Starting Small with Aquaponics: Easy & Affordable DIY Home Aquaponics Setup
Affordable and Easy Small-Scale Aquaponics Designs
Starting small with aquaponics is an excellent way to dive into small-scale aquaponics setups that are affordable and easy to create, without the stress of a heavy financial outlay, or the pressure of ‘needing to get it right.’ This is especially true for DIY aquaponics designs that you build sustainably.
It can be very simple to start small for under $100, especially if you buy things second-hand (I'm a huge advocate for upcycling where possible, saving landfill and reducing costs).
In this post, I'll share some simple designs to inspire your own small-scale aquaponics setup.
Why Start Small?
Beginning with a small aquaponics system allows you to:
Learn the Basics: Understand the fundamentals such as the nitrification cycle without feeling overwhelmed.
Save Money: Small systems are affordable and can often be assembled with second-hand materials.
Reduce Stress: There's less pressure to get everything perfect right away.
It's also much simpler to build a DIY home aquaponics system if you keep it small-scale.
Key Components of Every Small Aquaponics System
Every small aquaponics system, from DIY home aquaponics setups to small-scale aquaponics designs and larger aquaponics systems, needs a few key components to function effectively. Here are a few of the key components every system needs:
Fish Tank: Where your fish will live.
Mechanical Filter: To remove solid waste such as fish poop and uneaten food.
Biological Filtration: For nitrifying bacteria that convert fish waste into usable fertiliser for plants.
Veggie Growing Area: Where your plants will thrive.
When you go bigger, you have larger fish tanks, larger filters, a larger veggie growing area and often a sump to keep the water at a consistent level. But the basics remain the same.
Find out more about the key components of aquaponics in my blog.
Small Aquaponics Designs for Inspiration
There are many aquaponic design options available for smaller systems. Deep Water Culture (DWC) aquaponics is one of the most popular easy aquaponics designs for small-scale setups. Still, other options exist, such as Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) aquaponics design or Grow Bed Aquaponics systems. Here are some of my favourites to help inspire you and spark your creativity:
Deep Water Culture (DWC) Aquaponics System
In DWC systems, plants are placed on rafts of polystyrene, floating on the water. This method is cost-effective and easy to set up, making it perfect for beginners.
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Aquaponics System
NFT systems use PVC pipes to create a thin film of nutrient-rich water that flows over the roots of the plants. This setup is ideal for lighter plants and is also budget-friendly.
Grow Bed Aquaponics Systems
Grow beds serve a dual purpose by acting as both the plant growing area and the biological filtration system. They are versatile and can support a variety of plants, including larger ones that might not do well in DWC or NFT setups.
Creative and Mixed Systems
Let your creativity run free with this free home aquaponics system design that allows you to mix and match different components to suit your needs.
For instance, this aquaponics system (pictured) uses a bathtub for the fish tank, an NFT channel to grow some veggies, a tiny grow bed at the back that doubles as the filter and a large wicking tower in the middle that grows the strawberries.
This small aquaponics setup mixes design elements, ensuring that I still have all of the key components for filtration, and it didn't cost me a thing.
Everything to build this system was scavenged or traded for.
Effectively, a free DIY aquaponics system design. Now, that is inspiring!
Check out this video to see the different aquaponics designs in action!
Tips for Choosing Your Small Aquaponics System
When choosing the right small-scale aquaponics system, it's important to consider several factors that will affect your design. Here are some tips to help you decide between a DIY aquaponics setup, a deep water culture system, or another option:
Consider what you want to grow: The type of veggie growing system you choose for your small-scale aquaponics system will depend on the plants you want to cultivate.
Big, heavy plants: These can topple over in a deep water culture system (DWC) and NFT systems, though these setups are cheaper to build and maintain.
Mix and match components: Be creative and combine different elements in your DIY aquaponics setup, as long as you maintain the fundamental components for a balanced system.
Starting small with aquaponics is a fantastic way to get your feet wet (pun intended!) and learn the ropes without a significant investment. Happy harvesting!
Learn More About Starting Small with Aquaponics
Learn more about starting small with aquaponics and access free home aquaponics design ideas through my FREE online course. You can also expand your aquaponics knowledge by checking out my other courses available on my COURSES page.
Want to get your Eyes and Hands on the FREE Online Aquaponics Essentials Course?
This is a great free resource to really understand how aquaponics is a sustainable ecosystem that will grow your organic food is a productive way.
You learn how all the 'parts' make up the 'whole', and helps to give you the foundations of understanding aquaponics.
Sign up HERE
Want to help out and Feed my Fish?? (They don't drink coffee)
Candy Alexander is a dedicated aquaponics enthusiast with a wealth of formal training in aquaculture. Over the past 15 years, Candy has been deeply immersed in both commercial and backyard aquaponics, honing her skills and expertise in this sustainable farming method.
Candy's passion lies in making aquaponics accessible to everyone. With a mission to simplify aquaponics, she believes that anyone can embark on this sustainable journey.
She encourages those new to aquaponics to "kick the tires" without a significant financial investment. Her guidance focuses on helping people start their aquaponics journey with small-scale systems, ensuring a low barrier to entry for newcomers.
Candy shares practical tips, step-by-step guides, and personal stories to inspire and guide readers on their aquaponics adventure. Whether you're a seasoned farmer or a curious beginner, Candy Alexander is your go-to source for simplifying aquaponics and fostering a sustainable gardening experience.