Aquaponics Guidebook: Interactive PDF Edition!

Packed with
web links that
INTERACTIVE take you to

the coolest
PDF EDITION! aquaponics
sites on the
globe! Access to
hardware too!
The
Aquaponics Guidebook
VOLUME 1
Access to Personal Agriculture
Aquaponics is proven worldwide as the most efficient and

sustainable way to grow food, on any scale.
Now, you can do it, starting today.
Bevan Suits
THE AQUAPONICS GUIDEBOOK
Access to Personal Agriculture
Volume 1
Interactive PDF Edition
United States Edition
Copyright 2009 Bevan Suits
Editors:
Nick Thompson
David Cline, Auburn University Aquaculture
Sustainable Design Group

1326 Fenway Circle
Decatur, GA 30030
LEGAL NOTICE
You may download, view and print the content of this PDF book, subject to the
following:
(a) the Content may be used solely for personal, informational purposes;  
(b) the Content may not be modified or altered in any way; and  
(c) no graphics may be used separate from accompanying text.
Reproduction or file-sharing electronic copies is protected by copyright laws

and is expressly forbidden.
It is illegal to email it to anyone.
It is illegal to make multiple copies for distribution.

Contents
Click to advance to selected page.
Dedication
About This Book
Good Reasons for Aquaponics
Aquaponics Gallery
Introducing Aquaponics 1
Aquaponics Models 5
Nitrogen Cycle 6
A Basic Drip System 7
The Ebb & Flow System 8
The Hydroponic Raft System 9
The UVI System 10
Equipment / Media 11
Container Gallery 12
Pump 13
DO = Aeration 14 Personal Agribusiness 32
Heater 15 Plant Farming 33
Plumbing 16 Thinking Production 34
Lights 17 Planning, Education, Finance 35
Water, Testing for Quality 18 Grow Sell Eat Local 36
Roots, Grow Media 19
Bacteria Rule 20 Scaling Up 37
Sheltering the System 38
Growing Fish 21 Outside the Box 39
An Affinity for Fish 22 Technology, Community 40
Choosing Tilapia 24
Other Species 25 Resources 41
Tilapia Wellness 26 Interactive, North America 42
Food, Growth 27 Interactive, Australia, Africa 43
Research Links 44
A Home-built System 28
Getting Started 29 The Last Page 45
System Start-up 30
System Balance 31 Picture Credits 46

Dedication
This book is dedicated to the many pioneers, innovators and engineers
who have made aquaponics into something even I can understand:
Dr. John Todd and Nancy Jack Todd,
New Alchemy Institute, Ocean Arks International
Mark R. McMurtry, Douglas C. Sanders,
Paul V. Nelson of North Carolina State University
Dr. James Rakocy, PhD, The University of the Virgin Islands
Rebecca Nelson & John Pade, Nelson & Pade, Inc.
Travis Hughey, Faith & Sustainable Technology
Will Allen, Growing Power
Tom and Paula Speraneo, S & S Aqua Farm
Murray Hallam, Aquaponics,net.au
Auburn University Extension Office
Aquatic EcoSystems Technical & Design Staff
All the independent aquaponic pioneers around the globe.
This book is also dedicated to:
Stewart Brand, The Whole Earth Catalog
Mary Suits

About This Book
This book is intended to present the concept of
aquaponics and to encourage you to try it out on
a small scale. It will introduce you to a worldwide
network of people who have discovered
aquaponics and found it to be a technology
that could influence the world in a positive and
necessary way.
Once you try it you may think so too.
This edition of the book, presented as a PDF,

allows you to read it on your computer and click
on links in the text and images that take you to
some carefully researched websites. There you
can explore in more detail the people, products
and concepts of aquaponics.
Future editions will discuss in more detail the

numbers and strategies for larger systems. There
is a lot to learn that a book can only suggest.
Good
Reasons
some
to try Aquaponics
n In traditional gardening you feed the soil. In aquaponics you feed the plants.
n You get both protein and vegetables from one system.

n It’s been practiced around the world for many years.
n It’s easy.
n It’s fun and amazing.
n It works on a small or large scale, for fun or profit.
n You can do a great system for just a little money.
n It uses very little water compared to a conventional garden.

n You can expand easily over time.
n Your plant harvest will be organic because you can’t use chemicals -- they’d harm your fish.
n Vegetables grow much faster that those grown in a conventional garden.
n It will make you popular.
n You learn a valuable set of skills in science, math, engineering, biology, agriculture and economics.
n Raising fish is better than watching TV.

Aquaponics Gallery
Click on images to visit websites.
Aquaponics is growing fish and plants in one system, with

fish waste feeding the plants. It works in many variations of
scale and form, though the basic concept does not change:
Fish, bacteria and plants working together in a recirculating,
soil-less system. It resembles a living organism, with a heart
(the pump) and lungs (aeration). The bacteria remove waste
like the kidneys and the liver. It will teach you a lot about
food and this ecosystem we call home.
Build a small system. Then you will want to build a larger

FAST, South Carolina
one., because it’s simple and it works.
Growing Power, Milwaukee Growing Power, Milwaukee Red Heeler, Australia
FAST, South Carolina
FAST, Kenya University of the Virgin Islands
Sustainable Design Group, Atlanta Nelson & Pade, Montello, WI Murray Hallam, Queensland, Australia
Introducing Aquaponics
The Aquaponics Guidebook
R
Contents
eplace an aquarium filter with a pot of gravel. Put a plant in the pot. Let it
drain back into the aquarium. That’s aquaponics, boiled down to its simplest
form.
Now, consider it on a bigger scale: An above-ground swimming pool with 3000
gallons of water. 4-foot wide grow bed trenches and lined with rubber, stretching
100 feet. Out of this system a staggering amount of vegetables and fish protein can
be produced, to be consumed, traded or sold. Inputs are fish food, electricity and a
modest amount of maintenance.
Or how about this: Water from a fish pond is pumped up hill and filtered down
through gravel grow beds. The clean water trickles back into the pond. Nothing is
wasted. The excess nutrients provide a valuable crop.
Aquaponics is simple and it works.
It’s also curious that it hasn’t caught on in a bigger way, for all the clear and imme-
diate benefits it provides.
Consider the Benefits:

Personal agriculture
Aquaponics is a highly efficient organic food growing system that produces a com- is very important for
plete diet and requires no expensive or complex equipment.
shaping our future
• With a clear understanding of how the components fit together, you can economy and environ-
start putting a system together quickly.
• It begins to deliver produce in just a few short weeks.

ment. We used to have
• Only a modest amount of fresh water is needed, as the water for the plants an economy based on
is continuously circulated. Only water lost to evaporation is replaced.
food production.
• You can provide your own fish food supply in the form of worms, insects
and aquatic duckweed (for tilapia).
• Tilapia are the preferred aquaculture species worldwide. They taste

great, grow fast, are very hardy and tolerate crowding. They grow from
tiny fingerlings to one-pounders in about 8 months. A 500 gallon tank
can produce 250 pounds of live fish, which go for about $5 per pound,
retail.
• Greens such as basil and lettuce will grow from seedlings to harvest in
about 6 weeks. In a southern, 6 month growing season, that’s about 4 easy
harvests. Basil wholesales for about $10 per pound.
•
If you add a greenhouse or other indoor growing environment with
supplemental grow lights, you can grow year-round.
1
The system does require close monitoring, routine maintentance and daily feeding
(which can be automated). Yet there is no weeding, no back-breaking work with The Aquaponics Guidebook
gas-guzzling machines. Pumps can be solar powered. Tanks can be heated with
Contents
alternatives such as compost, solar or geothermal. Use this guide to get an idea of
how it works and what’s possible.
The Bigger Picture

We have only a vague idea what’s in our food, where it comes from, who grows it
or who pockets the profits. This uncertainty is what drives our interest in creating
local, decentralized agricultural economies.
We have become a culture of 99% consumption, 1% production when it comes
to food. The more we grow our own food, the better it is for everyone. When you
hear about local food, it’s really about local economies and strong communities.
Most of our farmed fish comes from foreign countries, mainly China. It doesn’t
have to be this way. We have millions of square feet of abandoned strip malls with
sunny parking lots and empty south-facing store windows that could be converted
to aquaponics growing operations.
Now is a good time for innovations like aquaponics. It can provide productive and
meaningful work for depressed areas. Many cities, especially in the Midwest are in
great need of a post-industrial vision. Along with reinventing General Motors, we
could be inventing a new economy built on fish and vegetables.
The education value of aquaponics is very high. It teaches chemistry, biology, math,
horticulture, agriculture, hydraulic engineering, plumbing, nutrition, economics
and business development skills. Hundreds of schools are implementing aquacul-
ture or aquaponics into their curriculum.
Since the set-up costs are low, you can start today with the smallest of systems. A strong community is
Wider vision and deeper commitment will follow as you discover from your expe-
rience the value of aquaponics. the best survival tool.
Natural Model
Growing food builds
Aquaponics can be seen in your nearest pond where food and waste are continu-
ously recycled. This is a sustainable ecosystem. When the system is in balance, the
community and pro-
water stays clean, plants and animals stay healthy. At the pond edges are marshy
wetlands. This is the womb of nature, the deep silt supporting an explosion of life vides jobs for people
at the surface.
At the base of this chain of life are bacteria. Organic waste matter is their food. who need them.
They convert waste matter to nutrients for plants, which then convert CO2 to
oxygen and provide further nutrition and shelter for animals. So the real stars of
aquaponics are the bacteria.
Fish produce 50 - 100 mg of ammonia per kilogram of bodyweight per day. In a
well-stocked tank, that’s pretty intense. They would soon be poisoned by their own
waste if it weren’t for the nitrification process. Bacteria consume and oxidize this
ammonia, converting it to nitrates, which plants need.
Nitrification Process
These ammonia-oxidizing bacteria come mainly from two families: Nitrosomonas
and Nitrobacter. The actual chemistry is complex but suffice it to say that nitrifica-
2
tion is a two-step process:
1. Certain bacterial specialists convert ammonia to nitrite via oxidiza-
tion. Contents
2. Other bacterial specialists convert the nitrites to nitrates.

It may sound like an assembly line but it’s really a dynamic chemical soup, very
complex. The closer you look, the more beauty you will see in it, like fiding a new
galaxy under your feet, literally. This is the ongoing foundation of life on Earth. “Among our major tasks
The nitrates are then consumed by the plants so the water will return clean and
filtered to the fish tank, in a perfectly balanced system. High nitrate levels can be a is the creation of eco-
problem for fish. So the volume of plants in the system must be fairly well-balanced
with the volume of ammonia produced by the fish. (See page 31.) logically derived human
The oxygen level at the root level is critical. Unlike in a conventional garden, the support systems - renew-
roots in this soilless system are more exposed to the flowing of air and water. The
grow media, such as gravel, provides just enough solid material for the roots to able energy, agriculture,
grab on to.
In traditional farming, soil is the best grow medium because it stores and releases aquaculture, housing
water and nutrients between waterings. A good mulch and earthworms bring a
supply of air to the roots. and landscapes. The
In aquaponics and hydroponics, however, the roots are supplied by a continous strategies we research
flow of air and nutrients, feeding the roots directly. The open space between gravel
or clay balls lets it flow easily. Bacteria by the trillions begin to populate the micro-
scopic caves on the surfaces. Since the mix of air, water and nutrients is so rich, the emphasize a minimal
plants respond by growing extemely well.
reliance on fossil fuels
and operate on a scale
Additives
Plants need N (nitrogen), P (phosphorous) and K (potassium) to flourish, accessible to individu-
especially fruting plants like tomatoes. Fish waste supplies the nitrogen. As your
system grows, however, you may benefit from adding the potash and pottasium. als, families, and small
On the other hand, some have had consistent and long term success without add- groups. It is our belief
ing anything extra. The system is wide open for your experimentation.
Here the discussion of chemistry ends, for now. Just remember that all you need to that ecological and
get started and achieve real results is curiosity and commitment.
social transformations
must take place at the
Modern Timeline of Aquaponics
In the early ‘70’s, The New Alchemy Institute, led by Dr. John Todd and Nancy lowest functional levels
Jack Todd, started early experiments that eventually became aquaponics. Their
work resulted in a natural wastewater treatment system marketed as Living of society if humankind
Machines, developed by Worrell Technologies of Charlottesville, VA. The New
Alchemy Institute’s mission continues in the form of Ocean Arks International. is to direct its course
In 1986, Researchers at NC State University, Mark McMurtry, Douglas Nelson towards a greener, saner
and Paul Nelson created the first known recirculating, closed loop system of fish
and vegetables.
world.”
In 1986, scientist Ronald Zweig’s article was published in the May/June Issue of
Aquaculture Magazine, An Integrated Fish Culture Hydroponic Vegetable Produc-
tion System.
- New Alchemy Institute. 1970
3
Today there are many projects worldwide. As the need grows, these projects will
grow. The Aquaponics Guidebook
Large systems are mostly academic research operations, the best known being the Contents
University of the Virgin Islands, headed by Dr. James Rakocy. There are nonprofits
as well, such as Growing Power in Milwaukee and many individuals forging their
own path with help from the internet.
Most large operations have been in development for many years. But Australian
Murray Hallam only learned of aquaponics in 2006 and is now successful at mak-
ing aquaponics widely accepted there through the systems he builds and his media
productions.
Australians and other island nations have been drawn to aquaponics out of neces-
sity. The lack of water there is severe. As the climate changes, other regions, includ-
ing developed nations, are beginning to see the benefits.
One of the most intriguing of new ventures to use aquaponics is Sky Vegetables,
integrating urban rooftops across America with vegetable gardens.
For more on the history of aquaponics, have a look at this document from AT-
TRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
Apart from these larger entities is a strong global network of individual pioneers
growing fish and vegetables together, which you will find by searching on the
internet.
A word of caution: As you compare the different approaches to aquaponics posted
online, you’ll notice a lot of variation in technical details, often presented as hard
fact. There are contradicatory statements. There is hard science at the base of it, but
PhD’s and amateurs have different points of view. The dynamics of a patio-sized
system are different than a large scale commercial one. So find what works best
for you and don’t let all the details and discussions prevent you from getting your
hands wet. It’s hard to screw up a small system.
Can You Make Money From Aquaponics?

The answer depends on where you live, what you grow, how you grow and the size
of your operation. Vegetables produce a higher return than fish. 1200 pounds of
tilapia (in 2400 gallons of heated water) might yield two or three thousand dollars
every 8 months, but fast growing greens, such as basil, have a faster turnaround and
a much higher value per pound. Finding or creating new markets for specialty pro-
duce, medicinal herbs, etc, could prove to be lucrative. Roots like carrots, onions
and potatoes are trickier but possible, as proven in Hawaii with taro.
The financial aspect is where aquaponics breaks from traditional soil-based grow-
ing. A community garden or urban farm is restricted in what it grows, where it
grows and when it grows. The food is usually consumed by members or sold at
farmers markets. The volume is not there for much revenue.
With aquaponics however, the financial picture changes dramatically. The factors
of time, volume, labor and relative cost are all proven to be way ahead of soil-based
growing. Steady supplies of produce are in demand by distributors, especially if
they can specify the varieties and off-season delivery dates.
The opportunities with aquaponics to build a functioning urban agricultural
economy are real.
Look ahead to the chapter Personal Agribusiness for more details on financial
models and information on distributors.
4
Aquaponics Models
Contents
Nitrogen Cycle The Aquaponics Guidebook
Contents
How Things Grow

If you think of aquaponics as a system of fish and plants, you’re leaving out the
most important group: bacteria. Without bacteria there is no connection be-
tween the fish and the plants. The ammonia from the fish would kill the plants.
All of life on earth depends on bacteria converting waste matter to nutrient

matter. This is called the nitrogen cycle or nitrification. Growing “organically”
means to strengthen and support this natural process, without using anything
synthetic or man-made.
What makes aquaponics so unique is that it contains bacteria and uses nitrifica-
tion in the system. This is the field of Bioprocess Engineering.
NItrate Consumption
Plants thrive on nitrates.
Nitrification
A range of bacteria species
Ammonia consumes ammonia, converting
Fish secrete ammonia from their it first to nitrites (NO2) and then
gills and in their waste. to nitrates (NO3).
New Perspective on the Ecosystem
Growing with aquaponics can help you realize

how the invisible quadrillions of bacteria exist all
around us, making growth possible. It can change
This model is very simple for
your perspective of the world. Your plants’ rapid
a process that is actually
growth is tangible evidence of these organisms.
very complex.
Even though we can’t see them without a high-
powered microscope, it can be like discovering a
new universe in your yard, under your feet, on your
hands and in your nose.
6
A Basic Drip System
Each component of an aquaponic system can be grouped as a:
• Container Fish Tank, Grow Bed

Contents
• Connector Tubing, Valves, Pumps, Filters, Bulkheads
• Medium Water, Gravel (for plants & bacteria) You could add Heat and Light as
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS and
• Organism People, Plants, Fish, Bacteria Electricity as POWER SOURCE.
• Nutrient Fish Food, Fish Waste, Nitrogen, Oxygen, CO2
This system is basic drip

irrigation, with 1/8” holes
drilled into the tube. . A
mesh pump bag will help
prevent clogging. ORGANISM CONNECTOR ORGANISM
Alternately you can add Plant Tubing You
emitters, which are valves
on a stick, that bring the
water to each plant.
ORGANISM
Bacteria
NUTRIENT
Fish Food
CONTAINER
Grow tray
MEDIUM
Gravel
PUMP
CONNECTOR
Valve & Bulkhead
MEDIUM
Water
NUTRIENT
Air
ORGANISM NUTRIENT CONTAINER CONNECTOR

Fish Waste Fish Tank Pump
7
The Ebb & Flow System
The ebb and flow system (also called flood and drain) uses a timer to
turn on the pump to run for half of each hour. Many experts rate this as Contents
the best model to use. These diagrams are to
illustrate the concept
The advantage of ebb and flow is increased oxygenation for the roots. It and are not construction
is also fascinating to watch the regular rising and falling of the water, like drawings.
a tidal flow.
Sometimes an autosiphon is used instead of a timer, in which case the

pump runs continuously. The autosiphon itself is a marvel of physics
that you can make yourself. Click here to learn more about it.
OPTION: TIMER
OPTION: AUTOSIPHON
The water level in
the grow bed rises and
falls about once per hour.
The fish tank water also rises and

falls, but not enough to cause
a problem for the fish, as long
as they are not overcrowded at
“low tide”.
Grow beds need to be only as deep

HOW as your roots. Basil needs 4 - 6”,
An elegant autosiphon drain design by
DEEP? tomatoes deeper. Experiment to find
Synaptoman in South Africa, adapted
from Australia’s Backyard Aquaponics .
the ideal depth.
8
The Hydroponic Raft System
This model is similar to commercial hydroponics, where plants float Contents

in rafts of styrofoam sheets, with holes cut out for pots. In the pots are
grow media for the roots.
“Hydroponics”
Otherwise it’s all continuously flowing water and air. A settling tank, a The word was formed 1937 in
biofilter and a serious aerator are required. When the water arrives at England from hydro-, from the
the grow bed, the ammonia is completely converted to nitrates for the Greek hydor "water" + -ponics,
plants. Air is pumped into the grow bed tank at evenly spaced ports in from the Greek ponein "to
the bottom of the tank. labor, toil".
This is an advanced system, best suited for larger operations. You can
still borrow parts of it to make your own system, however.
BIOMEDIA
BIOFILTER
Styrofoam raft
pot with
GROW MEDIA
In-Line
Pump
DIFFUSER
Aerator
Solid
Waste
Manifold Air Line Settling
Red Heeler Click to visit an Australian

Hydroponic System version of this model.
9
The UVI System
Contents
Aquaponics has been succesful because island nations have needed it as a
sustainable food supply. The University of the Virgin Islands has one of the
largest and most productive aquaponics systems. Its Director, Dr. James
Rakocy, is a leading expert.
On a large scale like this, there is a lot of extra equipment and processing
that you don’t see on a backyard scale. Managing more fish waste requires
more equipment, letting the solids settle out as it converts it to usable
nitrogen in the filter and degassing tanks. Extra nutrients, P (potash) and K
(potassium) are added.
The stakes are higher in a large system. If something goes wrong, failure of a
piece of equipment for example, thousands of pounds of fish could die in a
short time. This is why it’s important to work your way up over time.
Hydroponic Grow Tanks

Each is 100’ x 4’ x 16”
Fish Tanks 3000 gallons capacity
10’ x 4’ Growing Area 2,304 ft x 6
2060 gallons each Degassing Inflow Line
Sump Clarifiers Filter Tanks Return Line
Projecting Potential Revenue Annual Production Wholesale Price Total Value
Here is a sample of actual aquaponics Crop Pounds/ft2

Tons/
Unit $ $ / ft2
$/
production and revenue numbers, in a 2690 ft2 2690 ft2
system similar to UVI’s, built at the Crop Tomatoes 6.0 8.1 15 lb 17.28 6.90 18,542
Diversification Center South, Alberta,
Canada in the early ‘90’s. Genovese
6.2 8.2 3 oz 5.59 186.64 502,044
Basil
Eggplant 2.3 3.1 11 lb 25.78 5.33 14,362
Source: Southern Regional Aquaculture Center
10
Equipment Media
Contents
Container Gallery
Aquaponics is a series of connected containers. You have a lot of freedom choos-
ing them, as long as they are food-safe and durable. You can make containers from Contents
planks and rubber pond liner. (When making a fish tank with pond liner, be aware that
algae can grow in the folds. Tilapia will eat the algae and can wear a hole the liner.)
You mainly need to contain fish and plants. Eventually you can add containers for
biofiltering, solid waste settling, sump, degassing, etc. It’s still the same continuous
loop.
Avoid galvanized.
This stock watering tank is ideal becuase it is light, Plastic storage boxes are fun, Troughs come in a range of sizes and depths
durable and inexpensive. It has a built-in drain hole. inexpensive and versatile at hydroponics stores and are ideal for grow
but can crack and leak. beds, such as this Botanicare model.
If your budget is tight, you can get creative. Old

bathtubs can contain fish or plants, are durable and An aquarium is the most obvious fish container.
available for free or low cost. Barrels have been widely Glass tanks are inexpensive and easy to find at yard
used for both fish and sales. You can get creative and link together a stack
plants. of them on shelves.
A container can be a liner for a hole in the ground. Backyard swimming pools give you the most water
( www.aquaponics.com ). for the money. A 2500 gallon inflatable pool costs
A pond is a fish container. under $200 ( www.tilapiafarmingathome.com ).
12
Pump The Aquaponics Guidebook
The Heart of Your System
Contents
Aquaponics relies on a pump. If the pump fails, the fish could die quickly, so plan
to have a battery-powered backup aerator at all times (shown on page 14). The
aerator will help to oxidize the ammonia until the power returns. The need for
this increases as your system grows.
You need to move a certain amount of water through your tank each hour.
Pumps are measured according to their GPH (Gallons per Hour) or GPM (Gallons
per Minute). The pressure they produce at certain height above the pump is the
“head”. The higher the water is pumped, the lower the pressure. Head pressure is A submersible pump sits on the
measured in PSI (Pounds per Square Inch). bottom of your tank. The screen
prevents small fish from getting
Pump types include submersible, (at the bottom of the tank), or in-line which stuck to the inlet and dying.
sits outside the tank, the water line coming in and going out.
Water Pump Performance Curves A pump performace chart tells you

how much water you can pump to
what height. This chart compares
three different pumps. The height of
With the outlet at 12 feet, this An in-line pump connects to the
the outlet is called ‘head’.
pump can move 0 gallons of water tubing between the fish tank and
per hour. 12 feet is the limit of this the grow bed. It is more powerful
pump. but costs more money.
12’
11’ With the outlet at 10

feet, this pump will
10’ move about 600 gal-
lons of water per hour.
9’
8’
TOTAL HEAD
7’
6’
5’
4’ With the outlet at the same

level as the pump (a total head
3’ of 0), this pump will move
about 1350 gallons per hour.
2’
1’
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
GALLONS PER HOUR (GPH)

13
DO = Aeration The Aquaponics Guidebook
DO stands for Dissolved Oxygen.
It is the breath of your system. Contents
Think of aeration as the lungs of your aquaponic organism. Fish, plants and
bacteria need plenty of air. It keeps the system cleaner, with minimal algae
growth. In nature, water plants and splashing water oxygenate the water, but in a Aeration Components
tank you need to add it using an aearator and a diffuser.
Types of Aerators and Diffusers

Air Pump
In the world of aquaculture, aeration is a big topic. There are many systems
available, compressors, air pumps, blowers, paddlewheels. There are also a wide
range of diffusers or air stones to choose from. To calculate exactly how much
air you need is not for the mathematically-challenged, another reason to start
small. In the beginning, don’t worry too much about oxygen level numbers, just
give them a lot of air. Use an aquarium pump for tanks up to 100 gallons.
It is also important to have a battery-powered back up aerator ready in case of

power failure.
DO Test Kit
When you measure the DO, remember that each fish (tilapia) needs at least 5.0 Air Diffusers
ppm (parts per million). If it’s below that, get a bigger pump. Use a DO test kit
and check the levels every so often. In a small system if you aerate well and
everything looks healthy, checking the levels once per week is probably fine.
Every detail affects your oxygen levels: temperature, biomass (total fish weight),
water depth, species of fish, etc. If you split your air flow into multiple tanks,
using a manifold, you need to count for that.
A rule of thumb for air is that 1 cfm supports 27 pounds of fish in a tank 4’ deep.
Backup Air Pump
Air pumps for larger

systems ,100+ gallons
DO Test Kit
Manifold
(splits air flow into several tubes)
14
Heater 90°
If you live in the South, or keep your fish indoors, Tilapia
you can get by without a heater. Cold water fish such 85°
Contents
as bass, bluegill, perch, trout or catfish also minimize
the need. Otherwise you need to heat the water, 80°
especially for tilapia, which need their water to stay Bass, Bluegill,
between 75° and 90°. Perch
75°
The chart below shows how to plan water tempera- Koi, Goldfish, Carp
ture to match tank size. 70°
To read the chart, for example, if you need to raise

65°
the temperature of a 100 gallon tank 9°, you would
Trout
need a 400 watt heater (or two 200 watt). If you
want to raise a 400 gallon tank 22.5° you need 60°
4,000 watts. If the water temperature is 60° in a 100
gallon tank, you need to get it up to around 86°, an
55°
increase of 26°. So you would add 1,500 watts.
Here’s a big creative challenge: How can you heat a 50°

tank without electricity, using passive solar, com-
posting mulch or other means? Solve it and be an Cold water holds more oxygen
aquaponics superstar. than warm water.
Calculating Water Heater Size in Watts

To Increase the Temperature (°F)
Tank Size
9° 13.5° 18° 22.5° 27°
(gallons)
100 400 W 600 W 800 W 1000 W 1500 W
250 1000 W 1500 W 2000 W 2500 W 3000 W
400 1600 W 2400 W 3200 w 4000 W 4800 W
Source: Aquatic EcoSystems ROUND UP WHEN IN BETWEEN WATTAGE
“While composting goes on, the bacterial

activity within a pile [of mulch] produces a
considerable amount of heat . . . averaging
about 140°F in most instances. Thus it is
possible to tap a significant source of thermal
energy by intertwining heat-exchanging
pipes throughout the interior of the stack.”
- Mother Earth News Article on Jean Pain
15
Plumbing The Aquaponics Guidebook
Aquaponics is really just an elaborate plumbing system. Contents
These hydroponic components are designed to make it easy.
Black vinyl tubing is ideal for a starter

aquaponics system. The opaque color
prevents algae from growing. It is flexible
so you can move components around. It’s
inexpensive, easy to work with and comes
in a range of sizes.
Bulkheads are a great piece of hardware

for draining fish tanks. They allow you
to punch holes in containers and let
water drain into a tube, while screening
out gravel.
Valves, tees and elbows give you a lot

of creative options for building your
system. They don’t leak and you can
easily move them as your system grows.
When leaks happen, a tube of silicone

will usually solve the problem.
Autosiphons, Bell Siphons, Pipe-in-a-pipe
In the world of aquaponics there is much discussion about autosiphons.

They are a piece of plumbing equipment that you can make yourself from
PVC pipe. Installed as a drain for each grow bed, they allow you to run a
pump continously in an ebb and flow system. As the water level in the
bed reaches a certain level, they begin to drain it out, then stopping the
draining as the water reaches its low point, by means of an air tube which
breaks the siphon. The water then begins to fill again. They are fascinat-
ing because they have no moving parts and are a demonstration of fluid
dynamics. There are a few variations to choose from.
The problem is that they must be crafted and installed perfectly. It is chal-
lenging to do so, as any air leak, blockage or improper ratio of tube size /
water pressure / air pressure will prevent it from working. There is much
less headache in using a pump with timer that cycles on and off every A great way to learn about
thirty minutes. Yet the magic of it is compelling and worth trying out. fluid dynamics, autosiphons are
Click here to inquire about plans and instructions for making your own simple to make, though difficult
autosiphon. to master.
16
Lights
More light = more vegetables, faster. The Aquaponics Guidebook
Contents
Adequate light levels are critical to your success in growing vegetables with aqua-
ponics. You can get by with only natural light if you have a greenhouse or you intend
to grow only in the summer for your own consumption. If you want to seriously
grow for production, year-round, or indoors, you’ll need a lighting system, especially
where fruiting vegetables are desired.
Here is the general outline for lighting:
Lumens - A measurement of the intensity of the light output.
Color - The spectrum of light produced by a lamp. Wider is better. A

broad spectrum of light is more important than the number of lumens. High Intensity Discharge (HID) is much
brighter than other types of lighting.
An HID lighting system consists of
Life Span - Each light is rated for a number of hours, say 10,000 hours. This is
a ballast, reflector, socket and lamp
misleading, because that means until it burns out. The output and color spectrum (light bulb). The ballast acts like the
begins to deteriorate long before the light burns out! A rule of thumb is to count on engine, converting and driving energy
replacing the lights after 6,000 hours, which equates to using them 16 hours per day to illuminate the lamp. HID lighting
for a year. If you have some natural light, the lights can be extended longer than that. options include High Pressure Sodium
(HPS), Metal Halide (MH), Mercury Vapor
Efficiency - How can you get a lot of light without seriously spikng your electric and Low Pressure Sodium. The two
bill? An average increase is $8 to $20 per month. You can calculate the amount: typically used for plant growth are HPS
Bulb wattage X number of operating hours divided by 1000 = kilowatt-hours (kWh) and MH systems.
used. Now find out what you pay per kWh. A 400 watt lamp running 18 hours will use
7.2 kW h. If your kWh rate is .33 that equals a monthly increase of 9.66. Not so bad.
Coverage - How many lights do you need for your grow space?
250 watt light covers about 3x3 feet (9 square feet)
1000 watt light will cover about 7 x7 feet (49 square feet)
Overall, your crop yields will vastly improve with a good lighting set-up. T5 Fluorescent Lighting is a recent
innovation. Traditionally, fluorescent
lighting was used for seedlings,
cuttings and plants with low light-
level requirements and HID was used
for established plants and plants with
higher light-level requirements. T5’s,
Traditional Fluorescent Lighting
however, have changed that. With T5’s
you get:
The regular shop light does not
provide enough of what your • High-luminance.
plants need, which is why these
other products exist. It’s better than • Low heat / energy consumption
nothing, but don’t expect the best
performance from your plants. • Broad color spectrum.
• No need to rotate lamps.
• Excellent light distribution.
17
Water, Testing for Quality
If you’re more of an intuitive per-
son in the way you grow things, Water Quality Parameters Contents
here’s a chance to try something
Tilapia, 75° - 90° F
new. An engineered growing sys-
tem is managed by numbers. You Un-Ionized
DO pH Alkalinity CO2 Nitrite Hardness Chloride Salinity
need to control the technology mg/l units mg/l mg/l
Ammonia
mg/l mg/l mg/l
mg/l
and keep things in balance and a
test kit is how you do it. 3 - 10 6 - 9 50 - 250 0 - 30 0 - .04 0 - .8 50 - 350 0 - 5000 0 - 15
What to Test For: Goldfish / Koi, 65° - 75° F
The top priorities are for testing DO pH Alkalinity CO2

Un-Ionized
Nitrite Hardness Chloride Salinity
Ammonia
water are: mg/l units mg/l mg/l
mg/l
mg/l mg/l mg/l
1. Temperature
2. Ammonia 4 - 10 6 - 8 50 - 250 0 - 25 0 - .08 0 - .6 50 - 350 0 - 2000 0 - 4
3. pH
Bass & Bluegill, 70° - 85° F
4. Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
Un-Ionized
DO pH Alkalinity CO2 Nitrite Hardness Chloride Salinity
Ammonia
mg/l units mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l
mg/l
4 - 10 6 - 8 50 - 250 0 - 25 0 - .03 0 - .8 50 - 350 0 - 1500 0 - 3

Testing equipment
covers a wide Source: Aquatic Ecosystems, Inc.
range of technolo-
gies and prices. Making Adjustments
Your fish tank is a chemical soup, if you look close enough. Each
compound interacts with the others. Temperature and light affect
everything. Over time you’ll learn to understand and control this balance.
Ammonia Level Too High (Un-ionized ammonia is the toxic form of

Most kits use ammonia.)
reagents that you Possible Causes: There is not enough filtration happening. Overfeeding.
mix with the water. The density of the fish in the tank may be too high. Not enough aeration.
A color chart gives If your pump fails, the ammonia level will begin to increase immediately.
you the reading. The water returning to the fish tank needs to be tested to make sure it’s
clean enough. If it’s coming back with ammonia, you need to increase
biofiltration. (See the section on Biofiltering). The rule of thumb for tilapia
density is 1 pound per two gallons of water.
Ammonia Level Too Low

You need to produce enough ammonia for the plants or they won’t grow
Click images for more infor- as fast as possible. To solve this, add more fish, feed them more or use a
mation. smaller tank.
pH Too High
High pH levels, above 8.5, means the water is too alkaline. It is often a
symptom of imbalanced conditions, especially related to carbon dioxide
(CO2). CO2 is a function of fish respiration and photosynthesis of water
plants. There are quick-fix water additives like alum. This is less of an issue
More pricey are
electronic devices
for smaller tanks than for larger fish ponds.
that give you a
number, without Dissolved Oxygen Level Too Low
having to compare This is easy to fix by adding more air stones. You can’t have a DO level
colors. that is too high. When the water is saturated, extra air disperses into the
atmosphere.
18
Roots Grow Media
A good mix of grow media allows nitrification to take place, where
the ammonia from fish waste is converted by bacteria into useful Contents
nitrogen.
Permatil by Stalite is
expanded slate. It is used as a
soil additive for gardens but
is an excellent grow medium
for aquaponics because of its
light weight, high surface area
and relatively low cost. Mix
it 50/50 with low-cost pea
gravel.
Expanded clay, such as Hydroton,
Actual Size
Viastone and other brands, are used
in soilless systems for their ability to
hold roots and provide a good home
for bacteria. The pebbles are porous
and light. They allow plenty of Actual Size
water, air and nutrients to reach the
roots. A large bag costs about $35,
so it is most cost-effective when
mixed with less expensive gravel.
Actual Size
Kaldnes, from Norway, is designed

for wastewater treatment as an ideal
environment for bacteria. It is an
excellent biomedia for your biofilter.
Though somewhat expensive, it
provides maximum surface area for
microbial growth while still allowing
space for air and water to flow. At
the same time, bacteria is protected
from abrasive action as the plastic
pieces are circulated in water.
In theory, just about

any clean, inert and
Extending from roots are root hairs. This micro-
environment is where everything comes together, the loose material can
biochemical soup converting into plant flesh. The roots be a grow media.
benefit from the large amount of air and nutrients that Shredded tires and
flow through a soilless system. This enables greens such packing peanuts are
as basil and lettuce grow from seedling to harvest in as being studied.
little as 4 weeks.
If you use municipal water in your

system, remember that it contains
chlorine that kills beneficial bacteria..
19
Bacteria Rule The Aquaponics Guidebook
Microbes convert death and excrement into new life.
They can live without us. We can’t live without them. Contents
The nitrification process is what makes aquaponics unique. Converting waste

ammonia into useful nitrogen is what some bacteria specialize in. It’s the
foundation of agriculture and all plant life and, by extension, all animal life.
It’s the basis of wastewater treatment systems.
The world of bacteria is as powerful as it is small. Every human body is host

to over 100 trillion microbes. Understanding the bacterial realm is what
“organic” is all about.
A Partial List of
Nitrogen Cycle Microbes
(in order of importance)
Nitrosomonas
Nitrosomonas
Nitrobacter
Pseudomonas
Bacillus Bacillus
Escerichia Coli*
Azotobacter
Clostridium
*This species is a major

component of feces. It has
many harmless strains. The
Escherichia Coli strain that sickens people is
0157:H7, which is associated
with cattle feedlots.
Azotobacter
Clostridium
Nitrobacter Pseduomonas
20
Growing Fish
Contents
An Affinity for Fish
Fish as Livestock Contents
O ne hundred years ago, growing food was part of our culture. Now you can
help bring it back with an aquaponics system. The fish of choice is tilapia.
Aquaponics is eco-technology on a backyard scale, a living, breathing machine

with its own heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. It begins and ends with the fish. The “Hunger caused
fish of choice is tilapia.
by climate change
Learning to raise fish for food is one of the most sustainable or “green” things we
can do, beyond buying a hybrid vehicle, because it represents a cultural shift in the
right direction, back to self-reliance and productivity.
may be the defin-
Grow system technologies also bring communities together. The abundance of ing human tragedy
food produced will help open doors in neighborhoods. A garden may have admir-
ers, but a growing system will draw a crowd. A fish harvest festival may be the best of this century.”
reward of all.
- OXFAM
Once you decide to create a small aquaponics system of 100 fish or less, you can go
online and discover vast amounts of information: Hobbyists, breeders, researchers,
recipes, equipment dealers, economic statistics, etc. This is because farmed fish, June 2009
especially tilapia, are a driving force of the world’s food economy. They are easy to
raise, grow fast and taste great. You can do it.
There is both art and science to raising fish. The art is in the intuitive nurtur-
ing that we know as gardeners, pet owners and parents. There is a lot of creative
freedom in putting your system together and making it fit your space, conducting
experiments out of curiosity. The fish are beautiful to watch. Seeing plants grow
so quickly is encouraging. Hearing the splash of flowing water is relaxing. This is
technology that feels right, a model of an ecosystem.
The science is in observing, measuring and controlling the many variables that keep
your system in balance. The good news is that in starting small, the critical numbers
are fewer and easier to manage. Once you have the feel and experience of a working
system, scaling up becomes more feasible.
Before long your system will be in balance and thriving. Young fish need several
feedings per day, so you many need an automated fish feeder.
As the fish grow, you will want to divide the fish tank or add extra tanks for differ-
ent sized fish to separate the larger ones, giving the smaller stock a chance to grow.
Your fish will start to grow quickly and you’ll be planning what to do with them
and looking ahead to starting a new batch, learning to stagger their production.
Your success will give you confidence.
After you grow succesfully with aquaponics, you may feel like an expert, but it’s
22
the failures that create experts. Some fish may die, equipment may fail, plumbing
may leak. Be prepared for at least a few bumps in the road, it’s part of the process of The Aquaponics Guidebook
learning, getting to your first decent-sized harvest. Then you’ll have earned a stripe
Contents
or two.
Educational Value
Hundreds of schools are using aquaculture and aquaponics in their cur-
riculum. There is so much to learn from it. Children of all ages can enjoy
keeping track of the variables, how to measure and control them. This What Aquaponics
type of interactive learning opportunity is extremely rare, especially as
it’s not merely “academic” but actually produces food quickly, ideal for Teaches
helping with short attention spans.
Even though aquaponics is new to our culture in the US, there is a great
support community online. Before long your efforts will help create a Chemistry
local community of growers, perhaps the best benefit of all.
Botany
Horticulture
Agriculture
Math
Learning aquaponics is
really learning to manage Biology

an ecosystem. The cycle Ecology
of life/death/rebirth is
Fluid Dynamics
right there. Yet it’s not a
Plumbing
completely closed loop,
as nature is. We still have Nutrition

to maintain it and feed the Economics
fish. For children, this is a
Business
great lesson in how every-
thing is connected. About
500 schools in the US are
using aquaponics or aqua-
culture in their curriculum.
23
Choosing Tilapia
Contents
Call Them Oreochromis.

5/8” Fingerling,
3 grams Avoid names like Bubbles or Franny.
Your intentions with aquaponics will determine
what fish you raise and how you raise them. You
have a wide range of choices but tilapia are the
number one in most markets. They taste great,
grow fast, and are tolerant of crowding. Their
only drawback is that they require the water to
be kept about 85° F.
230
Another option is to keep natives such as bass,
bluegill and catfish, easy to find from local pond
stocking firms, or you can catch them yourself.
Days
If you just want to look at the fish and use them
as waste producers, that’s just as valid and easier
because you don’t have to kill them. In that
case, koi are ideal.
If you grow fish as crops, then you’re an

aquaculturist. They are an investment that you
expect will pay you back in food, cash or trade in
a few months’ time. Do not give them names. It’s
easier that way at harvest time.
For more on tilapia, click here.
550 grams,
over 1 pound
24
Other Species
One problem with tilapia is that you have to buy them in quantity
Contents
from breeders. The cost is under $200 for 1,000 fingerlings, including
shipping. That’s a lot of fish for someone starting out and you’ll need at
least 2000 gallons of heated water by harvest time (2 gallons per one
pound of fish).
Another issue is that tilpia are a potentially invasive species and DNR
offices want to prevent them from getting into local waterways,
especially in the southern US. As long as they are never dumped into
any open waterway, it should be okay, but check with your local DNR
office.
Fortunately, you can grow any kind of fish or water creature in

aquaponics, even turtles, crayfish or shrimp. It depends on your goals. Bluegill, bass and panfish family.
If you’re just starting out, buy a hundred feeder goldfish at a few cents
each. They produce a lot of ammonia.
Government fish hatcheries have fish available, though usually they

sell in volume. In some states you can get a mix of bass, bluegill, redear
sunfish and catfish for $50 per pond/acre. They may allow smaller
quantity purchases.
Wild fish are available from your local streams and lakes by hook or by
net for the price of a fishing license. You can get a free supply of fish, and
at the same time interact with your local ecosystem. Game fish such
as bass and sunfish can be caught with hook and line only. Nuisance
species and bait fish such as carp and shad can be netted. Check with
Carp and koi family.
your local DNR office to find out what the rules are in your area.
Catfish. Perch family (yellow perch shown).
Crayfish. Trout family (rainbow trout shown).

Photos by Eric Engbretson.
25
Tilapia Wellness
Contents
Tilapia are number one in aquaculture

in part because of their resistance to
disease. They are very hardy. That doesn’t
mean there are no problems. As their
population at fish farms has risen, so
has the incidence of disease. Various
pathogens that affect them include
streptoccus, aeromona, columnaris and
trichodina or trich, a parasite. There are
treatments to try but ususally the best
thing to do is to get rid of everything,
sterilize the equipment and start over.
For more on this topic visit

Americulture.
An all-male tilapia crop is preferable because males grow more quickly than
females. A mixed-gender batch can breed, overpopulation can occur and the
system will deteriorate. Here is where things get controviersial. Fisheries avoid
this problem by adding methyltestosterone that converts young tilapia females Sites About INAD
to males. The reason for this, of course, is profitability due to faster growth.
These hormones have no government standard of safety, but the US government
and
does allow their use, as long as records are sent to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Aquaculture.
This program is called INAD, for Investigational New Drug Exemption. To the
right are more links that provide a more in-depth look at INAD and other 2009 INAD Sign Up
aquaculture industry topics.
For consumers sensitive to the content of their food, here is an opportunity

to create a market for organic fingerlings. Breeders go by the demand of the
markets, it’s the way of business. If there are enough independent aquaponics Study Protocol for INAD
growers willing to pay a bit more, some breeders will respond. Or you can start Exemption
breeding your own, a topic for a later book.
Another topic is genetics. There are over 100 tilapia species, with a very few pure
breeds determined to be the best. Each breeder has a specialty and a reputation
to uphold, not so different from a vintner. There are pure line species like nilotica Aquaculture Drug
and mossambicus. Specialized hybrids are also available, such as the pennyfish, Approval Process
with decades of detailed records to back up claims of superior quality.
There is a lot to absorb when it comes to managing the health and well being of
tilapia and other fish. Starting small will allow you to get comfortable running a
balanced aquaponic system with low risk of disease. Tilapia Health Diagnosis
and Treatment Advice
Aquanet Aquaculture
Community
26
Food Growth
Grow your own Contents

duckweed and you’ll Feed them worms
have an excellent and from home-built worm
free food source for the beds, which eat your
Commercial fish omnivorous tilapia. household garbage.
food is formulated
as a complete diet.
SGR, Specific
Growth Rate:
How fast the Percentage of Growth rate for Feed Conver-
fish are growing. body weight all fish com- sion Ratio:
gained. bined (biomass). Amount of
Amount of food
added per fish / food used /
Growth of the fish per day. Total weight
from a fraction of an gain.
It’s better to underfeed than ounce to 19.75 ounc-
overfeed. Partculates of es, over 1 pound.
uneaten / undigested food Tilapia Feeding Chart
will stress your biofilter. Daily
Feeding Cumulative Daily
Age Weight Weight Gain SGR Feeding Feed/fish
Period FCR Feedings
Rate
Aquaculture Feeding Chart Day Days Gram G/Day %/Day %/Biomass G/Fish/Day x/Day
10 10 - 20 3.2 0.43 8.50 8.3 0.3 0.46 10 - 12

This chart shows how detailed you
20 20 - 30 7.6 0.61 5.92 5.3 0.4 0.55 10 - 12
can track fish growth over several
months. This is for commercial fish 30 30 - 40 13.7 0.79 4.55 4.7 0.6 0.60 10 - 12
production. Small systems need 40 40 - 50 21.6 0.97 3.70 4.4 1.0 0.68 10 - 12
not be so detailed but it’s good to
50 50 - 60 31.3 1.15 3.12 4.2 1.3 0.77 8 - 10
know about.
60 60 - 70 42.7 1.32 2.70 3.7 1.6 0.87 8 - 10
In this system, commercial fish 70 70 - 80 56.0 1.50 2.38 3.6 2.0 0.95 8 - 10
food is used exclusively, which
80 80 - 90 71.0 1.68 2.12 3.5 2.5 1.03 8 - 10
makes it easier to measure. For a
small system, you can experiment 90 90 - 100 87.8 1.86 1.92 3.3 2.9 1.12 8 - 10
with different foods, as tilapia 100 100 - 110 106.4 2.04 1.75 3.2 3.4 1.19 8 - 10
are omnivorous. Duckweed
110 110 - 120 126.7 2.21 1.61 3.1 3.9 1.27 6 -8
and earthworms are excellent
alternatives and you can grow 120 120 - 130 148.9 2.39 1.49 2.9 4.3 1.35 6 -8
them yourself organically. 130 130 - 140 172.8 2.57 1.39 2.6 4.5 1.41 6 -8
140 140 - 150 198.5 2.75 1.30 2.4 4.8 1.45 6 -8
150 150 - 160 226.0 2.93 1.22 2.3 5.2 1.49 6 -8
160 160 - 170 255.2 3.10 1.15 2.2 5.6 1.52 4 -6
170 170 - 180 286.3 3.28 1.09 2.1 6.0 1.55 4 -6
180 180 - 190 319.1 3.46 1.03 1.9 6.1 1.58 4 -6
190 190 - 200 353.7 3.64 0.98 1.8 6.4 1.60 4 -6
200 210 - 220 390.1 3.82 0.89 1.7 6.6 1.61 4 -6

Investing in an automated fish feeder is
210 210 - 220 428.2 3.99 0.85 1.7 7.3 1.62 3 -4
a good idea for larger systems, as the
daily feedings can be as often as every 220 220 - 230 509.9 4.17 0.82 1.6 7.5 1.64 3 -4
two hours. You can also invent your own. 230 230 - 240 553.4 4.35 0.79 1.5 7.6 1.65 3 -4
Click on the picture for more information.
Source: Zemach Feed Mill, Israel
27
A Home-built System
Contents
Getting Started
A Simple System
Contents
Below is a modular aquaponics unit that you can build.
It’s economical, sturdy and the parts should be easy to
find. If you want to add to it later, it’s easy to replicate.
Before long you will be adding thousand-gallon
swimming pools and a long line of grow beds.
The skill level required to build it is average.
The tools needed are found in most homes.
For access to detailed plans, specification sheet,

sources for products and some alternative ideas to do
it for less, inquire here.
Pots for growing Room for 20 one-

vegetables of pound tilapia.
different sizes,
from seedlings
to full-grown
tomatoes.
Biofilter tank &

pump.
29
System Start-up
Culturing the System Contents
The beneficial bacteria in your grow beds take time to become established. Here
is one process to get your system for getting your system up and running in two
weeks.
Once the system is running with no leaks:
A TWO WEEK CULTURE PERIOD
• Circulate the system for a day or two to allow chlorine to evaporate.
• Add a couple dozen inexpensive goldfish to the tank. Their ammonia

will jump start the culturing process.
• Feed the goldfish every day.
• To do it without fish, add a few drops of ammonium chloride to the

tank each day.
• Add plant seedlings in the grow bed.
• Each day add a solution of seaweed concetrate, such as Maxicrop. This

will give the plants the nutrients they need in the beginning, plus
some addtional ammonia for the bacteria.
• After two weeks the system should be ready. You can then replace the
goldfish with your crop fish.
The bacterial culturing process will continue to maturity for a few more
weeks.

Adding Tap Water
The chlorine in tap water can burn the fishes gills, and is harmful to bacteria so
keep an open barrel (with a scren top) full of water that’s been sitting at least a
couple of days. Aerating it will speed up the degassing. You can use a product
such as Ammo Lock, which instantly removes both chlorines and chloramines.
You can also invest in a reverse osmosis (RO) filter which delivers pure H20.
These cost a few hundred dollars but are worth it to minimize any guesswork
about the content of the water.
Adding Fish
Make sure the water temperature is right for the fish.
If the fish are in a water-filled bag, float it on the surface of the tank water for an
hour or so. Then you can release them into the water and start feeding them.
Keep a close watch on the fish. It’s normal to lose a few in the transport process,
5% is acceptable. If you prepared the tank carefully, there should be no problem.
Congratulations! You are now the parent of an ecosystem. The real learning will
now begin.
30
System Balance
Understanding Key Ratios Helps You to Troubleshoot
Contents
BALANCE
A Balanced System
Here you have many fish producing a good amount of
ammonia. The biomedia in filter and grow bed is adequate to
convert it to nitrates. There are enough plants to absorb all
the nitrates. Water returns clean to the fish tank.
Enough biomedia
Enough fish
Enough plants
LESS MEDIA /
Not Enough Biomedia / Grow Media MANY FISH
Here is the same amount of fish with a small amount of
biomedia to convert ammonia to nitrates. The water is
mostly unfiltered, so too much ammonia returns to the tank.
Solution: Add a biofilter or more grow media so the bacteria

can do its work. Remember that it takes time for bacteria Too little media
culture to develop on new media. Per volume of fish...
Too much ammonia
returns to fish
FEW PLANTS /
MANY FISH
Not Enough Plants
The same amount of fish with adequte biomedia but too few
plants to take up the nitrates. Too much nitrate returns to the
fish tank. Not dangerous but unhealthy.
Solution: Add more plants to soak up the extra nitrates. Too few plants
Per volume of fish...
Too much nitrate returns
to fish
FEW FISH /
MANY PLANTS
Not Enough Fish or Too Much Water
A small amount of fish, or too much water, with enough
biomedia and enough plants. There is not enough ammonia
being produced for the plants to grow well.
Solution: Add more fish or grow fewer plants. Not enough ammonia
to nourish plants
31
Personal Agribusiness
Contents
Plant Farming
Plants Are #1
Contents
In aquaponics, plants are the primary crop, fish are secondary.
When you discover that there is a steady market for your Fruiting Plants for Aquaponics
vegetable crop, this will make sense. You can have several
plant harvests over the 8 months it takes for tilapia to mature. Tomatoes
Corn
You have great freedom to choose what vegetables to grow, Peppers
with a couple of caveats:
Cucumbers
Squash
• Greens grow fastest and best, six weeks from seedling to
harvest is common. Melons
Peas
• Fruiting plants do well but require full nutrient levels from Beans
the fish tanks. Some say it’s necessary to add phosphorous and Strawberries
potassium to the grow media. Others report great results with
no additives. Experiment both ways and find out the truth.
• Adding grow lights will greatly increase growth rate and

yield.
• Root plants, carrots, potatoes, onions, etc. reportedly do

not do well. This is disputable however, because Friendly
Aquaponics in Hawaii has been growing taro root very
successfully.
Room for Roots
Aquaponics is still an emerging science. There is conflicting

information available about how deep the grow media needs
to be for aquaponic. Some say 13” for all plants. Yet basil Leafy, Flowering Plants for
and lettuce do well with far less room... 4” has been proven Aquaponics
adequate. In a soil-filled container, 12” is recommended as
“enough” depth, but you may be able to get by with less in a Lettuce
gravel grow bed. Kale
Chard
The best guide to root depth is intuition and common sense.
Plants in any container need just enough space and no more. Arugula
You can play it safe and give them extra. Or you can try Bok Choy
experimenting with the same plant species in containers of Spinach
different depths and see what is most efficient. Then you will Basil
know for sure. Mint
Watercress
Experimentation Chives
Other Herbs
Take what you read online and in this book with a grain of Cabbage
salt. Take some risks and experiment. The best knowledge Celery
comes from your own experience and research. Expect some Broccoli
errors. If you are a “by-the-book” perfectionist, aquaponics is
Cauliflower
probably not for you.
(On the other hand, you need to be technically-inclined and

disciplined...this is farming, not gardening.)
33
Thinking Production
Your Produce Has a Dollar Value The Aquaponics Guidebook
What if you could make steady income with aquaponics and even finance your
equipment? Contents
We have been a consumer culture for so long that most of us

have forgotten that growing is a business. If you can deliver a
steady volume of quality produce, you can count on selling it,
which greatly affects how to think about aquaponics.
On page 10 you can see a spreadsheet for a large-scale

operation that brought in a lot of money from a few thousand
square feet of growing space. Even if you only have a fraction
of that space, you should know what sells, at what price, and at
what time of year. Eggplant, for example, wholesales in some
markets today for around $18 per bushel. The price is higher in
cold months.
In the spreadsheet below you can see that a 10’ x 10’ basil bed has the potential
to generate up to $1500 per month, at $10 per pound and ideal growing
conditions.
Pro Forma Basil Revenue
Typical Wholesale Net Revenue per 100

Crop Pounds per Grow Period
Price per Pound Square Ft
Square Foot
Basil 1 - 1.5 4 - 6 weeks $10 $1000 - $1500 Growing Edge Magazine,
Basil Stats
Source: Growing Edge Magazine
Of course if everyone is growing basil the price starts to drop and you have to
find another crop, which is simple agricultural economics. Hobby gardeners
tend to forget this because we are conditioned to think of a single five-month
growing period, a harvest in September, with dozens of tomatoes and squash
eaten, given away or left to rot. With aquaponics you gain so much efficiency Local Harvest Network
over traditional gardening that someone with even a modest amount of growing
space can become a reliable supplier to wholesalers, restaurants, groceries and
co-ops. There may also be emerging crop markets for (legal) medicinal herbs for
Asian communities and other groups. There are likely other valuable markets
remaining to be discovered or even created. Who will get there first and cash in?
How to Do It
You don’t need an MBA to become an aquaponics business person. Just find
out who wants what, how much they want and what they are willing to pay.
You can do it like a CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture), recruiting families
to subscribe. Or you can talk to owners of high-end restaurants and restaurant
chains, grocery stores and wholesale distributors. Make some calls, promote
yourself. Being the first one in is very important.
USDA Organic 1
The Word on Organic
The USDA jury is still out on organic certification for hydroponics/aquaponics.

If you feed your fish certified organic fish food, duckweed, earthworms, without
any antibiotics or hormones, it may be technically organic but you can’t sell it USDA Organic 2
as such until you get the stamp. The links on the right provide more in-depth
information. A decision is likely in November of 2009.
34
Planning Education Finance
Farm Credit System
Contents
President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Farm Loan Act of 1916 which
created the Farm Credit System (FCS). The FCS still thrives today, offering fair
lending terms for growers, which includes beginning farmers, whether they live in
the city or the country, doing traditional farming or aquaponics. Farm Credit Services
Initially the FCS made loans solely through cooperatives, using land and
improvements as collateral. It gave farmers a new alternative to the high interest
rates and short terms offered by banks.
During the Great Depression, the FCS and Congress continuously struggled with
restructuring the way agriculture was financed. That era saw the creation of new
legislation to help manage the crisis. The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1929, the Beginnning Farmers
Emergency Farm Mortgage Act and the Farm Credit Act of 1933 were legislated.
The new Farm Credit Administration (FCA) was created by President Roosevelt
to regulate the whole system. This is how today’s Farm Credit System was
established.
Beginning in the 1950’s, the culture of the family farm began to fade as corporate
interests became stronger. In order to increase production, farmers had to Beginnning Farmers 2
finance more equipment, machinery and land, so reliance on credit increased.
Eventually the recession of the 1980’s proved fatal to scores of family farms. This
heartbreaking event was a major cultural shift in our society, giving over theh
bulk of food production to corporate agribusiness.
The financial model of aquaponics is much different than that of our current
model of farming. There is much more control over such variables as weather, CSREES
soil quality and acreage. If you use a greenhouse the season not an issue.
Machinery such as combines are not needed, nor are pesticides and fertilizers. It
is an intensive growing system with a more predictable rate of return, measured
by the square foot instead of by the acre. With harvests of greens every 4 - 6
weeks, the payback process can be predictable and manageable. If there is a crop
failure for whatever reason, it’s on a much more contained scale, so the risk is
lowered. The entire sytem lends itself well to the needs of small growers. Gov’t Loan Programs
Today’s financial system is much more competitive than ever. Rates and
payback terms for small equipment loans can be found at all kinds of financial
institutions.
With aquaponics we have the opportunity for the next phase of personal
agribusiness. The creation of regional growing cooperatives would follow.
Beginning Farmer Loans and Education Programs
The US government has always supported farming in small and large ways.
Within the USDA is a vast store of valuable information which exists for the
purpose of making it easy for even novices to grow for production, even if your
nearest farm field is an hour away. On the right are links to these sites.
35
Grow Sell Eat Local
The Whole Foods Influence
Contents
Even though the family farm as we once knew it is mostly gone, a new small and
local agriculture has been emerging, supported by the likes of Whole Foods. The
growers in their network include some of the remaining family farms who have
been able to make a living, thanks to stores’ customers who are willing to pay Produce Buyers
more for a high-quality product that supports a sustainable, environmentally-
friendly model.
The problem is that many of these farms should be more “local” than they are.
Although it beats bringing in peppers from Chile, four hours from the store is
a long way. This represents a great opportunity for aquaponics in urban areas,
where the growing, selling, buying and consuming can all take place within a Whole Foods Local
twenty-mile loop of beltline highway.
There is no obstacle to this opportunity.
Another opportunity for aquaponics is to deliver produce off-season, which

traditional farms cannot do. This is especially attractive to distributors. If you
look at the prices for tomatoes in January, which are imported or grown in “hot
houses”, the need is clear. An insulated greenhouse heated with solar and com-
posting mulch would reduce heating costs to make this even more feasible.
Fruiting vegetables like tomatoes, red and green peppers and eggplant are in the
highest demand in the off-season, less so in late summer. Distributors are happy
to tell you what they’d like to buy over a year’s time.
Recent years has seen problems with food safety, especially e. coli on spinach
and salmonella with peanuts. This is an ongoing concern that requires growers
to have at least $1 million in insurance coverage. Fortunately this costs only a few
hundred dollars per year and could decrease with a growing network of small,
local growers working in a co-op.
Remember that vegetables are the number one moneymaker in aquaponics. The
fish’s real function is to provide ammonia. A half-ton of tilapia may yield a few
thousand dollars, but a promotional fish fry may have higher value as a way to
thank customers and neighbors.
Aquaponics Cooperatives
Fish form in schools to gain a group advantage. It’s the same with growers who
pool their resources.
Agricultural cooperatives for starting aquaponics growers in urban areas would

be easy to establish. The rough structure of them already exists with CSA’s,
community gardens and food co-ops. Agricultural service cooperatives offer
both supplies and marketing for its members. Credit cooperatives provide, of
course, access to financing. Cooperatives help farmers “overcome the curse of
smallness”, so they resemble trade unions. Assets can be shared, in the form of
equipment, growing space, labor and knowledge. A cooperative entity can be
attractive to larger distributors who want reliable delivery of quality product. So
it can really be a win/win situation.
36
Scaling Up
Contents
Sheltering the System
Planning for Year Round Growing The Aquaponics Guidebook
Placement of the System Contents
Your basic aquaponics system can go just about anywhere it’s warm, as long
as you have enough light for your plants and power for pumps, aerators
and tank heaters. With grow lights, you can put it in your house or garage. A
basement can work if there is access to water and a drain. A healthy system
is relatively odor-free – it’s basically the same as a large aquarium. You can
separate the fish tank and grow beds, keeping fish in the garage, plants a few
feet away outdoors, perhaps contained in a lean-to hoop house.
Greenhouses & Hoop Houses
The best shelter is a greenhouse. You can find them as kits or make hoop
houses, a good low-cost alternative to a greenhouse. There are a wide range
of kits and ideas available. Or you can replace your garage roof with double Garage becomes greenhouse with
double-wall polycarbonate roof.
wall polycarbonate.
Security
Security and safety is an issue, to keep the fish safe from vandals, thieves or
curious children. A water tank of any depth requires keeping young children
out.The biggest threat of theft outdoors comes from herons and racoons
who will eat all of your fish. People with koi ponds deal with this issue all
the time. So an exposed fish tank needs some type of cover, either netting
or a hinged frame with screen.
Region
Aquaponics will function much differently in Florida than it will in Hoop houses are easy to build,
Minnesota, obviously. For northern climates one should factor in some type effective and inexpensive.
of greenhouse structure to extend the season. Tilapia can be replaced with
cold water fish like bluegill or catfish.
Abandoned Buildings
A vast amount of square footage is available

for what is called “adaptive reuse”, where a
building is redesigned to function in a new way.
Turning an old gas station into a restaurant is one
example. There are many architects available who
specialize in this process.
It makes sense to consider how aquaponics

might fit into an abandoned strip mall, with large,
south-facing windows. Replace the roof of a
store with greenhouse roof sections.
Aquaponics and all that it brings to a community

would be an excellent use of decaying
commercial buildings, potentially even paying the
mortgage and then some. Abandoned commercial spaces can be redeveloped into
valuable community assets.
38
Outside the Box
Other Creative Options
Contents
Home Aquariums
Every home aquarium has filters and systems to deal with
fish waste. Yet with aquaponics that waste can be put to
good use. Fish are fish and ammonia is ammonia. So if you
have an aquarium you can create a rudimentary aquaponics
system by buying or making a grow bed a few inches deep
and putting the aquariums filter tube into it at one end, a
valve to return water to the aquarium at the other and you’re
almost there.
Public Aquariums
The large public aquarium also deals with waste, but on a
massive scale. The primary goal is to make sure the water is
perfect for fish. However, there may be a big opportunity to
capture a wasted resource and use it for growing.
Koi Ponds
Koi are excellent producers of ammonia, so every koi pond
is a starting point for aquaponics. Koi ponds are designed to
make beautiful landscapes however, so it’s not likely you’ll
see rows of industrial grow beds next to them. But grow
beds can be dug into the ground and they don’t have to be
straight. Take a look at Japanese gardens with dry gravel
stream beds and you’ll get some ideas about how to make it
look natural. Simply dig trenches in serpentine shapes uphill
from the pond and pump the water through the gravel to
return to the pond. Biofilters and other equipment can be
hidden. Any plant you grow, edible or not, will grow very
well.
Farm Ponds
Then there is the farm pond. The problem to solve is how
to concentrate enough fish waste so that grow beds can
achieve the volume of nutrients that they need. One option
is to contain a volume of fish in small fenced area at an end
of the pond. An inline pump will draw water through the
fenced area to increase the ammonia. This will require some
experimentation to get consistent results. As the need for
more grow space increases, simply expand the size of the
penned area.
Swimming Pools
Finally there is the abandond, below-ground swimming
pool, waiting for a new lease on life. One pool could hold
enough fish water for a whole neighborhood of grow beds.
39
Technology Community
Contents
New Green Technology
The potential for widespread hunger is looming for the world in

years to come. Perhaps not so much in America, but when hun-
dreds of millions are suffering, we know that the problem is one
we all share. We’ve proven that we can engineer and export the
most amazing and sophisticated weapons systems the world has
seen, for the purpose of “keeping the peace”. Exporting a food
production system instead would obviously go a long way to build-
ing on that, at a tiny fraction of the cost.
The nice thing about engineered systems like aquaponics is that

they can usually be made to work on smaller or larger scales, as
well as shipped in complete packages. This makes aquaponics a
good solution for shipping to areas of the world where food and
water are in short supply.
New Community
Aquaponics also has the unique potential among engineered

systems to stabilize communities. A small system can be managed
by an individual, but as the scale increases, the management needs
to be spread among a team. This is where a family, a class, a church
or a neighborhood can work together, creating great value beyond
the crops it produces.
When the economy goes down, there is opportunity to put people

to work in more sustainable ways. Aquaponics can help sustain
communities when there are fewer jobs,
sustain our spirit when we work together
and sustain our health when eating local
food.
Places like Detroit and other rust belt cities

are ideal labs for implementing aquaponics.
The cost of commercial buildings, which
can be converted for use as year-round
aquaponics operations, is amazingly low.
Entrepreneurs and investors can work with
local communities to provide labor, which
has been proven by Growing Power in
Milwaukee. The payback comes to the com-
munity in terms of employment, educa-
tion, improved nutrition, lowered crime and
overall stability. This type of project could
serve as a catalyst and anchor for related
developments in the neighborhood. There
is nothing in the way of this opportunity.
Access to clean water and locally-produced food will define global
politics for decades to come.
40
Resources
Contents
Interactive Tour Page
North America
Contents
This PDF edition features hyperlinks.

By clicking the names, the websites of these featured aquaponics
specialists will open in your browser.
Floating Gardens
Crop Diversification
Nelson & Pade
Vancouver Island U
Growing Power
Kirby Peak Ocean Arks
Flying Fish
Freshwater Institute
Portable Farms FAST
Grow Foods Morning Star Fishermen
S&S Aqua Farm UVI
Acuaponia
Auburn ALEARN
Friendly Aquaponics
42
Interactive Tour Page
Australia + UK + South Africa
Australia is way ahead of everyone in aquaponics. The Aquaponics Guidebook
Contents
Urban Aquaponics
Aquaponics Shop
Practical Aquaponics
Aquaponics Pty Ltd
Red Heeler
AquaponicsUK Scotland
True Blue Marron

Backyard Aquaponics
England
Cherax cainii, the Australian blue

marron. Not to be confused with
yabbies, red claws, koonak or
gilgie. This cousin of the crawfish
is the most widely farm-grown
crustacean in Australia. It comes
in a range of colors besides
bright blue.
South
Africa
Synaptoman
43
Research Links
Contents
USDA Defines Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
Cooperative State Research, Education & Extension Service
Western Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Urban Gardens
Denver Urban Gardens
Milwaukee Urban Gardens
Philadelphia Urban Gardens
Urban Habitat Chicago
Urban Gardens Los Angeles
Seattle Tilth
Atlanta’s Farmer D
Just Food in New York City
Urban Gardens DC
Growing Edge Magazine
Farmer John’s CSA, Angelic Organics
Urban Garden Magazine
Food Inc, The Movie

ALEARN, Auburn University Aquaculture Extension
American Tilapia Association
The Fish Site, Aquaculture Stats on Tilapia
Mississippi State, Stats on Tilapia
Whole Foods Corporate Values
Slow Food Movement
Local Harvest Network
Food Routes, Knowing Where Food Comes From
National Family Farm Coalition
44
The Last Page
Contents
This could be a conclusion that describes a wonderful

future where everyone grows with aquaponics in a
just, verdant and peaceful world. I will spare you from
that. Aquaponics is not a panacea. It simply grows food
exceptionally well with very little water.
Just look at the practical beauty of it, give it a go on a

small scale and see if you like it.
For the price of a Schwinn mountain bike you can build a

decent system and get it growing on your back deck.
For the price of a used Harley you can grow enough food
for a family, and then some.
For the price of a Chevy Malibu you can build a small

greenhouse and grow enough food to sell year-round.
Once you build a couple of systems and grow some fish

and vegetables, you’ll have experience and skills worth
promoting, helping others to get into it. They might pay
you.
Consider it a capital investment in knowledge and

experience, one that doesn’t depreciate.
45
Picture Credits
used with permission The Aquaponics Guidebook
Contents
Page Image Credit
Cover Graphic Sustainable Design Group

Contents Minnow Public Domain
Dedication Graphic Sustainable Design Group
About Cucmber VIne Amy Preneta
Bluegill Eric Engbretsen
Good Reasons TV www.vintagelooks.com
Fish + Man Sean Shimmel
Gallery All Linked to source
All Small Fish icon Noel Burkhead
Chapter Pages Broccoli Sustainable Design Group
6 Bluegill Eric Engrbretsen
Bacillus CDC
Roots Public Domain
7 Fish + Man Sean Shimmel
Fish Food Cargill, Inc.
8 Siphon Linked to source
10 UVI System Linked to source
12 Tank Freeland Industries
Plastic Boxes Sustainable Design Group
Grow Bed American Agritech
Bathtub Craig Kloeden
Blue Barrel Sustainable Design Group
Aquarium Public Domain
Aquaponics System Nelson & Pade (Linked to source)
Pond Judy Baxter
Tilpia Pools Edgar Sanchez (Linked to source)
13 Pumps Linked to source
14 Aerators, Test Kit Linked to source
15 Heater Linked to source
16 Fittings Linked to source
Silicone General Electric
Siphon Sustainable Design Group
17 Test Kits Linked to source
18 Hydroton Linked to source
Kaldnes Linked to source
Permatill Linked to source
Radish Root Public Domain
18 Bacteria CDC, Public Domain
21 Tilapia Filet Sustainable Design Group
22 Earthworm Girl Jessica Clark
23 Small Fish Public Domain
Large Fish Pubilc Domain
24 All Eric Engbretson
25 Tilapia Public Domain
26 AquaXcel Cargill
Duckweed Sustainable Design Group
Earthworm Sustainable Design Group
Feeders Linked to source
28 Illustration Sustainable Design Group
29 Ammo Lock Linked to source
Maxicrop Linked to source
32 Cucumber Vine Wendy Gross
Lettuce Annette Nelson
33 Dollar Public Domain
35 Coop Library of Congress
37 Garage Sustainabel Design Group
Hoop House PJ Chmiel
Strip Mall Christopher Hansen
38 Aquarium Public Domain
Ga Aquarium Sustainable Design Group
Koi Public Domain
Pond Judy Baxter
39 Tomato Plant Susy Morris
Water System Mahmood Hassan
42 Marron Linked to Source

46
Contents
About the Author
Bevan Suits is an industrial designer and

writer with over twenty years of research
and development of sustainable systems.
His experience includes designing exhibits
on science and technology for museums,
internationally. He has written and produced
various high-profile multimedia projects
that interpret concepts of science and tech-
nology for a public audience. He is a 1985
graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art
& Design and lives in Decatur, GA with his
family and a small aquaponics system.
About Sustainable Design Group
Atlanta-based Sustainable Design Group is a

multidisciplinary team committed to research,
design/build and communication about aqua-
ponics and related technologies.
http://www.accesstoaquaponics.com
Broken Links? Comments? Questions?

Links have a habit of disappearing over time. Let us
know if any links are broken and we’ll send you a new
PDF.
Otherwise, let us know what we’ve left out.

What topics will Volume 2 feature?
Tell us what interesting local food stories deserve
video coverage.
Email us.
47

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Aquaponics is proven worldwide as the most efficient and

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Reproduction or file-sharing electronic copies is protected by copyright laws

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About This Book

Good Reasons for Aquaponics

who have made aquaponics into something even I can understand:

Dr. John Todd and Nancy Jack Todd,

New Alchemy Institute, Ocean Arks International

Mark R. McMurtry, Douglas C. Sanders,

Paul V. Nelson of North Carolina State University

Dr. James Rakocy, PhD, The University of the Virgin Islands

Rebecca Nelson & John Pade, Nelson & Pade, Inc.

Travis Hughey, Faith & Sustainable Technology

Will Allen, Growing Power

Tom and Paula Speraneo, S & S Aqua Farm

Murray Hallam, Aquaponics,net.au

Auburn University Extension Office

Aquatic EcoSystems Technical & Design Staff

All the independent aquaponic pioneers around the globe.

This book is also dedicated to:

Stewart Brand, The Whole Earth Catalog

Once you try it you may think so too.

This edition of the book, presented as a PDF,

Future editions will discuss in more detail the

n You get both protein and vegetables from one system.

n It works on a small or large scale, for fun or profit.

n You can do a great system for just a little money.

n It uses very little water compared to a conventional garden.

n Raising fish is better than watching TV.

Aquaponics is growing fish and plants in one system, with

Build a small system. Then you will want to build a larger

Growing Power, Milwaukee Growing Power, Milwaukee Red Heeler, Australia

FAST, South Carolina

FAST, Kenya University of the Virgin Islands

Consider the Benefits:

• It begins to deliver produce in just a few short weeks.

• Tilapia are the preferred aquaculture species worldwide. They taste

The Bigger Picture

2. Other bacterial specialists convert the nitrites to nitrates.

Can You Make Money From Aquaponics?

How Things Grow

All of life on earth depends on bacteria converting waste matter to nutrient

New Perspective on the Ecosystem

Growing with aquaponics can help you realize

• Container Fish Tank, Grow Bed

• Connector Tubing, Valves, Pumps, Filters, Bulkheads

• Nutrient Fish Food, Fish Waste, Nitrogen, Oxygen, CO2

This system is basic drip

ORGANISM NUTRIENT CONTAINER CONNECTOR

Sometimes an autosiphon is used instead of a timer, in which case the

The fish tank water also rises and

Grow beds need to be only as deep

This model is similar to commercial hydroponics, where plants float Contents