The Ultimate Aquaponics Glossary: Essential Terms and Concepts Explained

Aquaponics is a fascinating and sustainable method of food production that combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil).

This guide will help you understand the basics and more advanced concepts of aquaponics, whether you are a beginner or looking to expand your knowledge.

Let's start with understanding the difference between aquaponics and hydroponics, and what makes aquaponics a unique ecosystem

The Ultimate Aquaponics Glossary: A-Z Guide

Acclimate: The process of helping your fish, plants, or system adjust to a new environment, temperature, or conditions.

Acid: A substance with a pH less than 7 that releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. It reacts with bases to form salts.

AC/DC: Refers to devices that can operate with both alternating current (AC, like from a wall socket) and direct current (DC, like from a battery). Commonly used in backup systems for aerators and water pumps.

Aerobic: Conditions or processes that require oxygen. Aerobic organisms, like fish and bacteria, thrive in oxygen-rich environments.

Aerator/Air Pump: A device that adds oxygen to the water, which is crucial for the health of both fish and beneficial bacteria.

Aeration: The process of adding oxygen to the water, which helps prevent oxygen depletion and removes harmful gases or chemicals.

Alkalinity: The ability of water to neutralize acids, helping to stabilize the pH level in your system.

Ammonia (NH3/NH4+): Produced by fish waste and is toxic in high concentrations. Bacteria convert it into nitrites and then nitrates, which plants can absorb.

Anaerobic: Conditions or processes that occur without oxygen.

Aquaponics: Aquaponics is a sustainable farming method that combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil). Fish waste provides nutrients for the plants, and the plants help clean the water for the fish.

Aquaponics Ecosystem: The balanced relationship between fish, plants, and bacteria in an aquaponics system, where each element supports the others.

Bacteria: Microorganisms essential for converting harmful ammonia into nitrites and nitrates, making the water safe for fish and nutritious for plants.

Base: A substance with a pH greater than 7 that releases hydroxide ions when dissolved in water. It reacts with acids to form salts.

Balance: The ideal state in an aquaponics system where all biological and chemical processes are stable and in harmony.

Barrelponics: A DIY approach to aquaponics that uses recycled barrels to create compact, efficient systems.

Bell Siphon: A device that automates the draining of water in flood and drain systems, ensuring a consistent water cycle for your plants.

Biofouling: The buildup of organisms on wet surfaces, which can affect the performance of your system.

Biofilter: A component in your system that houses beneficial bacteria, which convert ammonia and nitrites into nitrates, essential for plant growth.

Biomass Ratio: The balance between the amount of fish and plants in your system, ensuring both thrive.

Buffering (Acid Binding Capacity): The ability of a solution to resist changes in pH when acids are added. This helps maintain a stable environment for your fish and plants.

Calcium Carbonate: A natural substance used to buffer pH levels in your system. It’s found in chalk, limestone, and marble.

Chloramine: A combination of chlorine and ammonia used as a water disinfectant. It must be removed before using tap water in your system.

Chlorine: A disinfectant commonly found in tap water. It needs to be removed before adding water to your aquaponics system to avoid harming fish and bacteria.

Carnivore: An animal that primarily eats other animals.

Clarifier: A tank that removes suspended solids from the water by settling them out, helping to keep your system clean.

Catfish: a bottom dwelling fish that is found in most countries that are excellent for aquaponics. Especially if you want to have more than one type of edible fish, catfish will stay at the bottom of the tank, whereas fish like Silver Perch or Tilapia will swim throughout the rest of the tank. A great community fish that will eat a lot of the excess feed in the fish tank.

Chelate: A compound that makes certain nutrients, like iron, more soluble and available to plants.

Chop and Flip: A DIY method where an IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) or barrel is cut in half, with the top half used as a grow bed and the bottom half as a fish tank.

Cycled: Refers to an aquaponics system that has established a stable population of beneficial bacteria.

Deep Water Culture (DWC) or Raft Systems: Plants are grown on floating rafts with their roots submerged in nutrient-rich water, ideal for large-scale production.

Denitrification: The process by which bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas, which is released into the atmosphere. This helps prevent the buildup of excess nitrogen in your system.

Dissolved Oxygen: The amount of oxygen dissolved in water, essential for the survival of fish and bacteria.

Expanded Clay: A grow medium made of clay pellets that are lightweight, porous, and ideal for supporting plant roots.

Feed Rate Ratio: The amount of fish food added to the system relative to the plant-growing area. Balancing this ratio is key to a healthy system.

Fingerling: A young fish about the size of a finger, typically used to stock a new aquaponics system.

Fish Food: The diet provided to your fish, which indirectly nourishes the plants through fish waste.

Fish Tank: The tank where your fish live and produce waste, which is then used as nutrients for the plants.

Flood and Drain (Ebb & Flow): A method where water is alternately flooded into and drained from the grow bed, ensuring proper oxygenation and nutrient distribution.

Flow Rate: The speed at which water moves through your system, measured in gallons per hour (GPH) or gallons per minute (GPM).

Fry: A tiny, young fish.

IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container): A large, reusable container often used in DIY aquaponics systems for storing and transporting liquids.

GH (General Hardness): A measure of the concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in the water, which helps buffer the pH.

Goldfish: When you don’t want to eat your fish, or y ou have a small aquaponics system, there are various types of freshwater goldfish that are suitable for aquaponics such as comets, guppies, koi and many others.

Grow Bed: The area in your system where plants grow, supported by a growing medium like gravel or expanded clay.

Grow Lights: Artificial lights used in indoor systems to ensure plants receive enough light to grow.

Hardness: Refers to the concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water, which helps stabilize pH levels.

Head Pressure: The pressure exerted by water in a system, affecting how high it can be pumped or how fast it flows.

Herbivore: An animal that primarily eats plants.

Hydroponics: A method of growing plants without soil, where they receive nutrients directly from water.

Iron (Fe): An essential nutrient for plant growth that prevents yellowing of leaves (chlorosis).

Mechanical Filter: A filter that removes solid waste from the water, keeping your system clean.

Media Bed: A grow bed filled with a solid medium like gravel or expanded clay.

New Tank Syndrome: A common issue in new systems where biofiltration hasn’t yet fully developed, leading to toxic ammonia and nitrite levels.

Nitrogen Cycle: The process by which nitrogen is converted into different forms in your system. Fish waste produces ammonia, which bacteria convert into nitrites and then nitrates, which plants use as nutrients.

Nitrification: The process by which bacteria convert ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates, making nitrogen available to plants.

Nitrogen Fixation: The process by which certain bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms that plants can absorb.

Nitrite (NO2-): A toxic byproduct of ammonia breakdown. Bacteria convert nitrites into less harmful nitrates.

Nitrate (NO3-): A nutrient that plants use, which is the end product of the nitrogen cycle in your aquaponics system.

Nitrobacter: Bacteria that convert nitrites into nitrates, playing a key role in the nitrogen cycle.

Nitrosomonas: Bacteria that convert ammonia into nitrites, making nitrogen more available to plants.

Nutrient Cycle: The movement and transformation of nutrients through your system, from fish waste to plant growth.

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT): A method where a thin film of nutrient-rich water flows over plant roots in channels. It’s ideal for growing leafy greens and herbs.

Nutrient Lockout: When plants can’t absorb nutrients due to improper pH levels, even if the nutrients are present in the water.

Omnivore: An animal that eats both plants and other animals.

Oxidation: A chemical reaction where a substance loses electrons, often involving oxygen. It’s crucial for breaking down waste in your system.

pH: A measure of how acidic or alkaline the water is. The optimal pH range for most aquaponics systems is between 6.8 and 7.2.

Potassium (K): A macronutrient essential for plant metabolism, supporting strong cell walls and overall plant health.

PPM (Parts Per Million): A unit of measurement used to describe the concentration of substances in water.

PPT (Parts Per Thousand): Another unit of measurement used to describe concentration, often for salinity.

Radial Flow Filter: A mechanical filter used in larger systems to remove solid waste from the water.

Recirculating System: A system where water is constantly recycled and reused, minimizing waste.

Soil-less Agriculture: Growing plants without soil, using water-based nutrient solutions instead.

Soluble: The ability of a substance to dissolve in water or another liquid.

Sump Tank: A tank that collects water from the grow beds before it’s pumped back to the fish tank, helping maintain water levels.

Surface Area: The total area available for bacteria to colonize. A higher surface area means more room for beneficial bacteria to grow.

Stocking Density: The number of fish per unit of area or volume in your system.

Stress: The physical or biological response to adverse conditions, which can impact the health of fish and plants.

Silver Perch: A hardy fish that can withstand most weather conditions and temperature fluctuations that is a forgiving with poor water quality. A great fish to start with for beginners. 

Siphon: A device that automatically floods and drains a tank, essential for maintaining a proper water cycle.

Swirl Filter: A filter that uses centrifugal force to remove solid waste from the water, helping keep your system clean.

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): A measure of all dissolved substances in the water, including salts, nutrients, and minerals.

Tilapia: A hardy fish species commonly used in aquaponics systems due to its adaptability and fast growth rate. Though a common aquaponics fish, it is not legal in every country such as Australia.

Trap Crop: A plant grown specifically to attract pests away from your main crop.

Water Hardness: A measure of the concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water, which helps stabilize pH levels.

Water Quality: Refers to the condition of the water, including parameters like pH, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient levels.

Water Temperature: The temperature of the water, which affects the metabolism and health of fish and plants.

Water Test Kit: A tool used to measure various water quality parameters, ensuring your system remains healthy.

Water Flow Rate: The speed at which water moves through your system, affecting the distribution of nutrients and oxygen.

Water Lettuce: A floating plant often used in aquaponics systems to help absorb excess nutrients and provide cover for fish.

Wicking Bed: A type of grow bed that uses a wicking action to draw water up to the plants’ roots from a reservoir below.

Check out My YouTube Channel 'Candy The Aquaponics Lady'

Aquaponics is an ecosystem, and with anything it takes time to learn how it works. So, sit back and binge watch my 'how to' playlist and the 'Water Quality Made Simple' Playlist, and learn the next steps in your aquaponics system as you create the ecosystem.

Here are the next 2 videos I recommend you watching to create your ecosystem ~ before you add any fish

How Aquaponics Works as an Ecosystem

How to Cycle Your Aquaponics System (How to colonise it with bacteria)

Learn More About Aquaponics

Check out the COURSES page to learn how you can get started with aquaponics now. Click HERE.

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.