Aquaponics Fish: What fish can I raise in an aquaponics system?

In aquaponics you can grow any fresh water fish that appeals to you. Considerations are that you want to be sure the environment your aquaponics fish are happiest in is one that your aquaponics system can naturally provide. Trout, for example, like water temperatures below 60 degrees. Can your environment consistently provide this? Also be sure that if you are mixing fish species that they have similar living requirements. Do they all prefer the same water temperature, eat the same food, and have the same oxygen requirements? Don’t mix carnivorous fish with herbivores, or you will find that you are just providing an expensive meal for your carnivores. We have found that tilapia, other cichlids such as oscars, pacu, goldfish, and koi all co-exist well together in an aquaponics system. See the post titled “Fish: To Eat or Not to Eat” in our blog for more detailed information.

How many fish can I grow in an aquaponics system?

A good rule of thumb is to stock about 1 lb of aquaponics fish per 5 -10 gallons of water, or 1-2 fish per 10 gallons of water. Never stock more than 1 pound of fish for every three gallons of water. Please read this blog post titled “Aquaponic Fish Production and Stocking Densities” to learn more.

Does an aquaponics sytem have an odor?

No, there is absolutely no odor at all.

Can I put fish in my system right away?

Yes. See our post on Cycling With Fish for special considerations when doing this, however.

How much do I feed my aquaponics fish?

If you are cycling your system with fish, feeding should to be kept to an absolute minimum during the first 1-2 months. Only feed the fish what they will consume in 5 minutes – no more than 1 tablespoon per 20 fish per day. If your aquaponics fish don’t seem to be hungry don’t feed them. Fish can survive for weeks without feeding. Your water will probably go green for some weeks, don’t worry.
Once the water in your aquaponics system becomes clear you may gradually increase feeding levels, again paying attention to how much the fish consume in 5 minutes. You can also start feeding your fish two or three times a day. As a guideline, mature tilapia typically consume about 1% of their body weight in feed a day, while fingerlings can consume as much as 7%.

What do I feed my aquaponics fish?

Depends on what type they are. Carnivorous (examples – trout, perch and bass) require a feed that has high levels of protein (45 – 50%). Omnivorous fish (examples – tilapia, bluegill, koi and catfish) require a lower protein feed (typically 32% protein). Younger fish require more protein than mature fish.
While we applaud the efforts of those who try to further “close the loop” by producing their own feed (such as cultivating their own Black Soldier Fly larvae, red worms, and duckweed) we still strongly recommend that you feed your fish a professionally formulated feed. This will insure that not only do these aquaponics fish that are in your care receive an optimal diet for their health, but that your plants also get a balanced diet through their waste. Please read our post titled “Aquaponic Fish are Not Garbage Disposals!” to learn more.

Is there an organic fish feed?

Yes! And we are proud to be the first company in the country to offer it! Our AquaOrganic feed is free of fish meal, GMO’s and soy. Please read our blog post about this feed then click here to learn more about purchasing some for your fish.

Where do I get the fish for my aquaponics system?

• Pet and Aquarium Stores: Just about any fresh water aquarium fish from a pet store works well as an aquaponics fish. Pay special attention to the temperature range that the fish thrives in, and whether they would be compatible with the other fish in your tank (i.e. not eat them). If your system is very small you might be able to stock your tank simply by visiting your local pet store. Pet store fish we have grown with success in aquaponics so far are goldfish (avoid feeder goldfish, they are prone to disease), koi, oscars, pacu, and guppies.
• Hatcheries: More and more fish hatcheries are willing to sell small batches of fish to local aquaponic growers. If you have a hatchery nearby that is willing to sell to you this is a great option if you plan to grow fish to eat.
• Online: We also sell a variety of tilapia, as well as bluegill and catfish. We work with an extremely reliable, professional hatchery in Florida and offer a Live Arrival Guarantee. We are happy to supply the fish for your system if you can’t find them locally, but please be sure to check with your local regulations before ordering.

How do I keep my fish healthy?

The best thing you can do to keep your aquaponics fish healthy is to feed them a high quality feed and keep their environment as stress-free as possible. There are actually three kinds of stress that affect fish health: physical, chemical, and biological. Read this blog post titled “Aquaponics Fish Facts” to learn more. If you have done all this and still think you have a fish disease then click on this excellent site for a guide to fish diseases for more information.