Learn to Grow a Crop and Farm Fish - at the same time!
- Together in the same Production System
- On a small scale at home
- Or a large scale commercial operation
- Start a new business enterprise or become more self sufficient
Aquaponics is the integration of hydroponics with aquaculture technologies.
Hydroponics is the horticultural process of growing plants in mediums other than soil. Aquaculture
is the culture of aquatic organisms (such as fish and crustaceans) for
commercial purposes under controlled or partly controlled conditions.
In
an aquaponics system the nutrient-rich waste from fish tanks is used to
provide plant food to vegetables and herbs grown in hydroponic beds.
Chemicals (including nutrients) naturally increase in any water in which
fish or other aquatic animals live. Some of these chemicals are the
result of excrement from the animals, and others may result from
decomposition of dead animal tissue or left over food (such as ammonia).
As a result of its nutrient composition, water that is used for
aquaculture is a useful source of nutrition for growing plants.
What Does the Course Cover
There are ten lessons in this module as follows:
- Introduction
- Aquaponic System Options
- The Science of Animal and Plant Growth
- Nutrition and Controlling Growth
- Selecting and Managing Animal Production - Fish & Crustaceans
- Setting up an Aquaculture System
- Aquaponic Plant Culture
- Applications and Opportunities
- Managing an Aquaponics Venture - including a PBL
- Troubleshooting
Workload
Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed with a total of around 100 hours of study; and a commitment close to that may be needed to achieve desired learning outcomes.
Extra Reading
The following books, available through this web site are relevant supplementary reading for this course
Commercial Hydroponics
Aquaponics
Assessment
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.
An assignment is given at the end of each lesson. You should complete this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a habit of working to specification in the field of hydroponics, will impress employers, and will be more efficient when self employed.
A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments. This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.
Recognition and Ethics
This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS Distance Education. Courses are developed with input from all of these colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and needs.
A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.
Refund Policy
A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment. This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and marked; or after the two weeks has expired.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS INSTITUTION?
We believe that we have an ethical responsibility to make good use of the fees you pay and the time you invest into an education through our college. To this end, our first priority is always your learning. This comes before issues such as formal accreditations, speculative marketing and bureaucratic processes which all too often add considerable costs to the running of colleges, and take resources away from the provision of more valuable services to the student.
This college focuses on facilitating your learning and support to optimise that learning. We recognise that learning is all about improving knowledge and skills in your long term memory. While some colleges may focus on getting you to pass exams, by committing knowledge to short term memory; we understand that such an approach is not true education, and does little to improve your long term career or business prospects.
How This Course Can Help You
This course is suited to those looking to gain a foothold in the industry , or to gain knowledge needed to set up a backyard operation
It concentrates on developing your fundamental knowledge and skills to give you the confidence to work in or set up a small aqauponics enterprise.