Aquaponics system includes an integrated agricultural complex of recirculating aquaculture and soilless plant culture under hydroponic conditions. Small aquaponics units containing 1m3 fish tank and 3m2 plant cultivation area are considered as home grown. Results of the current experiment about production in a small aquaponics unit showed it is estimated that more than 50 kg of tilapia fish and about 15-77 kg of healthy vegetables can be produced, yearly.
Production in aquaponics system contributes to water and soil conservation and food security and is in line with environmental considerations. Small aquaponics units are considered as home grown units and the main purpose of their implementation is to produce food for subsistence and household consumption. In the present experiment, small aquaponics with 1m3 fish tank and 3m2 plant cultivation space were implemented. Production of tilapia fish and plants was carried out in two periods. Red hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis sp. monosex males were stocked at densities of 58 and 55 fish/m3 and average weights of 74.6 and 51.6 grams, respectively. The cultivated plants were peppermint, Mentha piperita, celery, Apium graveolens and green basil Ocium basilium. In the two production periods, the fish harvest was 26.6 and 25 kg, peppermint harvest was 10.7 and 1.8, celery 9 and 16.7, and green basil 2.6 kg/m2. In total, by implementing a home grown aquaponics unit with proper production management and maintaining favorable environmental conditions, in a one-year period, it is estimated that more than 50 kg of tilapia fish and about 15-77 kg of healthy vegetables can be produced, depending on the type of plant cultivated. Promoting home aquaponics production units leads to the production of healthy fish and plants, an increase in per capita consumption of aquatic animals, access to fresh products throughout the year, and the creation of rural and home jobs.