How do you make a simple aquaponics system?

If you don’t have much space then aquaponics gardening could be the ideal solution for you.

An aquaponics system is

A way of combining hydroponics – where you grow plants in water.
With aquaculture – which is simply a way of growing fish, crayfish or prawns

Aquaponics is not new – even as long ago as 3000 BC in China rice was farmed in paddy fields in combination with fish such as carp, eel and pond snails.

However what is new is the growth of ‘home based aquaponic systems’ – as a very effective way to grow plants (& fish) at home.

3 Ways to start.

There are 3 ways to start in aquaponics

Try it / Test it small scale at home – using something like the kitchen aquaponics tank (available from Amazon)
Install or make a larger aquaponics tank in your back garden or allotment.
Or install a aquaponics greenhouse for a commercial business

The starting point is to decide

How much you want to grow
What you want to grow
And if you want your fish for ‘decoration’ or food

An aquaponics system is very simple – in that you need a tank to keep the fish. The fish produce waste (effluent) which are broken down by bacteria into nitrates. On top of the tank you have a ‘shelf’ with your plants with the roots submerged into the water. The plants take up the nitrates (as a fertilizer) out of the water (keeping it safe for the fish) and use it to grow.

So that all you need to do is feed the fish and harvest your plants.

The issue is therefor ‘how big’ you want your aquaponics system to be – the easiest way is to test it first (see above) and then decide how much space you have available.

The four main parts of an aquaponics system.

Whatever size you want to use there are four main parts of an aquaponics system.

Simply using a drill, saw and utility knife you can build one at home, using only basic materials.

1. The fish tank

For the fish tank use a standard stock tank (like the ones you will see in the fish section of most garden centres) which is tall and opaque to block out most sunlight. (otherwise you lose your algae)

2. The grow bed

On top of the tank you will need a grow bed for your plants.

3. Water circulation system

You also need to install a water pump and circulation system, to get the water with the nitrate to flow up to the roots and then back down again.

4. Light & Heat

And then (as always when growing plants) you need light and the right temperature.

It’s as easy as that.

The next stage…

The beauty of an aquaponics system is that you can start it very small (for example by testing it with an kitchen aquaponics tank ) and/or build the whole system yourself at home, using easy to obtain materials.

The key issue is deciding how big you want your aquaponics system to be and then what you would like to grow.

We usually recommend starting with easy ‘leafy’ vegetables like salads and herbs – so you get to know the system. And then you can always expand and try other plants – follow the links below.

The fish is more complicated. Many people will start with goldfish (they are cheap to buy, look ‘pretty’ and are easy to keep). You can then move onto more interesting varieties – like carp – or even decide to grow edible types – for more details follow the links below.

Aquaponics is great fun, easy to start and setting up a system should be very cost effective.