Vertical Aquaponics Systems

The principle is to use tubing to create lots of small pockets where plants can grow. The most common tubing is PVC which is why vertical aquaponics is often referred to as PVC aquaponics . Your vegetables or other crops are grown without soil. The vertical garden is generally created above the fish tanks to keep the system as simple as possible.

Your fish will need to be fed and the water temperature, pH, nitrates and ammonia levels monitored. A small pump will then take the water which is full of nutrients and drop it into the top of the cylindrical tubes which form the vertical aquaponics towers. The water glides down the inside of the PVC aquaponics pipes and gives your plants the nutrients they need.

Air will flow through the pipes providing the plants with the oxygen they need directly to the roots as well as via the leaves. The air will flow around the tubes as the water will not fill the tubes completely.

If your aquaponics towers are working properly the plants will clean the water before it goes back to the fish; your fish and plants will grow with minimal intervention from you.

The system is basically self-contained although you may need to add a little water occasionally.

However, it is important to note that the PVC vertical aquaponics system described below will need to have a filter  in it. This will need to be positioned before the water is taken to the plants. The reason is simply to remove any solid waste. If you don’t, the waste will attach to the roots of the plants and prevent them from getting the nutrients they need.