About Using Salt Water
After coming up with the original idea of an aquaponics system, we decided we wanted to take it one step further and try to organise an aquaponics system in which salt water is used as the primary water source. This meant that research had to be done not only on plants that are adaptable to growing in an aquaponics system, but those which have a high tolerance to salinity in their water. The plants in the list below have been chosen for their ability to thrive in an aquaponics system, ability to be water with saline water, and usefulness or health benefits.
List of Ideal Plants
Tomatoes
Tomatoes have a high salt water tolerance and can be grown in aquaponics systems with a little extra care and maintenance. They are used as food- either eaten raw or used in cooking. It is very healthy, but can only be distributed locally as most fruits are quite perishable.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a green, tree-like shaped vegetable. It has a good salt water tolerance and grows well in aquaponics systems. It is used commonly in cooking and can be eaten raw. It has lots of vitamins and minerals and is very healthy.
Cauliflower
Cauliflowers are plants with a large, white, compact head of flowers about the size and shape of a small netball. It grows well in aquaponics and has a high tolerance to salinity in water. It is a vegetable commonly used in cooking, but is also eaten raw.
Cabbage
Cabbages are a leafy lettuce like vegetable that are either green or purplish in colour. It has a high tolerance to salt water and can thrive in aquaponics systems with a bit of extra care. It is used in cooking and can also be used for natural medicinal purposes, most often headaches or stomach ulcers.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers will thrive in saline aquaponics systems. They are used in cooking, and are actually a capsicum, not a pepper. Because of this this they have no spice, but are used in a lot of meals along with peppers. They are incredibly healthy and have a popular flavour.
Barley
Barley is a majorly popular cereal grain worldwide. It can grow in very high salinity levels of water and is compatible with the aquaponics and hydroponics systems. Just over half all barley in the US is used in animal feed. Some other uses are in cereal, malt (used in some alcoholic drinks), seeds, and other foods.
Seaweed
Seaweed is a type of algae commonly found growing in the ocean. Being naturally growing in the ocean, it can handle very, very high salinity levels in the water. It is compatible with aquaponics systems and grows quite well in that environment. It has many uses, including food, cosmetics and fertiliser. In food, it is often dried out and eaten plain or as a wrapping for sushi.
Tomatoes have a high salt water tolerance and can be grown in aquaponics systems with a little extra care and maintenance. They are used as food- either eaten raw or used in cooking. It is very healthy, but can only be distributed locally as most fruits are quite perishable.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a green, tree-like shaped vegetable. It has a good salt water tolerance and grows well in aquaponics systems. It is used commonly in cooking and can be eaten raw. It has lots of vitamins and minerals and is very healthy.
Cauliflower
Cauliflowers are plants with a large, white, compact head of flowers about the size and shape of a small netball. It grows well in aquaponics and has a high tolerance to salinity in water. It is a vegetable commonly used in cooking, but is also eaten raw.
Cabbage
Cabbages are a leafy lettuce like vegetable that are either green or purplish in colour. It has a high tolerance to salt water and can thrive in aquaponics systems with a bit of extra care. It is used in cooking and can also be used for natural medicinal purposes, most often headaches or stomach ulcers.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers will thrive in saline aquaponics systems. They are used in cooking, and are actually a capsicum, not a pepper. Because of this this they have no spice, but are used in a lot of meals along with peppers. They are incredibly healthy and have a popular flavour.
Barley
Barley is a majorly popular cereal grain worldwide. It can grow in very high salinity levels of water and is compatible with the aquaponics and hydroponics systems. Just over half all barley in the US is used in animal feed. Some other uses are in cereal, malt (used in some alcoholic drinks), seeds, and other foods.
Seaweed
Seaweed is a type of algae commonly found growing in the ocean. Being naturally growing in the ocean, it can handle very, very high salinity levels in the water. It is compatible with aquaponics systems and grows quite well in that environment. It has many uses, including food, cosmetics and fertiliser. In food, it is often dried out and eaten plain or as a wrapping for sushi.
