Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. In aquaponics, you grow fish and plants together in one integrated, soilless system. The fish waste provides a food source for the plants and the plants provide a natural filter for the water the fish live in. Aquaponics produces safe, fresh, organic fish and vegetables. When aquaponics is combined with a controlled environment greenhouse, premium quality crops can be grown on a year-round basis, anywhere in the world. Aquaponics can be used to sustainably raise fresh fish and vegetables for a family, to feed a village or to generate a profit in a commercial farming venture.
CCRES
All the food CCRES produced during the year is given to poor families.
CCRES
AQUAPONICS Greenhouse was constructed in the summer of 2011.
Intensive aquaculture production was integrated with intensive greenhouse hydroponic vegetable production.
Environmental monitoring and control systems allow the grower to optimize the environmental parameters for maximizing crop yields. Water chemistry is maintained and nutrients are supplemented to meet the target crops nutritional demands. Organic plant cultivars are grown using biologically processed fish effluents and CCRES
AQUAPONICS listed organic nutrient supplements. Fish are grown and harvested on a monthly basis. Romaine and butter head lettuce, red and green oak leaf lettuce, microgreens, basil, peppers and cucumbers are also grown in the system. The produce and fish have been marketed to high end restaurants and farmers markets.
Fish are reared from egg to a harvest size . Production is staggered for continuous harvest on a monthly basis.
The filtration system removes large particulate waste and biologically processes the dissolved nutrients to a non-toxic form for the fish, and into a more readily available form for the plants to assimilate. The water chemistry is maintained for optimal growth of the fish. After the water passes through the filtration system it then flows to the respective plant greenhouse bay where the water chemistry is tailored to meet the target crops nutritional requirements.
There are two plant production bays with individual environmental controls. The environmental parameters for each bay are set to meet the plants optimal conditions for growth. Nutrient supplements are injected into the water prior to entering the hydroponic plant bays. The plants assimilate the nutrients in the system and the water is returned to the fish.
This system uses 1-3% of the system water volume per week (depending on season). The excreted nutrients from the fish are used as a natural fertilizer for the hydroponic plants. Research studies have shown that growth and quality of the plants in the aquaponics system is equal to that in hydroponic systems when the proper filtration processes and nutrient supplements are applied. CCRES
AQUAPONICS market studies have determined that the produce can be marketed to high end restaurants, farmer’s markets and grocery stores.
If you have read this far the next question is: How much is required to be an investor for commercial aquaponics systems?
For more information and the current Fact Sheets about aquaponics opportunities please contact Zeljko Serdar, Inventor of the CCRES
AQUAPONICS and CEO , CCRES by email to begin the process.
All the food CCRES produced during the year is given to poor families.
Imagine a technology that produces healthy organic food, clean water, and renewable energy all at the same time.
We call it CCRES AQUAPONICS.
CCRES AQUAPONICS is really a “living machine”. It is completely self-sufficient and sustainable. And, it generates its own renewable energy using power from the sun.
We even produce our own feed to raise fish. And, we also sequester carbon and recycle nutrients, all without waste or inefficiency.
“CCRES
AQUAPONICS is as close to being perfect as mother nature gets.”
– Željko Serdar, CCRES
AQUAPONIC President and CEO at CCRES
LEADING ALGAE PRODUCTION FACILITY IN THE CROATIA
Using a combination of open water ponds and photobioreactors, requiring only carbon dioxide (CO2), sunlight, water, and nutrients. CCRES technology optimizes conditions for cultivation to improve efficiency using optimal turbulence in the water and the effective use of selected nutrients.
CCRES demonstration facility plays a pivotal role in testing and improving algae technology lineup to achieve cost reductions and efficiency benefits.
Once harvested, there are a number of conversion technologies that can be used to convert the algal oil into high quality biofuels, including transesterification and hydrotreating. The residual defatted biomass and carbohydrates can also be used to make a fishmeal replacement or animal feed supplement for the aquaculture and animal feed markets.
Our priorities are sustainability, productivity, cost-effectiveness, safety, and respect for the environment and communities. Our research and development activities at the demonstration facility are currently focused on yield improvement and cost reductions through engineering research.
CCRES AQUAPONICS and CCRES ALGAE PROJECT
part of
Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES)
CCRES 
Ongoing CCRES research includes:
Development of simplified commercial aquaponics systems having significant vegetable production with a fraction of the energy usage our current systems use.
Development of optimal aquaponics systems for growing tomatoes and strawberries for commercial purposes.
Development of recirculating aquaponics systems for growing taro, cassava, and other “nutrition-heavy” crops.
The design and construction of a methane biodigester using farm waste to generate the biogas for a methane-powered diesel electricity generator that will power the farm’s pumps, blowers, and refrigeration sustainably.
We will be developing do-it-myself plans for these methane-to-electricity systems also for small farms who wish to be more energy-self-sufficient.
Development of aquaponics systems for developing countries using fish food derived from garbage, built with a technology level of rocks, dirt, bamboo, and black plastic sheet.
Development of a fish food facility using local agricultural and packing house wastes for fish food, and using solar energy for drying the finished food.
CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)• was founded in 1988 as the non-profit European Association for Renewable Energy that conducts its work independently of political parties, institutions, commercial enterprises and interest groups, • is dedicated to the cause of completely substituting for nuclear and fossil energy through renewable energy, • regards solar energy supply as essential to preserve the natural resources and a prerequisite for a sustainable economy, • acts to change conventional political priorities and common infrastructures in favor of renewable energy, from the local to the international level, • brings together expertise from the fields of politics, economy, science, and culture to promote the entry of solar energy, • provides the opportunity to play a part in the sociocultural movement for renewable energy by joining the association for everyone, • considers full renewable energy supply a momentous and visionary goal – the challenge of the century to humanity. CCRES Željko Serdar Head of association solarserdar@gmail.com
I My Interested in Aquaponics Thanks Leon
CCRES is a member-based non-profit organization with membership open to research institutions, public and private sector organizations, students, and individuals.
CCRES Vision and Mission
VISION
To excel as an applied research and development center with an international reputation, focusing on the optimal use of Kentucky’s and the nation’s energy resources for the benefit of its people.
MISSION
As a Center of Renewable Energy Source, we will pursue the Vision by:
Performing sound fundamental and applied research to develop industrially relevant technologies
Collaborating with stakeholders to implement novel technologies
Providing technologies to improve the environment
Contributing to the formulation of technically sound policies related to energy and the environment
Developing the capabilities of our colleagues while fostering a mutually supportive work environment with respect for individuals
Acting in good faith and with integrity in all our dealings to build long lasting relationships with all our stakeholders
Contributing to the teaching and instruction aim of Croatia by educating students from pre-college to postgraduate levels and being involved in labor force development
Collaborating with colleagues to promote CCRES objectives
Promoting objective of developing and benefiting from its Intellectual Property with a balance between the publication of scientific results and patenting
Providing public service in the areas of scientific education and our energy related competencies.
We get calls and emails all the time from people that are interested in becoming aquaponic farmers or starting their own aquaponics business. Like us, it just didn’t feel like “enough” to run an aquaponic system at home and feed our family nutritious food. We love talking to people who want to educate kids, feed lots of people all over the world, create more job opportunities, and innovate the future of this really great growing technique.
Aquaponics inspires people for so may reasons! It gets people intrigued with all of the possibilities of local and clean food, less waste in packaging and chemicals, less food miles, more nutrition, great protein source, and just the awesome ability to be able to take charge of growing your own food. Its easy to see why its so appealing.