Richard bray

Before You Begin
Aquaponics is a delicate balance of ecosystems. While it is commonly described as a system where the fish feed the plants, that’s not really the case. Fish feed the bacteria, who then feed the plants.
Proper planning and design are essential for a healthy system, and a healthy system is essential for a healthy harvest. Thorough initial research will help you narrow down the best possible design for your location, which will lead to fewer costs and maintenance hours.
Planning
Before you build your system, you need to determine the purpose of your system. There are 3 common reasons for building an aquaponic system:

• Education
• Personal Use
• Profit

Once you decide on your reason for building an aquaponic system, you can focus your goals on that purpose.

Education
Education
Educational aquaponic systems can range from a 10-gallon fish tankto a 10,000-gallon fish tank. The purpose for an educational system also varies. A small tank in your living room may teach your child where plants come from, but a large system may serve to teach aspiring growers how to properly manage their own commercial operations.
Educational systems should ultimately teach something, so this type of system should be designed around the power of observation. Clear viewing panels into a fish tank, various examples of grow beds and media, and different plumbing structures can show students how systems work best.
Educational aquaponic systems can range from a 10-gallon fish tank to a 10,000-gallon fish tank. The purpose for an educational system also varies. A small tank in your living room may teach your child where plants come from, but a large system may serve to teach aspiring growers how to properly manage their own commercial operations.
Educational systems should ultimately teach something, so this type of system should be designed around the power of observation. Clear viewing panels into a fish tank, various examples of grow beds and media, and different plumbing structures can show students how systems work best.
For a simple classroom tank, a clear fish tank and a small, clear, plastic
grow bed can illustrate the concept of sustainable growing, while allowing students to observe the fish, plants, roots, and water circulation.
Large systems can have one or multiple fish tanks with different species, a variety of grow beds, and easy-to-access plumbing fixtures. They should also have freshwater test kits and pH meters to learn routine maintenance, and for diagnosing problems.