Aquaponics Online Course
Certificate Courses for Adult Learners
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Self Paced
Flexible Study Schedule
Affordable
See what other Careerline IT students said...
The range of topics and the assignment questions provide not only a method to ensuring students review a range of resources but also ensure that a number of aspects in marine biology are engaged with.
I was so impressed I am going to do another course and maybe more after that!
The customer service and support was totally unexpected. help is always on hand! I even changed my mind on my course and the level of support was phenomenal.
Is this course for me?
This course is for best for adult learners who:
Need a flexible day/night study schedule
Are planning for a new career in this field or are just interested.
Want a stepping stone before committing expensive and years-long education.
In this in-depth course you will learn:
- aquaponics introduction,
- animal & plant growth science
- growing mediums and nutrients
- fish & crustation culture
- plant culture
- aquaponics system management & setup
- applications of aquaponics
- troubleshooting & much more!
Why study this Aquaponics course?
Learn the skills required to set up your own aquaponics system with Careerline’s online Aquaponics course. Whether you have a commercial interest in hydroponics or aquaculture, or are a home hobbyist, this unique course will help you achieve your goals. This is an in-depth course covering everything you need to know before attempting your first hydroponics or aquaculture venture.
Whether you hope to upskill, become a more skilled hobbyist, or get a head start on future studies, studying with Careerline will have a positive impact on your future. This beginner aquaponics course will provide you with an introduction to aquaponic systems, and help you select the best fish, plants, and system for your needs. The skills you learn will prepare you to start your own successful aquaponics system for home or commercial use.
What will you learn?
Careerline’s online Aquaponics course provides a broad insight into the world of hydroponics and aquaculture. You will learn how to choose equipment and components that suits your aquaponics system’s purpose. Further, you will gain an insight into the science of animal and plant growth, and how to encourage and control that growth through nutrition. Aquaponics students will also learn how to select and manage the production of a variety of fish and crustacean species.
During your studies, you will develop an understanding of selecting appropriate plants for your aquaponics system, and how to prevent and manage pests, disease, and other problems. You will gain skills in managing and marketing a commercial aquaponics venture by conducting case studies and creating your own production plan. Finally, you will learn what to do if you encounter problems with pH, water supply, cloudy water, and more.
Who is this online Aquaponics course for?
Careerline’s online Aquaponics course is designed for anyone interested in creating their own aquaculture or hydroponics system. Hobby gardeners who want to become more self- sustainable, as well as aspiring agriculture businesspeople, aquaculture technicians, and horticulture professionals, will benefit from the skills gained from this course. You will be able to apply the skills you learn in this course to your professional life, helping you to broaden your skillset and advance in your career.
This online aquaponics course is also ideal for anyone with an interest in pursuing further study in aquaculture, agriculture, nursery management, fisheries management, or horticulture. You will be introduced to concepts that are taught in tertiary and vocational courses. This will help you to feel prepared and confident as you continue your academic and professional journey.
There are 10 Lessons in this course:
Introduction
- What is aquaponics
- History of aquaponics
- Why aquaponics
- World food
- Urban farming
- Cost benefit analysis
- Is aquaponics organic
- The aquaponics system
- Can it be used with salt water
- Types of Systems:constant flow closed reciprocating, open, deep water, floating raft
- Outdoor or indoor systems
- Barrel ponics, wick, NFT, etc
- Advantages and disadvantages of aquaponics
- Scale of operation
Aquaponic System Options
- Recirculating systems
- Non recirculating (open loop systems or micropnics)
- Components of commercial fish rearing systems
- Aquaponic sub systems
- Deep water culture (DWC)
- Intermittent flow (Ebb and flow)
- Nutrient film technique (NFT)
- Gravel bed systems
- Barrel ponics systems
- Equipment: commercial and backyard
- System components
- Tanks
- Aeration devices
- Solids removal: clarifiers, solids tanks, filters,screens
- Biofilters
- Sump and pH adjustment tank
- Water heaters and chillers
- Greenhouse houses and fish rearingfacilities
- Alarm and back up systems
- Hydroponic grow beds and types of media
- Maintenance, water monitoring and adjustment
- Organic vs non organic
- Combining worms with growing beds
The Science of Animal and Plant Growth
- Plant growth factors
- How plants grow
- Plant structure: roots, stems, leaves, reproductive parts
- Biochemistry and aquaponics
- Biochemical processes in a cell
- Photosynthesis
- Mechanisms of nutrient uptake
- Plant nutrients
- Role of pH in plant growth
- Animal science
- Bony fish (Osteichthyes) and their biology
- Crustaceans: crabs, lobsters, shrimp and prawns
Nutrition and Controlling Growth
- Water soluble chemical compounds: ions
- Less water soluble chemicals
- Complex chemical compounds
- Understanding nutrient formulae
- Hydroponic nutrient formulae
- Atoms, elements and componds
- How are chemical names written
- What does a plant need
- Calculating formulae
- Mixing nutrients
- Case study
- Symptoms of nutrient deficiency
- Nutrients in aquaponics
- Variables in aquaponics: conductivity, ph control, oxygenation, beneficial bacteria in aquaponics
Selecting and Managing Animal Production; Fish and Crustaceans
- Choosing what to farm
- Climate
- Water
- Finance
- Scale of operation
- Other resources
- Market
- Availability of animals
- Risk considerations
- Overview of main species to grow: in Asia, South Africa, Australia, U.K., Europe, North America, South America
- Trout: Rainbow, Brown
- Bass
- Tilapia
- Catfish
- Barramundi
- Carp
- Mullet
- Sunfish
- Eels
- Marron
- Other species: ornamental fish, crustaceans and molluscs, lgae
- Sourcing fish and crustaceans
- Fish food
- Which type of fish food to use: pellets, live food, daphnia, brine shrimp, tubifex worms, earthworms, oil meals
- Other food
- Fish food production: beef heart legumes, seafood and vegetable mix,
- Earthworms: setting up, adding worms
- Compost: understanding, making, conditions for compost production
- Fish health
- Common pests and diseases in aquaponics
- Penaeid shrimp diseases
- Fish diseases
- Salinity and system health
Setting up an Aquaculture System
- Choosing the right sized system
- Selecting the right components
- Setting up the system
- Getting started
- Threats to the system
- Using a greenhouse
- Greenhouses: passive systems, active systems
- Active solaqr heating
- Greenhouse management
- Controlling the growing environment
- Light control
- Air temperature control
- Root temperature control
- Relative humidity and vapour pressure deficit
- Controlling humidity
- Carbon dioxide and oxygen
- Computer controls
Aquaponic Plant Culture
- Selecting media for aquaponic plant culture
- Types of media Growing seedlings
- Seed sources
- Sowing seed
- Seed propagating media
- Sowing seed direct
- Vegetables in aquaponics
- Herbs
- Successional planting
- Flow charting a crop
- Controlling plant growth: stopping, spacing, disbudding, trimming, training
- Pollination
- Pest, disease and other crop problems: overview, identification
- Pest, disease and disorder control in aquaponics
Applications and Opportunities
- Aquaponics for profit
- Economic thresholds
- Harvest and post harvest management of fish
- Harvest and post harvest management of vegetables and herbs
- Harvested crop physiology: fruit ripening, respiration, when to harvesy
- How to prepare salad mixes from harvested vegetables: chlorine levels in water for washing produce, preventing bruising and rots, packaging
- CA and MA storage
- Chilling damage and storage temperature
- Harvesting and grading vegetables
- Fruit grading systems
- Marketing
Managing an Aquaponics Venture - including a PBL
- Case study: University of the Virgin Islands system
- Case study: North Carolina State University system
- Case study: Speraneo system
- What is an aquaponic trial?
- Running an aquaponic trial
- Research methodology
- PBL Project: Create and present a plan with specific strategies for improving the crop production of an aquaponics system in terms of amount and quality of produce harvested based on a clear understanding of the system’s requirements and its location (greenhouse or open air; temperate, subtropical, or tropical climate).
Troubleshooting
- Water supply problems
- pH problems
- Algae growth
- Dirty, cloudy water
- Water imbalances; high levels of ammonia or nitrite
- Imbalances in gases
- Fish troubleshooting
- Controlling salinity and nutrients without damaging fish
- Plant troubleshooting
- Diseases
- Pythium in aquaponics
- Pests
- Environmental physiological disorders
- Nutrition problems in aquaponics
- Deficiency symptoms
- Correcting nutrient problems in aquaponics
- Fruit set management: pollination floral initiation, fruit growth
- Flower and fruit development problems
- Fish eating plant roots
- Power losses
- Clogging with sediment
- Fish to plant imbalances
- Pathogenic contamination issues
When you have completed the lessons of your Certificate course, you will be given the option of taking the optional exam. It's okay if you don't want the exam, we still issue your Careerline Certificate. For Advanced Certificates however, the exam is compulsory (per module) and are included in the course fee.
Your Tutor
Peter Palma
B.Sc. Fisheries, MSc (candidate), Aquaculture/Marine Tutor
Aquaculture science and teaching are the two things Peter is most passionate about. He is currently a Master of Science candidate, studying the reproductive biology of groupers. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries science with a specialization in aquaculture. His field work experiences include broodstock and hatchery management of marine fish species, and disease monitoring of cultured organisms. Over the years, Peter visited fish farms in Australia, Canada and the Philippines, and learned first-hand how aquaculture operation is being done all over the world.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay in installments?
Yes! We offer great payment plans, however full payment up front is the cheapest. You can choose the best payment plan for you from the course page, or call us on 07 55368782 to talk to one of our course consultants for a custom plan.
Can I study from anywhere in the world?
We have many international students. Careerline's range of courses are suitable for any one, anywhere in the world.
Do I get a discount if I enroll in a second course?
Yes. You may claim a 5% fee discount when you enroll in a second course, and a further 10% off a three-course package.
Do I have to sit an Exam?
No. If you are enrolled in a Certificate course (100hrs), the exam is optional. You will be issued with a certificate which proves that you are competent in all units, if you choose not to sit the exam.
Do you have set start dates?
There are no set start dates, you may start at any time. Our courses are all self-paced. As our home page says, ‘Courses for Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime’. ‘Anytime’ includes the start time of your choice. However, we do encourage our students to submit assignments on a regular basis. Wherever possible, we suggest developing a study routine.
How It Works
1. Learn Online
Get access to your course content anywhere, anytime and study at your own pace.
2. Get Help & Support
Connect with other like-minded students and get help from the teacher whenever you have a question.
3. Receive Certificate
Graduate from your course knowing that you have what it takes to reach your next step.
Course Summary
Learn fish & plant culture.
aquaponics system management & setup
Learn to troubleshoot aquaponic systems