Exploring the history of Aquaponics: Who invented Aquaponics? You decide

In this article, we will look at the history of aquaponics. There is a lot of debate about the history of aquaponics.

People argue whether the Chinese are the first to actually use aquaponics, or whether they are Aztecs. These two camps will never agree.

However; can you let me give you a brief history of aquaponics and let yourself decide who is the inventor of aquaponics?

After your permission, I will continue...

Ancient Chinese and aquatic zoology

The Chinese have a system that was used in the 6th century. They kept ducks in their cages. These cages have partially open floors. These openings are located above the finned fish pond.

The "waste" from the ducks feeds the finfish. These awkward Chinese farmers also raised carp in another pond, in which the finfish water was drained. So any extra waste will be supplied to the salmon.

If there is any "remaining food", it will go to the paddy fields to help the rice grow. This is a harmonious system, nothing is wasted.

Aquaponics and Aztecs

When the Aztecs talked about "aquaponics," they called their system "chinampas." In the Aztec system, they plant a variety of crops, including corn, pumpkins and other plants on the water raft, which are also used to raise fish.

The Aztecs began using their systems in 1400.

So who do you like? I went to the Chinese to do a more realistic "aquaponics system." But as I said, the debate is fierce.

How do we get from China and Aztec to the modern Aquaponics system?

Let us start in 1969? Meet John and Nancy Todd, who founded the New Alchemy Institute with William McLarney.

They are committed to building a self-sufficient "prototype cabinet" that is powered by solar energy and allows a family to survive using the holistic approach throughout the year.

Aquaponics History: The 1980s

We turned to Professor Mark McMurty and Professor Doug Sanders, who created the first "closed loop" aquaponics system.

In their system, the "feces" from the aquarium are used to "drip" cucumbers and tomatoes, which grow in sand beds. These sand beds are also biofilters for cleaning fish water.

Aquaponics History: The 1990s

Next we need to understand Tom and Paula Sperano. These pioneers modified the McMurty and Sanders methods to create their "bionic concepts."

Sperano grows vegetables and herbs in a mobile and ebb tide system, using a gravel bed that is irrigated with nutrient-rich water from a 2,200-litre tank for tilapia farming.

Sperano was the first to use a gravel growth bed that worked properly in aquaponics. Their system is considered to be very effective and has now been replicated worldwide.

Most people with backyard aquaponics gardens may base their system on the "bionic concept" that Sperano first introduced. This is how we get into the modern aquaponics we know and love today.

From ancient China in the 6th century to the ability to have a backyard aquaculture system in your own backyard, you can grow fresh produce throughout the year.

Aquaponics Historical Conclusion

As you can see, aquaponics can be traced back to history and successfully used by civilization.

I did not mention aquaculture in Southeast Asia or Egyptians who use water and fish to grow plants.

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