If you are learning about aquaponics, fish as you will learn, are very important to the entire process. Fish create waste and toxins which are actually nutrients for plants. The plants in turn filter the water that has been dirtied by the fish and the clean water goes back to the fish.

It is very important to understand that if there are too many fish, the toxicity level in the water can be damaging to the fish unless the water is constantly being filtered. In aquaponics, fish that are raised can be either to keep the system in balance or for food. When choosing the fish for your aquaponics system, it is a good idea to consider the options.

Keeping fish in an aquaponics system is not like keeping fish in a typical fish tank you may have in your home. In fact, it’s a lot simpler than having fish in a fish tank. You do need to feed the fish, and the fish do need to have filtration and clean water which is provided by the plants.

In aquaponics, fish provide the nourishment that the plants need. Before you set up your aquaponics system, you need to consider how big you want your system to be as this will determine the number of fish that you should have. It is recommended that for every one inch of fish you have, there should be one gallon of water. For example, if you have a 6inch catfish, then you should have 6 gallons of water.

Then next thing to consider is do you need to fish to balance the system or do you want to farm the fish for food? In aquaponics, fish can be either used for their byproducts or for food. If you choose byproducts, then the variety of fish drastically broadens. If you choose to raise the fish for food, then you should consider which fish you prefer the taste of.

It is also a good idea to consider the region you live in and where your tanks will be located. If your system is outside, then the fish need to be able to withstand that particular weather. The wrong fish in the wrong weather results in sick or dead fish.

You should also take into consideration of the time when you will need to restock. Is the species you choose available year-round? Perhaps you will choose to have a separate tank to grow fingerlings in and these will be used as stock. What is some excellent choice to choose?

• Catfish
• Crappies
• goldfish
• Jade Perch
• Koi
• Tilapia (most common)
• Trout

It is best to choose fish that will reproduce quickly to keep your stock at a maximum or have a long life if you will not farm them for food. You can also keep several species together but you need to ensure that they can co-exist; you wouldn’t want a shark eating your goldfish. Also, consider how much and how often will the species you choose need to be fed.

Aquaponics is a great system that allows the farmer to be self-sufficient. The process is relatively easy and you can grow just about any fruit or vegetable you want. However, in aquaponics, fish play a huge part and choosing the right fish is the best decision you can make.