Aquaponics HQ FAQ

Here you can find answers to questions about how the board works. Use the links or search box below to find your way around.

What growing systems are available to me?


Virtually any hydroponic growing system can be adapted for use in Aquaponics. Some of the options include:
  • Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
  • Deep Water Culture (DWC)
  • Floating Raft Culture
  • Flood and Drain
  • Continuous Flow
Other considerations include:
  • If you remove the solid wastes from your system, you will be limited in the range of plants that you can grow. The solid wastes contain some of the organic salts required by fruiting plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums and others.
  • If you don’t remove the solid wastes from your system, you will be restricted in the range of growing systems that you can use. Solid wastes can cause blockages in valves, fixtures and pipe work.
While some hydroponic systems (like NFT) will required specially-designed components, others will be housed in a diverse range of containers.

Some of the options include:
  • Fibreglass grow beds
  • Plastic trays and tubs
  • Satellite pots
  • PVC Liners
  • Polystyrene rafts

Which growing system is best?


The choice of growing system will be driven by your resources and personal preferences. Other factors that will impact the choice of a growing system include:
  • the type of plants to be grown
  • how ‘hands on’ you want to be
  • the cultural needs of the plants
Most people will eventually use more than one growing system because no single system is equally suited to all plants.

What are my growing media choices…..and which is the best one?


You have the choice of:
  • Gravel
  • Coco Peat
  • Perlite
  • Vermiculite
  • Light Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA)
As to which is the best one…..the short answer is that virtually any media used in hydroponics can be adapted for use in aquaponics. They all have advantages and disadvantages. It comes down to your circumstances and preferences.

Other considerations include:
  • LECA and Perlite float on top of the water and will not be suited to most flood and drain systems without weighting them down with a layer of gravel.
  • Gravel is as hard on the hands as it is on the back.
  • Gravel grow beds of sufficient volume can double as bio-filters.
  • Washing gravel will consume large amounts of water and is physically challenging.
  • Coco-peat will discolour the fish tank water.
  • Some gravel is not inert and may contribute to nutritional imbalances.
  • Some coco-peat is calcium-deficient and may contain high levels of sodium.
  • Spent coco-peat can be recycled through other backyard food production as poultry litter and worm bedding.

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