Stuppy Aquaponics Blog

Welcome to our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 2, Lesson 2, The Nitrogen Cycle and Colonization of Bacteria. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. You can find our first post in this series here. Enjoy!

Welcome to our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 2, Lesson 1, Types of bacteria in Aquaponics. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. You can find our first post in this series here. Enjoy!

Welcome to our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 1, Lesson 4, Hydroponc and Aquaponics Designs. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. You can find our first post in this series here. Enjoy!

Welcome to our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 1, Lesson 3, Substrates for Hydroponic and Aquaponics. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. You can find our first post in this series here. Enjoy!

A substrate, also called a medium or media, is a supporting material or base on which a plant can grow. The most commonly used substrates are: Rockwool, lightweight expanded clay aggregate, coco coir, coco chips, perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, lava rock, river rock, and sand. Some uncommonly used substrates include: oasis cubes, floral foam, growstones, pine shavings, pine bark, polyurethane foam, water-absorbing polymers and rice hulls. A good substrate supports the plant, allows for air flow, and is porous.

Welcome to our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 1, Lesson 2, Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Aeroponics. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. You can find our first post in this series here. Enjoy!

Hydroponics

Hydroponics is not a new technology. Both the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Floating Gardens of China employed hydroponic concepts. Hydroponics is the growth of plants without soil. Hydroponic plants are most commonly grown in nutrient solution, rock, sand, Rockwool, or a combination of these. Because the plants are grown in a liquid medium or a nutrient deficient substance, nutrients are supplied to the water or substrate as a supplement for plant intake. Hydroponic systems can easily be scaled up or down as the maintenance is relatively low. The components in the system are often automated from nutrient injection to drainage pumps. Generally the pH of the system does not change easily because the system does not decompose organic matter. However, many hydroponic systems do have algae growth which could attract insects and consequently viruses and diseases can be vectored to the plants. Additionally, hydroponic systems tend to accumulate salt deposits in the pipes that need to be flushed regularly.

Welcome to our first post in our ongoing series highlighting our Aquaponics Curriculum!

Over the coming weeks, we will be posting a series of articles covering the basics of each Curriculum Topic. Today, we are covering Topic 1, Lesson 1, What is Agriculture. Each of these blog posts is aimed to give an overview of the subject and provide one or more critical thinking questions. Enjoy!