Aquaponics system
The present invention relates to an aquaponics system and method. There is provided an aquaponics system including a tank ( 10 ) for housing at least one aquatic animal species; a plant growing apparatus ( 18 ) for housing one or more plant species growing in an aqueous environment; and a biofilter module including a solids removal means ( 12 ) and a biological waste digestion unit ( 14 ) including a biological species for digesting solids to produce plant nutrients. Plant nutrients are transferred to the plant growing apparatus ( 18 ) and at least a portion of the water is returned to the tank ( 10 ).
1. An aquaponic method for symbiotic rearing of one or more aquatic species and one or more plant species comprising:
a) providing
i) a tank which houses one or more aquatic animal species;
ii) a plant growing apparatus which houses one or more plant species growing in an aqueous environment; and
iii) a biofilter module for receiving a waste stream including solid waste and water from the tank, the biofilter module comprising a solids removal means and a biological waste digestion unit for digesting solids from the solids removal means to produce plant nutrients, wherein the biological waste digestion unit comprises a biological species that at least partially digests solid waste from said solids removal means to plant nutrients, and further wherein the biological digestion unit comprises a plurality of trays which are able to be rotated such that the trays are actively receiving solids from the solids removal means when in a receiving position and not receiving solids from the solids removal means in a non-receiving position, and wherein only a subset of the total number of trays are in the receiving position at any time;
b) rotating the subset of the total number of trays in the receiving position to the non-receiving position such that the subset of the total number of trays in the non-receiving position do not receive input of solids from the solids removal means, whilst the total number of trays process the solid waste from said tank;
c) transferring solid waste from said tank to said biofilter module; and
d) transferring said plant nutrients from said biofilter module to said plant growing apparatus.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the biofilter module receives a waste stream including waste and water from the plant growing apparatus.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subset of the total number of trays in the receiving position also receives water from a nitrification means.
4. An aquaponic method for symbiotic rearing of one or more aquatic species and one or more plant species comprising;
a) providing
i) a tank which houses one or more aquatic animal species;
ii) a plant growing apparatus which houses one or more plant species growing in an aqueous environment; and
iii) a biofilter module for receiving a waste stream including solid waste and water from the tank, the biofilter module comprising a solids removal means and a biological waste digestion unit for digesting solids from the solids removal means to produce plant nutrients, wherein the biological waste digestion unit comprises a biological species that at least partially digests solid waste from said solids removal means to plant nutrients, and further wherein the biological digestion unit comprises a plurality of trays which are able to be rotated such that said trays are actively receiving solids from solids removal means when in a receiving position and not receiving solids from the solids removal means in a non-receiving position, and wherein only a subset of the total number of trays are in the receiving position at any time;
b) transferring solid waste from said tank to said biofilter module, wherein the solid waste contacts the subset of the total number of trays that are in the receiving position;
c) placing the subset of the total number of trays in the non-receiving position, wherein the subset of the total number of trays no longer receives solid waste;
d) allowing the solid waste in the subset in the non-receiving position of the total number of trays to be processed to plant nutrients;
e) returning the subset of the total number of trays in the non-receiving position to the receiving position; and
f) transferring said plant nutrients from said the subset in the receiving position of the total number of trays within the biofilter module to said plant growing apparatus.
5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the biofilter module receives a waste stream including waste and water from the plant growing apparatus.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the subset of the total trays in the receiving position also receives water from a nitrification means.