There are many varieties of fish you can use.  Shrimp have also become popular in Aquaponic farming.  Some species give off different levels in nutrients so it is important that you use the right fish for the types of plants you are growing.  As fish give off different levels of nutrients they normally do not supply sufficient levels of calcium, potassium, and iron.   The calcium and potassium can be introduced as nutrients using calcium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide but this will raise the pH level as well.  The iron can be added by using a chelated compound of iron.  The term chelated means that the iron is will not drop out of the solution and will be more efficient as a nutrient.

 

If you plant to grow your plants hydroponically you will not be able to have fish in the system as they will not survive with the chemical nutrients.

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Starting your system with fish can take several weeks as you will need your fish to get accommodated to the water and they will need to start producing enough nutrients to feed your plants or to start with seeds.  There are several articles on the internet that go into great detail for starting off with fish (described as cycling with fish). 

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It is important to monitor the feed you give to the fish as this can start clogging the pump and causing problems with the plants growth.  The fish should be fed enough so they are finished eating all of the food within 2-3 minutes.  The fish might need multiple feeding cycles like this depending on the type of fish.

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Determining the amount of fish you have in your system depends on the type of fish and growth rate.  You would normally want 1 full grown fish per 1 full grown plant (1:1 ratio).  If you are using smaller fish like goldfish you might want 3-5 small to medium size goldfish per plant.

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Some of the best fish to use for Aquaponic farming are:

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• Crappie

• Bluegill

• Perch

• Bass

• Walleye

• Murray Cod

• Goldfish

• Catfish

• Shrimp

• Carp

• Tilapia

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Note from Nomis Engineered:

As we build our business we will continue to experiment with different types of fish and bring you our findings so you have the latest information and can experience more efficient growth.

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