The "FishGlasHaus": Innovative Aquaponics in
Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany
Modular aquaponics research facility for a combined production of warm water fish species and plants
for human consumption – An innovative initiative for resource-efficient food production
The nuts and bolts
The FishGlassHouse enables researchers to conduct experiments on both coupled and decoupled aquaponics systems. It consists of an aquacultural unit (300m²) with three different water-circuits (42m³ total water volume) and a hydroponic unit (600m²) built in a Venlo-style greenhouse. Three different fish stocking densities (extensive, semi-intensive and intensive) produce process water of different nutrient loads, which can be transferred to the hydroponic unit. One separate aquaculture unit consists of nine holding tanks (each 1m³) and an attached water treatment installation (mechanical and biological filtration). The hydroponic unit is divided into four cabins of 100m² and two cabins of 50m² for various experiments.
One building, various fields of research
Several current strands of research can be conducted simultaneously in the same building:
- Enhance the economic viability of aquaponics production systems
- Research on the nutrient-balance of fish and plant species combinations
- Identify the reduction potential of using fertilizer in hydroponic plant production
- Study the risk management and prevention of harmful human- and fish‑pathogenic germs
- Search for suitable substrates for plant cultivation in hydroculture
- Analyse the carbon and nitrogen cycle to determine the conversion of gases - this question is not only climate-relevant but ultimately serves to control and optimize production.
- Control quality of products as well as health and safety