Aquaponic
Fish is
one of the most important component of aquaponics system, since
aquaponic fish will provide food and nutrition to the plant. Then it
is important to choosing it wisely. Before nominate fish for
your aquaponic
fish,
there are some criteria need to be consider to have successful
aquaponics system.
Consumable or non-consumable fish
Will
you eat the fish? Do you want to sell consumable fish or not?
It is important to answer the question before choosing aquaponic
fish. In general, aquaponic fish is divided into two,
consumable fish and non-consumable fish (ornament fish). For
who like to consume the fish, off course they will choose consumable
fish, in the other hand for those people that do not want to eat or
have consumable fish they may choose ornament fish as aquaponic fish.
Climate/local temperature
You
have to choose fish that suitable your local temperature. It is
not good to choose fish that love warm water for very cold place, as
well as choose cold water fish for warm climate area. If you
will build your aquaponics system in warm temperature area, then you
have more advantage, since most plants refer to warm temperature and
water to grow well, then no need to manipulate water temperature
from fish tank.
Of
course in this case we are talking about aquaponics system for
outdoors, since for indoors (green house) aquaponics system you may
manipulate the climate.
Local regulation
Some
region have their own regulation regarding to what kind of fish can
be bred for that region. For example there are some region do
not allow to bred tilapia, due to tilapia ability to adapt and
proliferate rapidly, this may be threatening life of local fish.
Following
are types of fresh water fish that suitable to breed in aquaponic
system.
Consumable fish
Tilapia
- Blue gill/brim
- Carp
- Barramundi
- Silver perch, golden perch
- Yellow perch
- Catfish
- Largemouth Bass
Non-consumable fish
- Koi
- Fancy goldfish
- Various ornamental fish such as angelfish, guppies, tetras, swordfish, mollies
