Nutrients, Water, Air, and Light
What is the most cultured fish in commercial aquaponics?
Tilapia Species
Are fish carnivores or herbivores?
The majority of fish are carnivores, but some fish are herbivores. Fish obtain nutrients from the environment in which they dwell. Their diet is mainly influenced by their surroundings.
Why can’t fish live out of water?
Fish can’t live out of water because they need water to breathe. Fish have gills, not lungs. Lungs take oxygen from the air. Gills take oxygen from water. If a fish leaves the water, it can no longer get oxygen.
Define Decomposition
The process of breaking down or being broken down into simpler parts or substances especially by the action of living things (as bacteria or fungi)
How is fish waste beneficial to plants? What nutrient is in it?
Ammonia
Where is Aquaponics featured in Disney World's Epcot Center in Florida?
Epcot Living with the Land attraction
What is aquarium fish food made
from?
Aquarium fish food is made from plant and/or animal material. It contains the macronutrients, trace elements, and vitamins necessary for maintaining the health of captive fish.
What are some ways to provide good oxygen levels in the aquarium water?
Good oxygen levels can be maintained through live aquatic plants with good lighting, airstones and bubblers, and aquarium filters that move water around and distribute oxygen throughout the tank.
Define gills
The paired respiratory organ found in many aquatic organisms that extracts dissolved oxygen from water and excretes carbon dioxide
What is water made of?
Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen.
Where is the food grown that is served at the Disney World resort?
Disney World has attractions that doubles as a working lab for USDA and NASA, and the food is grown there is served at the resort.
Why do fish need shelter?
Fish need shelter for protection from predators. Some fish also eat, sleep, and spawn (deposit eggs) under the cover of shelters.
How does a fish breathe?
A fish breathes by taking water into its mouth and forcing it through the gill passages. As water passes over the thin walls of the gills, dissolved oxygen moves into the blood and travels to the cells of the fish.
Define Hydroponics
The method of cultivating plants using a mineral nutrient solution in a water solvent without the use of soil
What is Air made of?
Air is made up of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapor, and gases.
How is aquarium water quality tested?
Aquarium water quality test kits are available to test the levels of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH. Good quality water will show no presence of ammonia and nitrites, low levels of nitrates, and balanced levels of pH.
What types of shelters do fish use?
Fish can use aquatic plants, shoreline vegetation, rocks, coral, soft sediment, and logs to provide shelter.
What causes poor quality aquarium water?
Poor aquarium water quality is caused by the presence of ammonia, nitrites, and high levels of nitrates and pH from fish waste. Poor water quality can be corrected with filters, chemicals, and water changes.