Aquaponics Factory
We design and build Aquaponics Factory for urban farmer to produce both crops & food fish together.
1,500 m2 Aquaponics Factory Project (above pic)
Aquaponics Factory is the latest vertical farming system that combines fish farming with plant cultivation developed by Tankmaker.com Team in year 2022. (All pictures illustrated in this page are taken from the shrimp Aquaponics Factory project design and delivered by Tankmaker.com team in yr 2023)
This combination of MiR250, humanoid robots, and AI is a groundbreaking approach to indoor aquaponics automation. It offers ultra-high productivity of up to 500 MT of food fish and 1000 MT of crops per hectare. year as per above design.
Tankmaker.com group is the turnkey builder of Aquaponics Factory providing design, AI simulation, turnkey construction of entire factory incluing Integrated RAS fish farms & true vertical plane green walls. Indoor aquaponics farm is gaining popularity as an eco-friendly solution for high density urban farming; the solution to food security and sustainable agriculture. It enable urban farmers to produce 2 or more sources of food stream, both food fish and food veggie in an integrated production. The fishes and plant are able to grow in the Aquaponics factory without sun and soil; self sufficent with no compromising on the quality the taste. Fish: Tilapia, trout, catfish, and koi are commonly raised because of their adaptability and resilience. Plants: Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, basil, spices, saffroand & herbs thrive in aquaponics systems. Some systems also support fruiting plants like tomatoes and cucumbers. No pesticides or antibiotics are used at any stage; therefore, the aquaponic production system can be regarded as a part of the organic agriculture
Aquaponics Factory created a “union agricultural productions between plants and fish” that would also generate more value from the land than hydroponic vertical farms, open field fish farming or other agricultural production alone. In conventional aquaponics, the aquaculture effluent is diverted through plant beds and not released to the environment, while at the same time the nutrients for the plants are supplied from a sustainable, cost-effective and non-chemical source. This integration removes some of the unsustainable factors of running aquaculture and hydroponic systems independently.
This is farmer of the future, a modern and innovative solution to food security that is climate-resilient and could be deployed rapidly in any location, from buildings to underground. It includes following 6 modules
A) Product Specification of Aquaponics FactoryA1) Modular Dimension: Indoor floor area 1,500 m2, working height 6m
A2) Annual Production Capacity:62.8Ton salad green (=449,000 head of Lettuce) +10.1Ton prawn (=72,000 pcs of GRP) or 58.6 Ton fishes (=117,200 pcs of tilapia. Sufficient to meet the nutrients need of 1,200 people whole year round
A3) Package include- Project-related software on harvest, farm ERP & filtration system- 20 set food fish/shrimp pond @ 20 MT capacity each- 140 no. of acrylic Fish/ shrimp rearing tanks @ 0.65 MT capacity each- 30 Green walls with 48,600 grow pots - 2 set Aquaculture RAS System- 2 set climate cell for plant automated seeding & grown-up harvest- 1 set water quality sampling system, breeding system- AI Grow LED lights - 3 units industrial autonomous Robot MIR250 for operation of plant grow and fish culture- 1 set Auto feeding system- 1 set Food Processing line- 1 set of waste conversion line The Massive Increase in productivity for system upgrades are possible —**6m vertical green walls with automation** and 3-level fish tank 1. 3-Level Fish Tanks: Triples water volume (3× more fish).2. Dual-Sided Walls: Doubles plant biomass, improving filtration and allowing higher fish density.3. Staggered Harvesting: Enables multiple batches per year.4. Advanced RAS Filtration: Larger biofilters, UV sterilizers, and AI-driven water quality monitoring.5. High-Quality Feed: Protein-rich feed to support rapid trout growth.6. Optimized design: through first grow success study7. Automation: Robotic feeders, harvesters, and sensors to manage the complex system.This ultimate upgrades are a game-changer for aquaponics productivity. By tripling growing area and fish capacity while integrating automation, the system could achieve 200% higher yields for both crops and fishes.
A3) Package include- Project-related software on harvest, farm ERP & filtration system- 20 set food fish/shrimp pond @ 20 MT capacity each- 140 no. of acrylic Fish/ shrimp rearing tanks @ 0.65 MT capacity each- 30 Green walls with 48,600 grow pots - 2 set Aquaculture RAS System- 2 set climate cell for plant automated seeding & grown-up harvest- 1 set water quality sampling system, breeding system- AI Grow LED lights - 3 units industrial autonomous Robot MIR250 for operation of plant grow and fish culture- 1 set Auto feeding system- 1 set Food Processing line- 1 set of waste conversion line The Massive Increase in productivity for system upgrades are possible —**6m vertical green walls with automation** and 3-level fish tank 1. 3-Level Fish Tanks: Triples water volume (3× more fish).2. Dual-Sided Walls: Doubles plant biomass, improving filtration and allowing higher fish density.3. Staggered Harvesting: Enables multiple batches per year.4. Advanced RAS Filtration: Larger biofilters, UV sterilizers, and AI-driven water quality monitoring.5. High-Quality Feed: Protein-rich feed to support rapid trout growth.6. Optimized design: through first grow success study7. Automation: Robotic feeders, harvesters, and sensors to manage the complex system.This ultimate upgrades are a game-changer for aquaponics productivity. By tripling growing area and fish capacity while integrating automation, the system could achieve 200% higher yields for both crops and fishes.
B1) Integrated RAS Module
At Tankmaker.com, we made fish happy beside take pride in everything we produce.This is made possible through Integrated RAS & Polyponic System Approach.
Integrated RAS It is a new type of RAS from the aquaculture model, using plant media bed as bio-filter, through a series of water exchange between plants- fish-plants and so forth as treatment units, the wastewater produced in the aquaculture pond is treated and recycled again with zero waste and low cost.
Polyponic System Approach is the usage of many aquatic organisms in one aquaponic elevated the number of total yields. The most grown species by polyconic are Rice Paddi, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, with giant freshwater prawn, and Nile tilapia.
The standard RAS is using the advanced technologies in the fields of environmental engineering, civil engineering, modern biology, electronic information, and other disciplines, so as to remove the harmful pollutants such as residual bait feces, ammonia nitrogen (tan), nitrate-nitrogen (NO2 — N) and so on. However, this is an expensive approach that are not sustainable due to the need of manual waste and nitrate removal.
Integrated RAS not only solve the problem of the low utilization rate of water resources, but also provide stable, reliable, comfortable, and high-quality living environment for breeding organisms, and provide favorable conditions for high-density breeding.
It also provides ample space, adequately bright and sooty environment to made fish happy!
Fishes will eat more when they are happy, plant will grow faster; Aquaponics Factory will be productive!
The simulated yields revealed that vertical farming could produce at least 500 MT per hectare of food fishes per year, which is 50 times more than the current farming average.
Together with LECA fire clay plant filter bed, the Integrated RAS system achieve reciporating flow, is a sustainable form of aquaculture with huge saving of energy and water in aquaponic setup. It is beneficial to fish health and resulted in ultra high productivity - it produced up to 80 kg of food fish per m3 water
- it consumed 300L of water for 1 kg of fish production (more than 2000 L was needed in standard RAS or up to 60,000 L needed in conventional aquaculture pond)
- it is in Multi-tier setup within the same floor of building to maximize production yield of up to 4 times- Starting with introduce fingerling fish (40~50 grams each) to the highest tier of fish tank- The fishes will be transferred to next lower lever through the same water once it grow bigger; it will further transfer to next lower level upon further grow etc- All day feeding to promote grow & maintain water quality- Fish are housed in transparent acrylic tank that all round see through; this enable ease of fish health & system monitoring and provide a soothing environment for the fish (reduce stress and disease).
Above picture shown was the Aquaponics Assisted RAS System in place with following Industrial grade machinery1. Radial Flow Settler 2. Pure Oxygen Machine 3. Oxygen cone - 4. Drum Micro filtration Machine 5. Thermostat Chiller Machine6. Protein Separator 7. RAS Circulating Pump8. Ultraviolet Sterilizer
B2) Decoupled Green Wall Module
A new version of hydroponic system setups, Decoupled Green Wall System was used in Aquaponics Factory among the traditional Deep water culture (DWC), nutrient film technique (NFT) and flood-and-drain (F&D) setup.
Decoupled Green Wall System vary from the traditional system in that the aquacultural and hydroponic parts of the system are not joined directly in a closed loop. Instead the fishes are raised in integrated RAS manner with optimized conditions for the fish‘s growth. Water is exchanged in the RAS system but instead of disposing of it, the water is used for irrigation in hydroponic module. This decoupling allows for optimization of each individual production part of the system and gives the freedom of selecting fish and plant species that have separate needs.
Decoupled Green Wall system is done through Dual-Sided true vertical wall design; a highly effective solution for increasing crops productivity in an aquaponics system. By addressing the challenges of light distribution, nutrient delivery, and ease of operation, the design maximizes yield.
Bio-ponics flow with microbes, the biological mechanism was used to facilitate plant roots on creating a more hospitable environment for beneficial soil-less microbes. This plant based filter promote sustainable farming practices by reducing RAS's energy amd remove the need for synthetic fertilizers.
Microbes convert fish waste into plant nutrients; plants purify the water for fish and provide organic compounds for microbes. By leveraging these microbial processes, aquaponics systems maintain ecological balance, enhance plant growth, and ensure sustainable production. Further detail at Section D
These green wall technologies enable output of Aquaponics Factory as living crops and meaning it is sold with the roots still attached. The living crops is with the head on, so that in itself is a big difference from lifeless crops like the cut and packed salad green. It is more nutritious and it lasts longer.
Green wall technology enable the system self sufficient for crops without introducing external A, B or C nutrients /fertilizer. The crops green wall growing ‘towers’ fed nitrate rich nitrients in the form of both liquid and mist, aeroponically from the system, which is applied directly to the LECA media of plants. The LECA media contains millions of beneficial bacteria that allow beneficial microbes colonize on and around plant roots. The allows biofiltration and improves fertilizing nutrient intake.
In general,
Pesticide use: indoor farming = no bugs. no bugs = no pesticide.
Fertilizer use: no loss due to runoff, and majority came from fish waste = near zero needed (self sufficient)
Water consumption: closed grow rooms = evaporation is both minimal and contained with RAS system = minimun is added
Carbon footprint - directlly proportion to distribution: food can be produced adjacent to high consumption areas, rather than in the middle of nowhere. this prevent the potential for a great deal of infrastructure supporting rural farms = near zero
The detail design of Dual-Sided True Vertical Green Wall- Matrix design:
Walls are arranged in rows and columns, creating a grid-like structure. - Each wall has plants on both sides, maximizing space utilization.- Inclined Angle (30–45 Degrees):
Both sides of the wall are angled to allow nutrient-rich water to flow vertically from the top to the bottom.- Sideways Lighting:
LED lights are positioned to shine sideways, illuminating both sides of the wall efficiently.
The Benefits
- using 90% less water through vertical cascading flow that will increase effective area by more than 13.5 times (as the water flow from pots to pots, vertically that stake up of 50 pots per column are possible)
- produce safe crops, require no insecticide or fertilizer- enhancing grow, where no soil, sunlight or direct water is needed
- incorporating full Spectrum LED grow light (mimic sunlight for plant growth and aesthetically pleasing presentation of plants to human eyes; old generation plants light in pink and blue hues are history)
- ensuring zero CO2 input or emission out of farm (through the use of mobile Growth LED; it is operated in 24 hours for plants for oxygen - carbon dioxide exchange)
- reducing the harvest cycle (e.g. Lettuce from 70 days to 25 days, rice from 120 days to 75days)
- facilitating nutrient / fertilizer intake to be 80% less.
- reducing electrical energy usage, up to be 80% less (electrical energy used was found to be less than 700kWh/m2 in Aquaponics Factory and it was 3,500kWh/m2 for other hydroponics Vertical farm)
Aquaponics Factory able to leverage on the abundant light and heat resources form the sun for setup in tropical areas, implementing measures such as multi-layer vertical soil-less cultivation and artificial light source control etc.
The tech reduces the rice's growth cycle by around 40 percent compared to rice cultivated in traditional field; the tech also reduces the costs of energy by 80%
B3) AI Analytical Program (Virtual Grow Module)
There was hardly success for commercialize aquaponics in the past due to low yield & lack of expertise; first grow success is almost impossible based on pre-assumption on certain set of faming parameters due to millions of design & parameters for aquaponics.
The Virtual Grow Module is another Tankmaker’s proprietary technology based on predictive low-code software approach. It is an important part of process to be perform prior to farming to achieve First Grow Success; it is similar to Moldflow simulation that mandatory done prior to injection mold making.
Together with the Green Wall & RAS, the First grow Success program transform the Aquaponics digitally into modular form, enabling knowledge based working that are 10 times more populous than technical workers and transforming the agricultural sector through technology-driven solutions.
This has the potential to save significant time and money and to enable end-to-end digital experiences of vertical farm, achieve First Grow Success!
Completely shift the farmer focus into making farming profitable instead of trial and error.
Predictive Maintenance: Integrate AI-driven analytics to predict maintenance needs for both the robotics fleet and environmental systems. For example, if sensors detect recurring anomalies, the system can alert one to potential mechanical issues.Optimized Harvesting and Plant Growth Forecasting: AI models can use collected data to forecast optimal harvesting times, yield predictions, or maintenance schedules. This allows the fleet and EMS to preemptively allocate resources, maximizing productivity.
This unified approach to managing the aquaponics factory give one a seamless, data-driven operation that minimizes manual intervention, improves efficiency, and maximizes output. Absolutely, AI is an excellent solution for managing complex, data-intensive environments like an aquaponics system. Since there are many interdependent parameters—such as water quality, nutrient levels, temperature, and lighting—AI can help by modeling and optimizing these variables to improve first grow success. Here’s how AI to be applied effectively to ensure success from the start:1. Data Collection and Parameter MonitoringSensors: Use IoT sensors to continuously gather data on parameters like pH, temperature, humidity, dissolved oxygen, and light intensity. 2. AI-Driven OptimizationPredictive Modeling: Use machine learning to create predictive models based on historical and real-time data. 3. Automated Adjustments via Reinforcement LearningReinforcement Learning (RL): RL algorithms can test different parameter configurations in a controlled simulation environment to find the best approach for maintaining growth conditions. 4. AI for Early Issue Detection
5. Simulation for First Grow SuccessDigital Twin Modeling: Create a “digital twin” of the aquaponics system—a virtual replica that simulates the interactions between fish, plants, and environmental conditions.6. Feedback Loop for Continuous Learning
This unified approach to managing the aquaponics factory give one a seamless, data-driven operation that minimizes manual intervention, improves efficiency, and maximizes output. Absolutely, AI is an excellent solution for managing complex, data-intensive environments like an aquaponics system. Since there are many interdependent parameters—such as water quality, nutrient levels, temperature, and lighting—AI can help by modeling and optimizing these variables to improve first grow success. Here’s how AI to be applied effectively to ensure success from the start:1. Data Collection and Parameter MonitoringSensors: Use IoT sensors to continuously gather data on parameters like pH, temperature, humidity, dissolved oxygen, and light intensity. 2. AI-Driven OptimizationPredictive Modeling: Use machine learning to create predictive models based on historical and real-time data. 3. Automated Adjustments via Reinforcement LearningReinforcement Learning (RL): RL algorithms can test different parameter configurations in a controlled simulation environment to find the best approach for maintaining growth conditions. 4. AI for Early Issue Detection
5. Simulation for First Grow SuccessDigital Twin Modeling: Create a “digital twin” of the aquaponics system—a virtual replica that simulates the interactions between fish, plants, and environmental conditions.6. Feedback Loop for Continuous Learning
B4) Robotic Module
Robotic Operation is the indispensable tools in Aquaponics Factory as it focuses on integrating advanced technology and automation to enhance produce quality, taste and production efficiency.
The MiR250 autonomous robot make routine operations even more efficient. It is well-suited for transporting supplies or harvested produce, performing consistent monitoring rounds, or even delivering items between sections, especially in large-scale setups like the factory.
1. Routine Monitoring and MaintenanceSensor Readings Collection: Equip the MiR250 with sensors or connect it to the main control dashboard, so it can check key parameters like temperature, humidity, or CO2 levels in each zone.Water Quality Sampling: With minor customization, the robot could perform water sampling for quality checks, collecting data from multiple points throughout the system.
2. Material Transport and Inventory ManagementTransport of Nutrients and Supplies: Use the MiR250 to move fish feed, nutrients, or maintenance supplies to different zones, reducing the need for human intervention and minimizing contamination risks.Harvest Transport: The MiR250 can efficiently move harvested crops from plant beds to storage or packing areas, preserving productivity and maintaining hygiene.
3. Routine Tasks AutomationCleaning and Waste Collection: The robot could be programmed to collect waste materials or manage compostable plant waste and fish solids.Routine Inspection and Alerts: Set up the MiR250 for regular inspection rounds, programmed to alert operators if anything seems out of range or requires intervention.
4. MiR Fleet Software Integration with Control SystemsMiR Fleet is a robust software platform specifically designed for coordinating MiR robots. It manages task assignments, prioritizes jobs, and prevents collision by tracking the robots' positions in real-time.It will dynamically allocate tasks based on robot availability and priority, ensuring efficient use of the fleet. 5. Centralized Integration with an Industrial Automation SystemA high-level system, such as a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) or Warehouse Management System (WMS), can be used to integrate the fleet management system with the rest of your aquaponics factory's operations.
1. Routine Monitoring and MaintenanceSensor Readings Collection: Equip the MiR250 with sensors or connect it to the main control dashboard, so it can check key parameters like temperature, humidity, or CO2 levels in each zone.Water Quality Sampling: With minor customization, the robot could perform water sampling for quality checks, collecting data from multiple points throughout the system.
2. Material Transport and Inventory ManagementTransport of Nutrients and Supplies: Use the MiR250 to move fish feed, nutrients, or maintenance supplies to different zones, reducing the need for human intervention and minimizing contamination risks.Harvest Transport: The MiR250 can efficiently move harvested crops from plant beds to storage or packing areas, preserving productivity and maintaining hygiene.
3. Routine Tasks AutomationCleaning and Waste Collection: The robot could be programmed to collect waste materials or manage compostable plant waste and fish solids.Routine Inspection and Alerts: Set up the MiR250 for regular inspection rounds, programmed to alert operators if anything seems out of range or requires intervention.
4. MiR Fleet Software Integration with Control SystemsMiR Fleet is a robust software platform specifically designed for coordinating MiR robots. It manages task assignments, prioritizes jobs, and prevents collision by tracking the robots' positions in real-time.It will dynamically allocate tasks based on robot availability and priority, ensuring efficient use of the fleet. 5. Centralized Integration with an Industrial Automation SystemA high-level system, such as a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) or Warehouse Management System (WMS), can be used to integrate the fleet management system with the rest of your aquaponics factory's operations.
B5) Fish / Shrimp Module
Consists of array acrylic tank with hiding shelters for Giant River Prawn
In an aquaponics context, a Dual-Sided True Green Wall could be used to grow plants vertically while the fish tanks provide the necessary nutrients. This would:- Maximize space efficiency, especially in urban or indoor farming environments.- Enhance the aesthetic value of the system, making it suitable for commercial spaces, restaurants, or educational institutions.- Improve air quality and create a more sustainable environment.
B6) Giant Pond Tank
Consists of various custom made FRP tank of 5,000 gallons each.
The Vertical RAS Module is in modular form, can be deployed easily. It employs rectangular acrylic tank to achieve multi-level setup in the single level of building for space saving and ease of monitoring. It also provides ample space, adequately bright and sooty environment to made fish happy! Fishes will eat more when they are happy, plant will grow faster; Aquaponics Factory will be productive!The simulated yields revealed that vertical farming could produce at least 1000 ±40 tons per hectare of food fishes per year, which is 50 times more than the current farming average.
C) Merit of Aquaponics Factory
Productivity Benchmarks for Aquaponics Factory:- Fish Production: A well-managed system can produce up to 33.5 kg of fish per cubic meter of water annually, depending on the species and conditions.- Crop Production: Aquaponics Factory could yield up to 50 kg of leafy greens per square meter annually with faster-growing crops like lettuce being harvested every 4-6 weeks.- Water Efficiency: Aquaponics uses 90% less water than traditional soil-based agriculture.- Energy Resource Efficiency: Electricity used will be 440kWh/sqm.yr (average Vertical farm consumed 3,500 kWh/sqm.yr)- Economic Output: Revenue generated $550 /sqm.yr (average outdoor farm was ~ $5/sqm.yr based on 5MT/ha.yr; vertical farm was ~ $250 based on 50kg/sqm.yr)
According to Christopher Williams, Environmental Consultant:"Aquaponics is still a practice in its earlier stages of commercial applications and is often mistakenly considered as an analogue to hydroponics. Whereas the practices are similar, it would be a disservice to categorize aquaponics as “hydroponics, but with fish”. The appeal of aquaponics is that it is extremely customizable, safer, efficient and with enough knowledge limitless in its applications. At first blush, many people feel that aquaponics is solely ideal for cannabis production and permaculture practices. Whereas it is not untrue that aquaponics is beneficial in either of these domains, it is shortsighted to relegate to those two capacities. This practice is scalable between hobbyist and commercial levels and hosts a wide multidisciplinary range of applications extending from early education through urban agriculture schemas. The systems can even operate on a decoupled system, allowing for independent growth of the fish and plant systems."
From the 'The godfather of aquaponics- by Dr Bill McGraw 3 February 2021' "Dr James Rakocy, who has been involved in designing systems that produce both plants and fish since the 1970s, reveals his hard-won experience in a sector that is only set to grow. According to Dr Rakocy, given the wide range of interest in aquaponics, its future looks bright.Aquaponic plants are more resistant to pests than plants in hydroponic systems, which do not have the benefit of organic compounds and rely solely on inorganic nutrients. Hydroponic systems produce plants that are often more stressed, which creates a higher sugar content in the leaves, which in turn attracts pests. Hydroponic systems also have the disadvantage of developing unbalanced nutrient concentrations, which require continual adjustment." In fact, the only difference between aquaponics and hydroponics is that aquaponics uses nutrients from fish waste to supply the veggies/ rice/ plant instead of the traditional human-made nutrient solution used in hydroponics. Aquaponics somehow solved the reduced economic viability of hydroponic rice. By growing fish with rice /salad green/ plants, the final output will be nearly doubled as a result of the relatively high price of fish.
From Ben, Oct 2023- The Business EntrepreneurAquaphonic farming is quite Carbon friendly, first it eliminates fishing from the ocean, helping maintain the ocean ecosystem. Secondly the farming although fishes produce some CO² but can be totally absorbed by farming more veggies.This is a great selling point to emphasize. The farm products within the plant can be Carbon zero, it is very important as global emphasis on zero Carbon zero footage. However, the farm's electricity consumption contributes to another carbon consumption, eventually you can reduce with wind, solar, hydrogen or other green energy.
As the versatility, customization possibilities, and environmental control available in indoor aquaponics systems truly displays the growing methodology at its best. One really can grow healthy food anywhere. Thus, indoor aquaponics system is the best solution for growing plants and fish together sustainably, efficiently, and organically.Aquaponics Factory will be the key to the success of 2025 urban farm as it addresses at concerns to provide food security and to achieve profitability. Not only do our products facilitate and promote sustainable life and make a positive impact on the environment, but we also offer an easy-to-use real alternative to traditional agriculture. The Aquaponics Factory give new meaning to the term ‘farm-to-table,’ because one can virtually pick their own greens and fish at supermarkets, restaurants or other retail sites. Why hasn't it taken off?Given all it has going for it, why hasn't vertical farming seen a bigger boon?After all, Vertical Farming has been around since at least 1990; in Canada, vertical farming is less than 1% of the supply chain, and in the U.S., it's just about 5%. There are several reasons for this and the highly publicized failures of some agri-tech firms. The main reason is over-investmentin technology, automation, robotics etc. The success rate of industrial aquaponics farms depends on various factors, including system design, market conditions, operational expertise, and technological integration. Estimates success rate of 50-70% for well-planned operations (in contrast to lesss than 30% for CEA hydroponics) that depend on Factors Contributing to Success:1. System Design:Properly designed systems with balanced aquaponics parameters (e.g., nutrient cycling, fish-plant pairing, and water quality) are more likely to succeed.Example: Tankmaker’s indoor aquaponics systems use plant beds as biofilters and AI optimization for higher efficiency.
2. Market Alignment:Farms targeting niche or urban markets (e.g., fresh organic produce or farm-to-table supply chains) tend to perform better.
3. Technology Adoption:Automated systems for water circulation, environmental control, and data-driven AI workflows increase productivity and reduce operational errors.
4. Management Expertise:Experienced operators familiar with aquaponics-specific challenges—like fish health, plant nutrient deficiencies, and maintaining system equilibrium—have higher success rates.
By adopting advanced technologies like AI for system optimization, automating routine tasks (e.g., MiR250 robots), and focusing on proven business models (like Tankmaker’s franchise program), aquaponics factory / plants can significantly improve the success rates. Your hometown is like a magical place. Only concern it's not the typical farming area as the cities might not have more agricultural land, but they have highway access. They have access to water, and I think we can do more with this area to develop into vertical farm if investment is rite. Aquaponics Factory is The Solution to tomorrow to High yield Poly-culture farming because of Lower Investment cost- Market rate for Vertical Farming Hydroponics system was $3k PSM- Market rate for Aquaculture system was $4k PSM - Tankmaker's CEA Aquaponics Factory for Hydroponic with Aquaculture is $1-3k PSM
This was made possible because Aquaponics itself is an automated food production method! Other detail of Product & Services is atB) Aquaponics Park builder - Aquaponics Park Page C) Acrylic Tank Manufacturer - Aquarium Page
From the 'The godfather of aquaponics- by Dr Bill McGraw 3 February 2021' "Dr James Rakocy, who has been involved in designing systems that produce both plants and fish since the 1970s, reveals his hard-won experience in a sector that is only set to grow. According to Dr Rakocy, given the wide range of interest in aquaponics, its future looks bright.Aquaponic plants are more resistant to pests than plants in hydroponic systems, which do not have the benefit of organic compounds and rely solely on inorganic nutrients. Hydroponic systems produce plants that are often more stressed, which creates a higher sugar content in the leaves, which in turn attracts pests. Hydroponic systems also have the disadvantage of developing unbalanced nutrient concentrations, which require continual adjustment." In fact, the only difference between aquaponics and hydroponics is that aquaponics uses nutrients from fish waste to supply the veggies/ rice/ plant instead of the traditional human-made nutrient solution used in hydroponics. Aquaponics somehow solved the reduced economic viability of hydroponic rice. By growing fish with rice /salad green/ plants, the final output will be nearly doubled as a result of the relatively high price of fish.
From Ben, Oct 2023- The Business EntrepreneurAquaphonic farming is quite Carbon friendly, first it eliminates fishing from the ocean, helping maintain the ocean ecosystem. Secondly the farming although fishes produce some CO² but can be totally absorbed by farming more veggies.This is a great selling point to emphasize. The farm products within the plant can be Carbon zero, it is very important as global emphasis on zero Carbon zero footage. However, the farm's electricity consumption contributes to another carbon consumption, eventually you can reduce with wind, solar, hydrogen or other green energy.
As the versatility, customization possibilities, and environmental control available in indoor aquaponics systems truly displays the growing methodology at its best. One really can grow healthy food anywhere. Thus, indoor aquaponics system is the best solution for growing plants and fish together sustainably, efficiently, and organically.Aquaponics Factory will be the key to the success of 2025 urban farm as it addresses at concerns to provide food security and to achieve profitability. Not only do our products facilitate and promote sustainable life and make a positive impact on the environment, but we also offer an easy-to-use real alternative to traditional agriculture. The Aquaponics Factory give new meaning to the term ‘farm-to-table,’ because one can virtually pick their own greens and fish at supermarkets, restaurants or other retail sites. Why hasn't it taken off?Given all it has going for it, why hasn't vertical farming seen a bigger boon?After all, Vertical Farming has been around since at least 1990; in Canada, vertical farming is less than 1% of the supply chain, and in the U.S., it's just about 5%. There are several reasons for this and the highly publicized failures of some agri-tech firms. The main reason is over-investmentin technology, automation, robotics etc. The success rate of industrial aquaponics farms depends on various factors, including system design, market conditions, operational expertise, and technological integration. Estimates success rate of 50-70% for well-planned operations (in contrast to lesss than 30% for CEA hydroponics) that depend on Factors Contributing to Success:1. System Design:Properly designed systems with balanced aquaponics parameters (e.g., nutrient cycling, fish-plant pairing, and water quality) are more likely to succeed.Example: Tankmaker’s indoor aquaponics systems use plant beds as biofilters and AI optimization for higher efficiency.
2. Market Alignment:Farms targeting niche or urban markets (e.g., fresh organic produce or farm-to-table supply chains) tend to perform better.
3. Technology Adoption:Automated systems for water circulation, environmental control, and data-driven AI workflows increase productivity and reduce operational errors.
4. Management Expertise:Experienced operators familiar with aquaponics-specific challenges—like fish health, plant nutrient deficiencies, and maintaining system equilibrium—have higher success rates.
By adopting advanced technologies like AI for system optimization, automating routine tasks (e.g., MiR250 robots), and focusing on proven business models (like Tankmaker’s franchise program), aquaponics factory / plants can significantly improve the success rates. Your hometown is like a magical place. Only concern it's not the typical farming area as the cities might not have more agricultural land, but they have highway access. They have access to water, and I think we can do more with this area to develop into vertical farm if investment is rite. Aquaponics Factory is The Solution to tomorrow to High yield Poly-culture farming because of Lower Investment cost- Market rate for Vertical Farming Hydroponics system was $3k PSM- Market rate for Aquaculture system was $4k PSM - Tankmaker's CEA Aquaponics Factory for Hydroponic with Aquaculture is $1-3k PSM
This was made possible because Aquaponics itself is an automated food production method! Other detail of Product & Services is atB) Aquaponics Park builder - Aquaponics Park Page C) Acrylic Tank Manufacturer - Aquarium Page
D) Bio-ponics flow - Plant Bed Filter
In indoor aquaponics farming, microbes in the plants' filter bed play a crucial role in the nutrient cycling process through a symbiotic relationship with plants and aquatic life. This process, often referred to as bio-ponics flow, involves a combination of microbial activity and endosymbiosis, where microbes and plants benefit each other in a mutually supportive system. Here’s how microbes' function in this context:
1. Nitrification by BacteriaKey Players:Nitrosomonas bacteria convert toxic ammonia (NH₃), excreted by fish, into nitrite (NO₂⁻).Nitrobacter bacteria further convert nitrite into nitrate (NO₃⁻), which is a usable nutrient for plants.
Role in Endosymbiosis:Plants absorb nitrate as a nutrient, and in return, they help maintain the water quality for fish and microbes.
2. Organic Matter BreakdownDecomposers:Heterotrophic bacteria and fungi break down uneaten food, fish waste, and decaying plant material into simpler organic compounds.Result:These compounds are further processed into ammonia, which enters the nitrification cycle.
3. Symbiosis with Plant RootsRoot-Microbe Interactions:Microbes colonize the root zone (rhizosphere), forming beneficial biofilms.They help solubilize nutrients like phosphorus and iron, making them more bioavailable to plants.Exudates Exchange:Plants release root exudates (e.g., sugars, amino acids), which serve as food for microbes, fostering their growth and activity.
4. Biofiltration in the Plant BedFiltration Process:The plant bed serves as a biofilter where microbial communities remove toxins and recycle nutrients.Key Role:This ensures a balanced aquatic environment by reducing harmful substances like ammonia and nitrite.
5. Mycorrhizal Associations (Optional in Some Systems)
Fungi-Plant Symbiosis:Mycorrhizal fungi may colonize plant roots, extending their nutrient absorption capabilities.Enhanced Growth:This relationship boosts plant health, nutrient uptake, and disease resistance.
How Endosymbiosis EmergesThe plant, fish, and microbial components work as a cohesive unit:Microbes convert fish waste into plant nutrients.Plants purify the water for fish and provide organic compounds for microbes.Fish produce waste that drives the entire cycle.
Benefits of Microbial Functioning in Bio-Ponics Flow
Having microbes in an aquaponics system is highly advantageous! These microorganisms are the backbone of the bio-ponics flow, providing multiple benefits that are essential for the system's success. Key Advantages of Microbes in Aquaponics are
1. Natural Waste ManagementMicrobes convert fish waste and organic matter into usable nutrients for plants, reducing the need for cleaning and external waste disposal.
2. Improved Nutrient AvailabilityThey break down complex compounds into simpler forms like nitrates and phosphates, which plants can readily absorb, leading to better growth and higher yields.
3. Water Quality RegulationBy removing toxic ammonia and nitrite, microbes help maintain a healthy aquatic environment for fish, reducing stress and improving fish health.
4. SustainabilityMicrobes enable a closed-loop system, minimizing the need for chemical fertilizers and external inputs, making the operation eco-friendly.
5. Disease SuppressionBeneficial microbes compete with harmful pathogens in the root zone, protecting plants from diseases and promoting healthier growth.
6. Increased EfficiencyMicrobial activity ensures the efficient recycling of resources, maximizing system productivity with minimal waste.
7. Support for EndosymbiosisMicrobes foster symbiotic relationships with plants, improving root nutrient uptake and enhancing resilience to environmental stresses.By integrating these microbes into the plant filter bed, aquaponics systems harness the power of nature to create a balanced, efficient, and sustainable farming solution. This makes microbes an indispensable asset in any successful aquaponics setup!
1. Nitrification by BacteriaKey Players:Nitrosomonas bacteria convert toxic ammonia (NH₃), excreted by fish, into nitrite (NO₂⁻).Nitrobacter bacteria further convert nitrite into nitrate (NO₃⁻), which is a usable nutrient for plants.
Role in Endosymbiosis:Plants absorb nitrate as a nutrient, and in return, they help maintain the water quality for fish and microbes.
2. Organic Matter BreakdownDecomposers:Heterotrophic bacteria and fungi break down uneaten food, fish waste, and decaying plant material into simpler organic compounds.Result:These compounds are further processed into ammonia, which enters the nitrification cycle.
3. Symbiosis with Plant RootsRoot-Microbe Interactions:Microbes colonize the root zone (rhizosphere), forming beneficial biofilms.They help solubilize nutrients like phosphorus and iron, making them more bioavailable to plants.Exudates Exchange:Plants release root exudates (e.g., sugars, amino acids), which serve as food for microbes, fostering their growth and activity.
4. Biofiltration in the Plant BedFiltration Process:The plant bed serves as a biofilter where microbial communities remove toxins and recycle nutrients.Key Role:This ensures a balanced aquatic environment by reducing harmful substances like ammonia and nitrite.
5. Mycorrhizal Associations (Optional in Some Systems)
Fungi-Plant Symbiosis:Mycorrhizal fungi may colonize plant roots, extending their nutrient absorption capabilities.Enhanced Growth:This relationship boosts plant health, nutrient uptake, and disease resistance.
How Endosymbiosis EmergesThe plant, fish, and microbial components work as a cohesive unit:Microbes convert fish waste into plant nutrients.Plants purify the water for fish and provide organic compounds for microbes.Fish produce waste that drives the entire cycle.
Benefits of Microbial Functioning in Bio-Ponics Flow
Having microbes in an aquaponics system is highly advantageous! These microorganisms are the backbone of the bio-ponics flow, providing multiple benefits that are essential for the system's success. Key Advantages of Microbes in Aquaponics are
1. Natural Waste ManagementMicrobes convert fish waste and organic matter into usable nutrients for plants, reducing the need for cleaning and external waste disposal.
2. Improved Nutrient AvailabilityThey break down complex compounds into simpler forms like nitrates and phosphates, which plants can readily absorb, leading to better growth and higher yields.
3. Water Quality RegulationBy removing toxic ammonia and nitrite, microbes help maintain a healthy aquatic environment for fish, reducing stress and improving fish health.
4. SustainabilityMicrobes enable a closed-loop system, minimizing the need for chemical fertilizers and external inputs, making the operation eco-friendly.
5. Disease SuppressionBeneficial microbes compete with harmful pathogens in the root zone, protecting plants from diseases and promoting healthier growth.
6. Increased EfficiencyMicrobial activity ensures the efficient recycling of resources, maximizing system productivity with minimal waste.
7. Support for EndosymbiosisMicrobes foster symbiotic relationships with plants, improving root nutrient uptake and enhancing resilience to environmental stresses.By integrating these microbes into the plant filter bed, aquaponics systems harness the power of nature to create a balanced, efficient, and sustainable farming solution. This makes microbes an indispensable asset in any successful aquaponics setup!
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