Resources

Welcome to our Resources page!

Here, you’ll find a collection of blogs, frequently asked questions and training material designed to support your Aquaponics journey.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out through the contact form at the bottom of the page!

Blog

Stay updated with the latest news, tips, and trends in the world of aquaponics. Our blogs  features articles, success stories, and expert advice to help you stay informed and inspired.

01

The Science Behind Aquaponics

In the heart of the Karoo, an arid region of South Africa where water is scarce and farming can be challenging, we’ve discovered a farming method that thrives in this environment—aquaponics.

02

How Aquaponics Can Revolutionize Agriculture

South Africa is home to diverse climates and agricultural landscapes, but the country also faces serious challenges in food security, water scarcity.

03

Aquaponics vs Hydroponics

If you’ve been exploring innovative farming methods, you’ve likely come across hydroponics and aquaponics. Both systems allow for soil-less farming, which can be especially beneficial in water-scarce areas like the Karoo.

Class Room

In this section we provide case studies on various issues and challenges that we have faced and how we have overcome these. Some of the first case studies we will add are:

  • How to ensure the correct system design, that works with mother nature (and not against her), without the need for expensive design and equipment.
  • How to deal with increasing the water temperature during the winter and then during summer, how to deal with decreasing the water temperature.
  • How we integrated a worm farm and free range chickens into our aquaponics system.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Got questions about aquaponics?

Aquaponics is a sustainable farming method that combines aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil). The fish waste provides nutrients for the plants, while the plants filter the water for the fish.

Aquaponics is more resource-efficient, requiring less water and land than traditional farming. It also eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers and is more environmentally friendly with the use of biological controls of pests and diseases.

Yes, it’s possible to set up smaller-scale aquaponics systems at home. We at Karoo Aquaponics Merweville share our knowledge freely to enable anyone interested to succeed with their aquaponics system.

Construction of the setup started in October 2023. The first plants were however only planted in the beginning of April 2024 when the fish were also introduced.

We keep koi and goldfish. We don’t “farm” them in the traditional sense, we keep them more as pets and jokingly refer to them as our “fertilizer factory workers”.

Yes. We don’t use any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides or herbicides. We are in the process of working towards organic certification.

Hydroponics uses synthetic fertilizers to feed plants. Aquaponics uses fish waste to feed plants. Hydroponics can never be an organic food production system, whilst aquaponics can be. Hydroponics requires water to be dumped that becomes too salty with selective nutrient withdrawal from, whilst aquaponics is a closed loop system with no excessive waste of water.

At Karoo Aquaponics Merweville, we are a prime example how aquaponics can succeed in the Karoo. Aquaponics is a very water efficient system of farming and with various innovations we are able to adapt temperatures to maintain fish health as well as crop production.

Dirk and Sam Koen’s decision to move to Merweville at the beginning of 2023, was made for health reasons. In a quest to slow down, live off the grid and to grow their own fresh produce they loved the aquaponics system, as it ticked all the ecologically sustainable boxes. This soon expanded to the realization not of only scarcity for the general public, but as well as job opportunities and the upliftment of the general community. It has now become a huge project and a driver of economic development in Merweville.

At Karoo Aquaponics Merweville we grow a wide range of vegetable crops, which includes salad leaves, tomatoes, various herbs, celery, chillies, etc. We also grow less traditional aquaponics crops such as ginger. We also have coffee trees, berry trees as well as granadilla vines.

We have free range hens that lay eggs for sale these chickens are mostly fed from excess crop scraps, as well as insects and pests that are attracted to their pen by lights at night. We are also in the process of setting up a tea garden that will have small meals and other refreshments on offer.

We are very open to visits, provided prior arrangement is made. We share our knowledge and experiences freely.

Ask Us Anything, Anytime.

Have questions or need assistance? We would love to hear from you.