Buying
fish for your aquaponics system can be tricky. It is extremely
important that you research the law in your area before proceeding
with purchasing fish for your system. There are some
species of fish that are prohibited in certain States and around the
world. And sometimes you will be required to obtain a permit
for your chosen fish and your aquaponics system. So do your
homework before you begin.
Just
about any type of fresh water fish can be used in your aquaponics
system. However, it would be best if you use the fish that are
climate tolerant to your area. The next thing you need to
consider is if you want to raise the fish as a food source or not.
The
following are some edible fish that do well in an aquaponics system:
- Tilapia – these grow very fast and can tolerate poor water conditions, they do best in temperatures that stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and won’t survive in a climate below 50 degrees
- Trout – these fish will eat smaller fish so you have to be careful of what else you put into your tank with them, they prefer temperatures somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit
- Catfish – these do best in temperatures around 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit but can withstand a wide variety of temperatures without being harmed
The
following are some non-edible fish that do well in an aquaponics
system:
- Carp – in some areas Carp are eaten as a food source, they are similar to Koi and Goldfish
- Koi – these fish are very tolerant to the cold and can survive in water temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they can also handle low oxygen levels and low water quality as well
- Goldfish – just like the Koi, these fish are very tolerant to the cold and can survive in water temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit , they can also handle low oxygen levels and low water quality as well
- Bluegills – these fish do best in warm water around 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit
Other
warm water fish to consider are:
Other cold water fish to consider are Arctic Char, Silver or Yellow Perch or Cod and Salmon. However, Cod and Salmon must have very fresh, cold water to survive and they don’t do well in recirculation systems so it’s best that you find another alternative unless you can meet their specific needs.
- Sunfish
- Pumpkinseed
- Black or White Crappie
- Ozark Bass
- Sacramento Perch
- Warmouth
Other cold water fish to consider are Arctic Char, Silver or Yellow Perch or Cod and Salmon. However, Cod and Salmon must have very fresh, cold water to survive and they don’t do well in recirculation systems so it’s best that you find another alternative unless you can meet their specific needs.
One
other thing to remember is that when you use cold water fish, you
will limit your selection of plants. Some plants will not
tolerate the cold temperatures that are required for cold water fish
to thrive.
How Many Fish Do You Need?
The
number of fish you should use will depend on the number of grow beds
you have set up and how much water you will be using. You
should use about six to ten fish per grow bed. Additionally,
you should use four gallons of water for each pound of fish in your
tank. Keep in mind that all of this depends on what type of fish you
decide to use. Because each different species of fish will grow
to varying sizes and react differently to each type of environment.
Therefore, if you only have a small grow bed and a small tank, you
aren’t going to want to use fish that will grow to a large size or
they will outgrow your tank.
