Temperature Management In Aquaponics

Temperature management in aquaponics all depends on your location. Depending on your climate, it may well be essential for you to look into some heating and cooling systems. This can be a contributing factor to the success of your business. When it comes to temperature management in aquaponics, there are several options available to you.

Temperature management can be as easy as using a swimming pool heat pump in your setup. One of the main bonuses of this method uses significantly less power than other heating elements. For example, a 6kW pump will be capable of controlling a 100, 000-litre system at approximately 22kW. It’s up to you if you would like to use an air heat pump or a geothermal heat pump. However, even though a geothermal heat pump might be more efficient, it’s also a bit more of an expensive long term investment however it will be more cost-effective when running your system and looking at day-to-day expenses.

The basic principle of geothermal systems is that the temperature is constant at 3m underground all year round. Depending on your location, the temperatures can range from 14°C to about 24°C. Geothermal systems are great at regulating temperatures in both summer and winter.

If you are located in an area with lower humidity conditions, you might need to look into using cooling showers or cooling towers. This method helps to aerate the water and reduce any gas build-up. Make sure there is good natural ventilation around the shower to reduce the water temperature even more. Cooling shower systems use very little power and can be turned on and off as required.

Fish aren’t afraid of the dark, so cover up your fish tanks with shading cloth. This is a quick and easy way to keep the water cool in summer.

Solar heating can be an extremely cost-effective way to increase the water temperature in your aquaponics system. This method works by pumping the water through a micron filter and then through hundreds of small irrigation pipes. These irrigation pipes maximize the surface area of water that is exposed to the sun. The micron filter is extremely important to ensure the pipes don’t block up. Moreover, you must insulate your system well so that you don’t lose heat overnight.

If you want to save yourself some time and hassles, pay close attention to the structure of your greenhouse. Here are some tips when looking at your greenhouse design.

• Design the sides of your greenhouse to roll up. This is a good way to keep the greenhouse cool on a hot day.
• If your sides roll up, add some shade cloth to cover the gaps. This allows the cold air to roll in while preventing the direct sun from streaming in.
• Your greenhouse should be at least 4m high to allow plenty of space at the top for hot air to escape to.

Extraction Fans help to ensure that any hot, stagnant air is effectively removed from your tunnel. However, they can be heavy on power so do your calculations correctly to avoid any electricity bill surprises. For example, a fan that powers a 36m x 13m tunnel uses 1kW/hour electricity. Alternatively, you can use multiple smaller fans.

So, whether you’re heating or cooling your system there are many ways to go about it. Book a consultation with us to chat about the possible solutions for your system.

We would be happy to help!