How It Works
Polyponic Systems
Algepower utilizes our patented Polyponic systems combine polyculture and hydroponic systems,
creating a sustainable and efficient environment that benefits the plants and any
animals that are a part of the system, as well as the producers.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics aims to grow plants without the need of soil,
fertilizer, or large quantities of land. Hydroponics does not require the waste
of another living organism like fish. Wastewater is directly fed into the
system. This wastewater can come from animals, other plant waste, and even
industrial waste.
Algae has the potential to clean all these sources,
extracting chemicals and metals out of the water. The now clean water is free
to be used again, and some of the metals separated can be extracted for use
again. Different types of algae can be used for different types of wastewater.
For example, if the wastewater is rich in heavy metals, then brown algae may be
the most appropriate choice as the algae most suited for the project.
Aquaponics
Aquaponics is the cycle of water between fish and plants. In
this cycle, wastewater from the fish is moved to the plant’s growth bed. The
algae then gets to work, cleaning the water of its Ammonia-rich waste. The
Ammonia is transformed first to Nitrite, then to Nitrate. Nitrate can fuel the
growth of algae.
The now clean water returns to the fish and the cycle begins
anew. In such as system, the algae grown can be used as food for the fish,
re-enforcing the cyclical growth of the system. Otherwise, the algae can be
prepared for other uses. Astaxanthin, one of the primary byproducts of the Algeponics®
system, has a range of applications in the feed and pharmaceutical
industries.
Copeponics
Copeponics
is very similar to Aquaponics. Just like in aquaponics, an animal is used to produce
the wastewater that algae use for its sustenance. In aquaponics, fish are
traditionally used. In copeponics, copepods are the animals used to create
waterwater. Copepods are small organisms that typically range between 2-4 mm
in length.
While the application of the process is similar to aquaponics,
copeponics can fill a different niche. Fish can be sold in restaurants and
stores for human consumption. Copepods can be sold to fisheries and even other
aquaponic businesses to feed the fish that keep the system alive.