Feeding your aquaponics fish

Feeding your aquaponics fish is one of your daily tasks when running an Aquaponics system. It is vital for the fish and in turn essential for the production of plant nutrients. In this article we’ll talk about the what, when and how to feed your fish. We’ll also talk about using auto-feeders for the ones among you who like to automate life!

Most fish are not picky on feeding schedule; indeed in the wild there is no such thing as regular feeding. They will adjust their metabolisms and growth rates according to food availability. So if you want to grow fish quickly, simply feed them often. However, be careful with crowding because a population density which is too high will make the fish labile to disease outbreaks. With regards to the actual amounts of feed per feeding session, you should give them as much feed as they can eat within five minutes.

Many automatic feeders are available, differing in complexity and price. However, you can get simple cheap ones which will do the job just fine. You should set the feeding times at once or twice daily, possibly more if you want to grow fish quickly and have a low stocking density. Using an automatic feeder does not mean that you can stop checking on you system daily, because if you do, you won’t know if anything goes wrong with the system.

With regards to the actual feed, most people opt for commercial feed, which is an excellent choice. Commercial fee is either of the omnivorous or carnivorous type and these will differ in their quantities of protein. Check with your local fisheries department for the most suitable one for the particular fish species you are growing; though most fish thrive well on both. Feed also comes in different pellet sizes – you should get the small ones for young fish and larger ones as the fish grow bigger.

Many Aquaponics farmers grow their own fish feed to drastically cut costs. The most commonly grown of such feeds is duckweed, a fast growing plant that is rich in protein. You can grow this in a separate tank or pond. To provide more protein, you can also grow worms and black soldier fly larvae. You can also feed your fish some garden scraps. For example, most omnivorous fish will enjoy bland-tasting plants and vegetable, such as lettuce. Be careful that the plant-food you give to the fish is not covered in pesticides or other harmful chemicals.

To learn more about how to take care of your Aquaponics fish and plants, check out Aquaponics plans.

Aquaponics stocking densities

Aquaponics stocking densities refers to the number of fish kept in the Aquaponics fish tanks. The more fish, the more the profit, however stocking too many fish will lead to ill health of both fish and plants. The fish will not grow as well and will start dying, and there will be a buildup of wastes which will be toxic to both fish and plants. Therefore, you need to find the perfect balance of stocking as many fish as possible before this starts having an adverse effect on their growth.

If you are looking for a short answer on the Aquaponics stocking densities to use, then go for 1 fish per 10 liters of water. Now for the longer answer. It is more accurate to talk about stocking densities in terms of kilograms of fish per cubic meter or liters of waters. For most Aquaponics set-ups, you should go for 30 to 40 kg of fish per 1000 liters. Use this rule of thumb as a maximum number, and opt for a lower number if you are new to Aquaponics. Keep in mind that apart from the stocking density, the amount of food you put into the tanks will also dictate how well the system runs – if you feed too much, there will be an accumulation of waste that the bacteria may not be able to handle.

Perhaps the most common fish used in Aquaponics farming is tilapia. So let’s work out stocking densities in terms of tilapia. When you buy 100 tilapia fingerlings, these may weigh a kilo combined. If we have a 1000 liter fish tank, then our current stocking density is 1kg/1000L. Tilapia grow quickly and soon enough they’ll weigh a combined total of say 40kg, giving us a stocking density of 40kg/1000L.

By using the rule of thumb of one fish per ten liters of water, then you’ll have to harvest the fish as soon as they’re big enough, or else you’ll end up with a stocking density which is straining the system. Individual fish grow at different rates, and you should start taking out the large ones as soon as they’re big enough to eat. Do not wait until all of them are big enough. This is actually a good thing, as you will have to harvest at a rate at which you can eat/sell them and not have to freeze a large quantity of fish. You can actually harvest a single lot of fish over several months, as the rates of growth of individual fish are so different. This applies even to fish species with particularly fast growing rates, such as trout.

To learn all the tips and tricks about growing Aquaponics fish, check out Aquaponics plans.

The aquaponics fish in your system

The aquaponics fish in your system not only provide you with a tasty food (rich in protein and omega 3s) but also provide nutrients for the aquaponics vegetables that you’re growing. Growing fish yourself will save you lots of money and you will have peace of mind knowing that the fish you’re eating are free from toxic metals and petroleum residues, which is becoming a growing problem with sea-caught fish nowadays. You can also make a great income selling aquaponics fish, because the expenses involved in growing them are very small.

So, which fish species do you choose for your aquaponics farming system? There are a few things you have to keep in mind before making your decision. Each species will have it s own different requirements and optimal temperature and pH ranges. In addition, some species will be able to grow in a large population density (more fish in less space) while others may need more space. Different fish also grow at different rates; presumably you want ones which grow fast.

Two very popular fish for aquaponics systems are tilapia and trout. If you live in warmer areas, you should opt for tilapia. They grow best at temperatures of 82° to 86°F and start dying if the temperature drops below 50°F. This is because at temperatures below 54°F, tilapia lose their resistance to disease and are prone to infections. Of course, if you live in cold areas but keep your house heated, you can set up the aquaponics system in a room and still grow tilapia. Tilapias are particularly suited to aquaponics farming because they are very hardy and will survive fluctuations of pH and waste build-up better than most other fish. In addition, they can grow well in crowded tanks, and grow quickly.

Another excellent aquaponics fish for warm climates is the catfish, which grows best at a temperature of around 80°F. They are very resistant to disease and parasites, but are sensitive to oxygen levels. If you grow catfish, make sure you have a good aerating system in place and carry regular tests.

If you live in colder areas, you should opt for trout. Although different trout species have slightly different requirements, most have an optimal range of 40° to 65°F. Like tilapia, they grow fairly quickly and make tasty food.

Some aquaponics farmers also grow goldfish. Now, although these are not used for food, they can be easily sold to pet-shops to be resold as pets. Goldfish are very hardy, grow in a variety of conditions and can fetch a significant profit. You can also sell goldfish directly by placing ads in local newspapers.

To discover how to get the best yields and fish growth rates, check out Aquaponics plans

Kinds of Aquaponics Fish for a Perfect Aquaponics System

Fish are the highlight of the aquaponics system. It is not only useful for providing rich nutrients for the plants to grow but it also provides you with clean, fresh, protein-rich fish to eat for you and your family. Not only it serves as a great food, the tank full of fishes carrying attractive colors will also serve as a great spot to lurk around for people who visits your home.

Choosing the best aquaponics fish is a daunting task to some especially to those who are still new to it. However, you don't have to worry about it because keeping fish in the tank for aquaponics system is very simple and practical compared to aquarium fish-raising if you already have the idea on what you need to consider when making a choice of fish for your tank. As long as you follow the simple guidelines for growing fish and cultivating fruits and vegetables, from its fingerling stage of life until it is ready for harvest and consumption, aquaponics is will never be a difficult task.

Here are the lists of aquaponics fish and a few details about them:

1. Carp. It is one of the best species that's perfect for aquaponics system. It is the most widely cultured aquaponics fish throughout the world especially in Asia. However, due to its capability to reproduce fingerlings at a higher rate, it has become a noxious species to the natural waterways.

2. Catfish. There are lots of catfish species that's best for an aquaponics system. Channel catfish is one of them. Catfish is a meaty, popular, and most widely farmed fish for aquaculture in the US and in many regions in Australia. It does not have scales but has whiskers analogous which are the same to that of a cat - hence its name "catfish".

3. Tilapia. It is a well-known cultured fish in every parts of the world. It is excellent for aquaponics system for several reasons. It is fast growing, easy to breed, and can withstand cool temperatures. It has an omnivorous diet and its meat is a great source of protein for the humans. There's one thing about this fish, though - it cannot breed in very warm waters. If you place them in cool environment, you can surely harvest great amount of tilapia since they breed faster and grow faster. But because it breeds at a very rapid rate just like the carp, tilapia species are considered pests to some other countries abroad.

4. Silver perch. It is a kind of fish that is native to Australia. This species can grow very well in different conditions. Like tilapia, silver perch are omnivorous and loves to eat green scraps like duckweed. However, unlike other types of species, perch is not fast growing. It takes 12 to 18 months for perch from fingerlings to grow into a plate size fish.

5. Barramundi. Barramundi is one of the most majestic species of edible fish which yields a decent harvest. It is mostly grown in the aquaponics systems in warm months every year. It is the kind of fish you can harvest with delicious, tasty, clean and crispy meat if harvested fully grown. Growing Barramundi will entice other people and make them want to grow theirs too.

These are the types of the most popular aquaponics fish that you can grow aquaponically. There are still a lot of easy-to-grow species of fish that are not mentioned above which you can raise as an aquaponics fish. What's important is that you know the guidelines in choosing the fish, the dos and don'ts in growing your own aquaponics fishes and be fully satisfied with your fish product harvests.