Daily Operations – Course Description
The Daily Operations Course provides detailed information on all of the daily and periodic tasks that are performed in the operation of an aquaponic system. The course begins with an overview of all tasks and then continues on with a wealth of information covering the details of all operations. The photos, video, narrations and course content provide a precise and detailed look at the operational requirements of an aquaponic system and greenhouse.
Lessons
- Welcome
- Daily Operations Overview
- Enforcing Bio-Security and Good management practices
- Observation and Recordkeeping
- Fish Feeding and Feed Calculations
- Water Quality Testing
- Plant Seeding, Transplanting and Harvesting
- Pest Scouting and Biological Control
- Cleaning and Sanitation
- Filter Maintenance
- Fish Acclimation
- Fish Purge and Harvest
- Periodic Maintenance
- Prevention
- Materials
- Daily Log
- Routine Maintenance and Cleaning
- A Day in the Life of an Aquaponic Farmer
- Nelson and Pade Team members walk through the daily tasks in the aquaponic greenhouse
- System Start up
- This lesson covers, in detail, the planning and considerations in starting an aquaponics system, from permits to sourcing the fish, logistics to the actual process of acclimating and stocking fish, to the nitrification cycle and techniques to mitigate issues with toxic ammonia and nitrite. The timeline of the startup, from the initial fish stocking to adding plants to full production is also presented.
- Materials
- System Start Up Explanation
- System Start Up Chart
- Water Quality Chart – Fish Species
- Harvesting, Selling, Transplanting and Seeding
- This lesson demonstrates all of the plant handling processes and techniques related to seeding, transplanting, growing and harvesting aquaponic lettuce. Additionally, there is discussion and tips on marketing and selling aquaponic crops.
- Materials
- Seeding Log
- Harvest Chart
- Lettuce Packaging
- This short lesson provides a clear visual explanation of packaging aquaponic lettuce for retails sale.
- Fish feeds, Needs and feed Calculation Process
- In this lesson, there is a detailed discussion of fish dietary needs, including information on the differences between terrestrial and aquatic animals. The feed calculation process and taking sample fish weights, feed components, homemade diets, organic feeds and feeding techniques are also covered.
- Materials
- Fish Size and Frequency Chart
- Fish Feed Calculation Worksheet
- Fish Feed Chart
- Feed Calculations
- This lessons specifically discusses the fish feed calculation
- Fish Filleting
- This lesson is a demonstration of the techniques to efficiently and carefully fillet a tilapia, resulting in quality fillets.
- Clarifier Maintenance
- This lesson is a demonstration and discussion of the daily operations of clarifier maintenance and cleaning in a commercial aquaponic greenhouse
- Bio-Security
- This lesson covers the planning and considerations to implement bio-security procedures in an aquaponics greenhouse
- Materials
- Bio-Security Log
- Visitor Log
- Pest Scouting, Identification and Biological Pest Control
- Pest control in aquaponics is achievable, even though we cannot use pesticides because they are toxic to the fish. Instead, we use biological means of pest control. This lesson covers the process of pest monitoring, identification and control, with many examples of biological controls for specific common pest insects.
- Water Quality Testing and Analysis
- In this lesson, the process and procedures of water quality testing are discussed and demonstrated. Additionally, results and appropriate responses are discussed.
- Materials
- Water Quality Chart – Fish Species
- Water Quality Chart – Un-ionized Ammonia
- Water Quality Log
- Water Quality Parameters
Details
- This is an online Course
- Access the course when you want.
- Learn at your own pace.
- To access the course, you need a computer, tablet, phone or other internet device.
- You will be required to set up a user account with 2-Factor Authentication.
- All registrants receive a Certificate of Completion when they complete the course.
