Richard bray

Yellow Perch

• Harvest weight: up to 1/2 lb.
• Time to harvest: 1 year
• Feed: aquatic insects, small fish, manufactured food

Perch are a great aquaponic species if you aren’t planning on making money on your fish harvest They tolerate lower pH values, which allow you to cater to the plant’s needs more easily. They also tolerate a range of temperatures that makes them a good pair with many plants, and they do well with modest stocking densities.
The biggest drawback for yellow perch is the small harvest size. Perch are not a good choice for growers who want to make a profit from harvesting both sides of their system.
Bluegill
• Harvest weight: 3/4-1 1/4 lb.

• Time to harvest: 2-3 years
• Feed: insects, manufactured food

Bluegill are a popular aquaponic choice in the northern part of the United States, because they have an extremely high stocking density, and they pair well with every vegetable that can be grown in a system.
The biggest consideration with bluegill is the pH, which needs to be at least 6.9 to keep bluegill healthy. They can tolerate a wide range of many other factors, including temperature, but it’s important to keep the pH as close to 7 as possible to prevent stress.

The biggest drawback for bluegill is that it takes three years to reach a harvestable size. This makes them a good fish if your focus is plant production, because you won't have to keep purchasing fish for your system, but it limits your profits to vegetables.
Channel Catfish

• Harvest w arvest: 18 months
• Feed: insects, small fish, algae, aquatic plants, manufactured food

Catfish are suitable for aquaponic systems, although it's difficult for them to thrive. Catfish are bottom feeders, which makes tank life a difficult transition.
Catfish are especially susceptible to a disease called columnaris, which causes lesions on the gills and fins, and will eventually cause death. This disease can quickly kill an entire tank of catfish, and it can be difficult to detect since it usually hides under the gills.
Water quality is the most important factor for catfish culture. Organic matter in the water (dead plant roots, solid waste, etc.) can feed the bacteria that enable the disease to spread. It’s important to maintain bacteria on the surface area of the system to help with filtration, but it’s also important to keep your system clean from organic debris to keep the ecosystem in check.
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