Top 10 Aquaponics Tips to Get You Started

Aquaponics is a fascinating and sustainable way to grow fish and veggies together in one harmonious ecosystem.

The fish provide liquid fertiliser for the veggies, and the veggies, in turn, filter the water for the fish.

This natural process is facilitated by nitrifying bacteria, which are present everywhere in nature.

Whether you're a novice or looking to refine your aquaponics skills, these top 10 tips will set you on the path to success.

1. Know Your Weather and Climate

Understanding your local weather and climate is crucial for selecting the right fish and plants for your aquaponics system.

Different fish species and plants thrive in different conditions, so tailor your choices to what will grow best in your environment.

You also need to understand the weather patterns, so you can prepare for heat waves, or severe storms that can cause potential flooding or damage to your system.

2. Be Patient

This is a key mistake people make within aquaponics, they try to rush it.

Aquaponics is a marathon, not a sprint. It's a journey of learning and growth, both for you and your ecosystem.

Take your time to understand each step of the process.

Remember, you’re creating sustainable food security, not seeking a quick fix.

Not only do you need to learn how the ecosystem is working, but allowing time for the nitrifying bacteria to grow a big enough colony is essential ~ and sadly, what many don’t do, and kill their fish.

3. Start Small

Before investing heavily, start with a small system. This approach allows you to learn the skills and understand the balance needed for a successful aquaponics setup.

Starting small will save you time, money, and energy in the long run.

I’ve been doing aquaponics for 17 years, and this is the best piece of advice. Starting small gets you to learn and understand how everything works, without spending a lot of money.

People often waste money by buying a heaps of things they don’t need, starting small can show you what you really need, and don’t need.  

4. Choose the Right Fish

Once you know your climate, select the type of fish that will thrive in your environment.

Ensure that the fish you choose are suitable for your local conditions and for the specific aquaponics system you’re setting up.

An example here is if you live in a warm climate, then you wouldn’t be able to easily have trout, as they are a cold water fish that will die if the temperature stays above 15deg Celsius for long.

5. Prioritise Fish Care

Fish are the heart of your aquaponics system. Healthy fish mean healthy plants.

Focus on looking after your fish first, as plants are easier to replace. When the fish are well cared for, the plants often take care of themselves.

BONUS TIP** prevention is better than cure, especially with fish.

Monitor your water quality regularly, and understand what it means. Your water quality will help you see most problems coming before they arrive, so you can prevent them.

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

6. Invest in Quality Fish Food

Just like humans, fish need a healthy diet. Cheap fish food can lead to unhealthy fish, which will impact the health of your veggies.

Invest in good quality fish food to ensure your fish ~ and your plants ~ thrive.

Good quality fish food will ensure your fish are getting the proteins and essential vitamins and minerals that they need to grow.

These micronutrients are converted from the fish food, through your fish and into your veggies.

If the nutrients aren’t there, your plants wont grow healthy, nor will your fish.

Cheap fish food is like humans only eating 2-minute noodles for life. You might be full at each meal, but you will die of malnutrition.

Cheap food is cheap for a reason, it is often ‘filled’ with additives that bulk it up, carbohydrates that your fish wouldn’t normally eat. This can give them a layer of ‘fat’ that is incredibly unhealthy.

Even growing your own fish food is great for a supplement to reduce fish food costs, but you can easily miss the micronutrients and essential vitamins with home made or grown food only.

7. Design Your System for Your Veggies

Make sure that you have a fish tank and both mechanical and biological filtration for the fish, but the rest of the system, design for your veggies.

Design your aquaponics system based on the types of veggies you want to grow. Not every system is suitable for every type of vegetable.

For example, Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), Deep Water Culture (DWC), and Grow Beds all have different vegetables and herbs that they grow best with.

8. Maximise Biological Filtration

You can never have too much biological filtration in your system, but not having enough can be detrimental to your fish.

If you are having a lot of fish, then you need a lot of biological filtration.

Have a look at this video to help you work out the fish to biological filtration ratio in common growing areas

Ensure your system has ample filtration to maintain a healthy environment for your fish.

9. Ensure Adequate Oxygen

Both plants and fish require oxygen. Without sufficient oxygen, your system can fail.

Another common area people forget about is oxygen within aquaponics.

When I worked in commercial aquaculture farms, with the ponds, if the night manager forgot to turn on the aeration machines at night, by morning all the fish were dead.

During the day, plants often put oxygen into the water, however at night, especially in a constant flow system, the plants take oxygen from the water.

If no oxygen is added, then by morning, the fish are at least stressed, and worst, dead.

This is a key reason to have your aquaponics water pumps running 24/7. Turning them off affects the oxygen levels, but also leaves high amounts of ammonia within the fish tank with the fish, that again either high stress or death.

Make sure your aquaponics setup includes measures to keep oxygen levels high, such as aeration devices.

10. Be Cautious with Tap Water

Tap water is usually treated with chemicals that can be toxic to fish and nitrifying bacteria.

Often both chlorine and chloramine is added to tap water. Both of these kill the nitrifying bacteria and fish in your aquaponics system.

Products such as Seachem Prime dechlorinate the water immediately, and have it safe for fish.

You can ‘bubble off’ chlorine within 24 hours if you have an air stone bubbling the water in a separate container, however chloramine takes around 3 weeks to gas off.

Many people say that vitamin C will also dechlorinate the water, however I can only find one research study that everyone refers to, and it is only mentions chlorine, not chloramine. Personally, this is not something I would risk. However, you can test it yourself 😊

Most water companies tell you how the water is treated.

Understand how your local water is treated and take steps to neutralise any harmful substances naturally before using it in your aquaponics system.

Conclusion

Aquaponics is a rewarding endeavour that combines the best of fish farming and gardening.

By following these top 10 tips, you'll be well on your way to creating a thriving, sustainable system that provides fresh, healthy food for you and your family.

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.