Ten Must Know Tips before You Begin Your Aquaponics Journey

If you’ve read our eBook, you likely already know about the “Seven Common Mistakes Made by Aquaponic Gardeners,” that we discuss in the book. In addition to being aware of some of the most common mistakes, it’s also helpful to learn useful tips before you even begin your Aquaponics gardening journey. Below, we outline the top ten must-know tips that every beginner should know right away.

1. You won’t use pesticides.

This may seem perplexing at first. After all, how will you get rid of weeds in your garden? However, Aquaponics is a system that is almost all completely organic. The basis of the system is to create a self-sustainable eco-system that can thrive. Because there is no soil, the risk for weeds is slim, and pests are not nearly as often a problem as with soil growing techniques. Even when pests are concerned, there are other ways to control them while maintaining an organic growth environment.

1. You’ll find a new love for the Plecostomus (algae eater).

Anyone who has had an aquarium knows just how valuable these odd looking creatures can be. With an actual aquaponics garden, however, overgrowth of algae can lead to more serious problems, as you are likely consuming the plants grown inside. The awkward Plecostomus will work hard to keep the tank clean, so depending on the size of your garden, you may find that two are better than one. They will save you hours of cleaning time! These docile creatures mix well with almost any fish, so there’s simply no reason not to have one from the start.

1. PVC actually breaks down in sunlight.

If you’re planning on setting up outside drains or placing your entire garden outside, you need to properly prepare any PVC. Because it breaks down in sunlight, leaks can develop that can bring your entire eco-system to a screeching halt. Not only are leaks a possibility, but so is a decline in the water’s quality. To prevent these major issues, be sure to paint the PVC on the outside, or keep it covered so sunlight exposure isn’t a risk.

1. You’ll need to monitor your tank for more than just pH levels.

Anyone who has had extensive experience with an aquarium knows that pH levels can be a bit tricky, and they need to be monitored. The pH will need to be monitored a few times per week, and you’ll need to check ammonia levels once per week. Because fish are releasing waste (that is not as harmful as that of warm blooded animals) into the system, ammonia levels can get too high if the tank isn’t properly maintained. If ammonia levels suddenly spike, there is likely a dead fish in the tank. The monitoring of these levels can help you prevent big problems before they start. In addition to monitoring these, you’ll also need to keep a constant check on the temperature to ensure your cold blooded species stay healthy in waters that are somewhat warm. This more closely mimics their natural habitats, and an aquatic heater will likely be needed. For reference, ammonia and nitrite levels should both remain under .75 ppm. A rise in nitrites often means there is damaged bacteria in the ecosystem. If you find the levels off, there’s no need to panic. Simply stop feeding fish until your levels stabilize, and if the levels are severely off, change about 1/3 of the water. Changing a portion of the water will dilute anything remaining that still needs to “work out.” It’s worth noting that before adding fish, you should go ahead and monitor these levels, waiting to add them until levels are under 1 ppm.

1. You can use recycled materials to make it more affordable.

Some people are deterred from beginning an aquaponics journey due to the cost involved in the initial setup. However, your tank can be virtually anything as long as you know the materials are safe. For example, for an outdoor setup, there is no need to buy a pond liner and pond setup. You can use storage barrels or even old bathtubs to keep your fish, plants, and wallet happy. The key here is to make sure there are no sharp edges on the inside, as these can be damaging to fish as they swim, and can also cause problems if the roots of plants begin to grow near the sharp edges. In addition, be sure to avoid concrete, as food safe materials are the only ones suitable for aquaponics.

1. You will likely find it easiest to begin with a “media bed.”

Many of the terms surrounding aquaponics can seem overwhelming to those who are not familiar with the practice. After all, it has not received nearly enough attention in recent years, though it is beginning to boom in popularity as organic and self-sustainable practices become the new “norm.” A media bed performs three functions: solids removal, solids breakdown and return to the water, and bio filtration. It also acts as the plant “bed,” so it simplifies everything into one component. This makes it cheaper to set up and maintain, and it’s also easier to learn for beginners.

1. Though it’s tempting to start small, it’s easiest to start big.

While it may be tempting to start with a small tank, as many believe this is easier, it is actually the contrary. In small systems, levels change more quickly and dramatically, and virtually each component has a larger room for error. When the system is larger, ideally around 250 gallons, the system becomes more stable, and everything happens at a slower pace. You’re much less likely to run into unexpected spikes of ammonia, extreme pH changes or stressed fish (each fish needs about 5-10 gallons of water in order to thrive).

1. You’ll start with a little math.

While this may be obvious, some simply dive into aquaponics using what they have learned while raising fish in an aquarium. The two are quite different, however, as the plants grown inside are often for food consumption, and the fish that fertilize them will need to be healthier than your average aquarium guppy.

To begin, calculate the area of your grow bed in square feet. Then, use the ratio of one pound of fish for every square foot of plant growth area. You’ll also need to factor in the rule above, reserving at least five gallons of water for each fish. If your fish are young, you’ll need to start off with fewer plants until they are older, in order to keep everything properly balanced.

1. You cannot use just any “pretty” aquarium gravel.

Yes, aquarium gravel can be beautiful and there are some spectacular aquariums as a result of this. However, we must remember to forget almost everything we learned about aquariums when we dive into aquaponics, because it is an entire ecosystem, not just a home for fish. When determining what to use in place of this for your fish, be sure to consider the following: the material should not decompose, it should not alter the pH (limestone, marble and other similar rock will alter this), and you should always know the source of the rock or gravel you are using. Lava Rock is commonly used, as is Hydroton, a lightweight expanded clay aggregate.

1. 10.You’ll need a much larger pump than a traditional aquarium would need.

Again, this goes back to the need to forget much of what we learned about aquariums, as aquaponics includes an entire ecosystem, not just one species. Because of this, the entire volume of your tank should flow through the grow beds each hour. Figuring out the proper pump size can be tricky, but the best way to start is with your tank size. For a 100 gallon tank, a 400 gallon per hour pump could run just 15 minutes out of every hour and displace all of the water in the tank within an hour. You may have to include some tricky factors such as gravity, if your tank and grow bed are at odd angles. It’s best to start with simple angles until you’re sure of the impact.

A new adventure in aquaponics can seem expensive and overwhelming at first. However, we have the option of using recycled materials, starting with large systems to allow more room for error, and creating the system in phases, allowing the pH to balance before introducing animals. Remember that it will likely take some time for plants to grow, and it’s perfectly acceptable to add growing agents that are made for aquaponics systems in the meantime. In the end, the reward is having your very own self-sustainable ecosystem from which you can grow your very own food supply.