Living Landscapes
Observe. Integrate. Design

Module 13 / 25

Aquaculture

Young orchard trees, mulched beds, and paths beside a woodland edge.

Aquaculture extends the study of relationships among plants and animals into water. The pond and food-web resources introduce an ecological way to look at aquatic systems, while the chinampa and aquaponics examples present different approaches to cultivation.

As you move between these examples, consider what each system needs to keep functioning. The module’s comparison asks you to examine water supply, oxygen, nutrients, energy, organisms, and ongoing care, so that any aquatic feature you consider has a place in the wider design.

Topics

  • Aquatic ecology: Trophic food web, limiting factors, and design criteria
  • Chinampas and other cultivated aquatic ecosystems
  • Aquaponics; species choices

What you’ll learn

Learning goals

  • Apprehend methods of diversifying water bodies on large and small scales

Read, watch & explore

Getting the books · access & editions

Use your own copy, buy the book, or borrow it through a library when possible. If you are local to me, contact me about borrowing a copy. You can also contact me for information about digital or other access to assigned readings.

If your edition uses different page numbers, contact me and we can match the correct section.

For articles, excerpts, videos, and other resources, use the links in the lesson. If a video player does not load, try its source link. If you cannot access a reading or media resource, or it has no link, contact me with the module number and resource title.

Ask about books, readings or media access ↗

Aquatic ecosystems

Watch the opening pond and aquaculture examples with attention to the organisms shown and the conditions they depend on. The food-web resources then focus on feeding relationships. Use those relationships when comparing the pond examples with the chinampa and aquaponics systems.

Watch

Permaculture Aquaculture

YouTube

Watch on YouTube

If the player does not load, use the source link.

Watch

Aquatic Food Web Video

YouTube

Follow the feeding relationships in the video, then trace the connections in the Aquatic Food Web Diagram.

Watch on YouTube

If the player does not load, use the source link.

Watch

Chinampas Video

YouTube

Use the chinampa example when comparing cultivated aquatic systems, with attention to the relationship between growing areas and water.

Watch on YouTube

If the player does not load, use the source link.

Pond illustration with an outlet and a shoreline divided into alternating inlets and projecting land edges. Open full-size image
The meeting of land and water

The inlets and projecting edges increase contact between land and water. Compare this shoreline form with the chinampa example, paying attention to growing space, shallow water, and access.

Source: Douglas Barnes, The Permaculture Earthworks Handbook (New Society Publishers, 2017), Figure 8.5, Page 126. © Douglas Barnes.

Aquaponics and system needs

As you work through this section, compare a pond, a cultivated wetland, and a recirculating aquaponics system: water supply, oxygen, nutrients, energy, suitable organisms, and ongoing care. Develop the comparison in your existing design notes, keeping any aquatic feature as an option with its constraints identified.

Book reading

Practical Permaculture

Jessi Bloom and Dave Boehnlein

Pages 264 to 265: A short introduction to aquaponics

Book access & editions

Watch

How to Cycle An Aquaponics System — Rob Bob's Aquaponics

YouTube

The book introduction and Aquaponics Tour establish the components to consider. This video focuses on startup: follow the development of nitrifying bacteria and the changes in ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate while the system is cycling.

Watch on YouTube

If the player does not load, use the source link.

Watch

Aquaponic System Maintenance & Running Tips — Rob Bob's Aquaponics

YouTube

Compare the startup phase with the recurring work shown here, including fish care, water checks, pumps, aeration, and solids removal. Distinguish an establishment problem from a task that remains part of routine operation.

Watch on YouTube

If the player does not load, use the source link.

Recirculating water still needs replenishment. Water leaves through evaporation, plant uptake and transpiration, splashing, leaks, cleaning, and solids removal. Reducing unnecessary exposed water can limit evaporation, but covers must not prevent aeration or gas exchange. Exposed water area is a different consideration from the surface available for bacteria in a filter. A cycled system still needs care and can become unbalanced when conditions change. Include these water, energy, and maintenance requirements in your pond–wetland–aquaponics comparison.

Optional · Deeper reading

Nitrification and Maintenance in Media Bed Aquaponics — Oklahoma State University

extension.okstate.edu

For more detail on nitrification, monitoring, and solids management, consult this guide after the videos. Nitrite is NO₂⁻ and nitrate is NO₃⁻; Table 2 and a sentence in the nitrate section contain incorrect labels. Use the reading to examine system requirements, not as a dosing or stocking procedure.

Open resource

Readings & resources

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