Aquaponics For Profit
Many people start this venture as a hobby, and quickly turn to doing aquaponics for profit, because they immediately realize how profitable it can be! It can be set up with minimum start up costs, and running costs are very low. With its unique set up, the system practically runs itself, as the plants and fish form a symbiotic relationship with the help of bacteria; the latter turn fish waste into plant nutrients, cleaning the water for the fish and providing fertilizer for the plants.
Aquaponics is rapidly gaining popularity because of the rising prices of food and the increasing demand for organic food (which is what you’ll be growing with an aquaponics system). Running an Aquaponics for profit business has many advantages. It is ideal for those who do not have a lot of money to invest, as it requires minimum costs to set up and run. As the costs are low, the profit margin is very significant. Both organic vegetables and fish fetch very good prices!
Another advantage of an Aquaponics for profit business is that it requires minimal space – Aquaponics is in fact the most space-effective method of food production. Generally, a room or garage is more than enough to produce enough food to make a profit.
Aquaponics is also fairly flexible, in the sense that you can grow many different species of plants and fish. So you may grow different species at different times of the year according to demand and competition in your area. For example some people grow predominantly vegetables, while others opt to growing herbs. Of course, there is no reason why you can’t grow both! The same goes for fish; there are many species you can rear. In addition, instead of growing fish for food, some people grow goldfish and other aquarium fish species which then they sell to pet shops or directly to owners. With some aquarium fish species, the prices fetched can be much higher than the prices for most ‘food’ fish. To keep the costs down, you should choose fish which have temperature requirements that are similar to the average temperature in your area. This will save you from using electricity to heat the water.
Popular fish which are grown using aquaponics for profit include tilapia (mainly in warmer climates), trout (mainly in colder climates), catfish, koi, bluegill, smallmouth bass, and goldfish (to be sold as pets). Make sure to check your state laws first, as there are some limitations on which fish can be grown. With regards to plants grown successfully in Aquaponics systems for profit, excellent examples include cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, strawberries, lettuce, spinach, peas, beans and squash; and herbs such as as rosemary and basil.