This is a list of the RESOURCES that you will need

One of the best things about aquaponics, is once you understand how it works on a small size, it’s so much easier to expand to the perfect size for you and your family.

There are basic parts that every aquaponics system needs, however they will look different depending on your size and design.

Fish Tank

Silver Perch enjoying a 'salt bath' after arrival

Kind of sounds logical, but the fish need a place to be. This is their fish tank, and the only space within the aquaponics system that we want them.

Mechanical Filter

Without it, your growbed gets clogged and smelly

This is a fancy way of saying ‘a filter that catches the fish poop and uneaten food so it doesn’t go around the rest of the setup. We actually want to remove this part (great to go in your worm farm!)

This is a common step people miss, and it affects the water quality, and depending on your design can cause flow issues ~ and gets very smelly ~ YUK.

Biological Filter (biofilter)

This is where the nitrifying bacteria live, that convert ammonia that the fish produce, into usable fertiliser for the veggies. Without this, the ecosystem doesn’t work.

Depending on your design, this can take many forms from gravel in a growbed, to filter media from an aquarium store.

Veggie Growing Area

The exciting part, and the part that varies so much depending on your needs. For this part, you will hear words like “Nutrient Film Technique” (NFT), “Deep Water Culture or Rafts” (DWC), or “Growbeds”.

These are different ways to grow veggies within aquaponics.

There is no right or wrong way, only the way that will work for you.

Different growing methods allow you to grow different types of herbs or veggies, and you can mix them up.

NFT ~ is often a piece of 100mm (5in) PVC pipe with holes cut in it, and the net cups hold the veggies. This is the cheapest way of doing aquaponics, and ideal for seasonal herbs like basil, or even your leafy greens. There is not a lot of root space, but it’s a great way to get started, or make your aquarium more functional.

DWC ~ is very similar to the NFT though instead of the PVC pipe, the veggies are sitting in a polystyrene raft in net cups, with their roots in the water (if in the fish tank, they can nibble the roots and impair growth). Another cheap way of growing, and again perfect for herbs and leafy greens.

GROWBED ~ this is where the veggies are in a separate container with a ‘growing media’ like expanded clay or gravel. In this type of design, you can grow almost anything depending on the size ~ even root crops! It is more expensive though (buy expanded clay second hand, your back pocket will thank you).

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