There are many differences between a Hydroponic and an Aquaponic system, and determining the best between them is not always an easy task. To begin with you will first need to learn what each of the system is and what their advantages and disadvantages are over each other. In an Aquaponic system, it can be simply described as an elaborate combination of the aquaculture system with basic hydroponics. Aquaculture entails the growing of fish within and enclosed environment such as what is done in a fish farm or tank. Water from the environment is pumped allowing for a closed water way wherein the fish waste is pumped away into hydroponic systems or plant beds.

The waste which would normally be harmful to the marine life within the fish farm environment contains a significant amount of nitrogen plus other nutrients which are actually ideal for the promotion of plant growth. This fish waste or emulsion as it is sometimes called is food for plants and when the nutrients have been absorbed by the plants it is then recycled into clean water and pumped back into the aquaculture farm or tank. In essence Aquaponic can be considered as a fully functioning systems which allows for the recycling of water, waste and food for the plant bed in a constant cycle.

On the other hand Hydroponic systems are plant growing systems that allow for the growing of plants without the use of soil. The plants within the hydroponic system soak up the dissolved nutrients from a nutrient solution similar to what would normally happen in soil. The nutrients are instead dissolved in the water and not soil, with the root of the plants immersed in the water solution which soak up the necessary nutrients. The need for soil is thus eliminated and such costs and space constraints are likewise removed. Hydroponic systems do have the need to have the environment flushed every now an then in order to prevent the buildup of nutrient to unsafe levels, however this task is easily done and other than this small constraint it can be considered as fairly self sufficient system.

The question that comes in to view with these two plant growth systems is which of them is superior to the other; Aquaponics or Hydroponics, and in reality neither is. What it may come down to, however is efficiency and feasibility. How many people have large enough fish tanks that can support an aquaponic environment which will allow them to sustain both aquaculture and plant life together. In many cases the anser is only a number of people, and if you are not one of them then the best option for you is hydroponics which removes the need to invest in large fish tank or farm.

Both these systems allow for the growth of plant life, and the only difference within the systems is that aquaponics also allows for the growth of marine life in addition to the plants. Should these be the requirements the perhaps this would be one of the deciding factors.

The Lowdown

It all comes down to a single factor between aquaponics and hydroponics; this all important factor is cost. Which of the two systems costs less or is cheaper over time. While Aquaponics can cost a tad more than that of a Hydroponics set-up, the need to buy additional nutrients for the hydroponic system just about evens up the cost since for the aquaponics system the nutirent supply comes the fish feces or waste. Choosing between aquaponics and hydroponics really comes down to how much you are willing to spend on the hobby.

By going to you local hydroponic supplier or by researching online you will be able to determine the factors that will allow you to choose between an aquaponics and a hydroponic system for your water gardening requirements. Most local shops are even willing to help you out when you are just starting off and can be extremely helpful if you still don't know what to do.