Periphyton-based aquaculture in an aquaponics system?

Periphyton-based aquaculture utilizes the waste stream from other farming activities to feed periphyton, which in turn feed certain species/varieties of fish and crustaceans, as well as other things fish like to eat. How difficult would it be to integrate periphyton-based aquaculture into aquaponics? Are there too many variables to balance?

is your system in a dome? how much sunlight does it get ? Does it have to be insulated where you live in BC? I live in southern BC I wanted to build this if I can.

my question was directed to andrew parker

Jennifer,

I regret that while there was a time in my life that I wanted to live in BC, and had even been accepted to attend UBC (the Expo killed that opportunity), I do not live, nor have I ever lived, anywhere in BC or the PNW.

The system I refer to is hypothetical, hence the question mark. I have yet to find evidence of anyone having tried, let alone successfully, integrating the two systems, periphyton-based aquaculture and aquaponics.

Most periphyton-based aquaculture is practiced in the tropics, but the concept has been successfully applied, outdoors, in cold temperate climates.

I think that the greatest complication would be in balancing the the nitrate/ammonia levels.

If you were feeding a year-round greenhouse operation, you would want to have ponds indoors as well, unless you had access to hot springs.