Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi! I’m trying aquaponics for the first time, and I figure I’ll start with a small desktop system. I’ve been researching a lot. I bought all the supplies for a teeny one gallon flood and drain system, because that’s the type of system I’d like to come to understand better. Now I’m trying to figure out the right fish for it.

After reading some, I guess goldfish are actually not as well suited to small environments as we are led to believe. Guppies, tetras, or beta fish seem to be the suggested fish for small tanks, according to the regular aquarium aficionados.

So this brings me to my question: stocking density in aquaponics systems seems to be 1 pound per cubic foot, +/- 2 gallons, for beginners using a flood and drain system with no solids filtration. Specifically, I’ve read, “1 lb per 8-10 gallons, or 1 inch per gallon.” Well… guppies are a little more than an inch full grown, and they weigh about 4mg (according to the internet) full grown. If the weight is accurate, then that means 10,000 guppies per gallon… so… one guppy?? 10,000 guppies? Seems like a hell of a rounding error >< ha.

Should I just put in how ever many looks like it seems like they’d feel comfortable?? Like 10?? Is that enough to grow things??? TIA.

I suspect that weight should actually be 4g, 1000X more than 4mg. Just because it is on the internet, doesn't mean it is true!

If you have enough filtration/GB area, then perhaps start with 5. You'll need to feed them the right sort of food to grow anything, not goldfish flakes.

Thanks! Good food would be bloodworms, brine shrimp and/or duckweed I imagine?

Bloodworms and brine shrimp would be ok, duckweed alone less so, and it would have to be grown somewhere else, not in this system if you want to grow any other produce.

Aquaculture pellets would be better, in crumble - 1mm size, and it would be less expensive than the first 2 options.

Thanks!