1. Aquaponics in brief: Small-Scale Profitability Strategies
Aquaponics is the cultivation of fish and hydroponic crops together in a Recirculating Aquaculture System
(RAS). Fish provide nutrients for the plants to uptake through their roots and by doing so in the fish tank effluent
is cycled to the plants and filtered. Aquaponics requires well-calibrated biology while hydroponics requires well
calibrated chemistry.
No matter the scale of an aquaponics set up the technology is essentially the same. Strategies for monetizing
aquaponics has been surveyed by Love et al. in Commercial aquaponics and profitability: Findings from an
international survey. Most set ups are large scale and have more than one revenue stream. There is more
preference for a commercial setup sells both the food and fish and not just one or the other; the revenue stream
involved larger setups or setups that strategized selling other products or services such as aquaponics supplies,
consulting services, workshops and agrotourism.
A two-metre by two-metre square tank with a water depth of 0.65 m can produce a significant amount of
nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium as plant fertilizer. Recirculating Aquaculture systems (RAS) with less than
or equal to 3 m3
of hydroponic tank volume to 1 m3
of fish tank volume is a reasonable setup for aquaponics
(Lam et. al). This means the density of the fish should be relatively high in the tank for greater yields of fish and
plants for consumption. In addition, supplemental light is recommended as well as a regular frequency of fish
feeding.. Vertical farming paired with aquaponics is not as widespread a strategy yet for farming but does
provide the advantage of minimizing space required..
There is extensive data on raising different fish for aquaponics with, according to the article, the most
commonly raised aquatic animals by percent were tilapia (69%), ornamental fish (43%), catfish (25%), other
aquatic animals (18%), perch (16%), bluegill (15%), trout (10%), and bass (7%). Most studies have on species of
fish per tank.
Diversification of the revenue stream seems to be an effective strategy for a small-scale aquaponics set up.
Selling the fish (for food or part of an aquaponics starter kit) is a viable option to monetize an aquaponics set up.
An example of this strategy is NOAA fisheries in Ontario Canada.. They sell fry (baby fish) and some adult
varieties of Tilapia.. They are knowledgeable of the temperature and other limitations of the fish and provide
tours and workshops.
Agrotourism and workshops are ongoing strategies for enhancing the profitability of a small aquaponics set
up. An internship and volunteer program can be put in place where operations are explained and clients/visitors
can engage through experiential learning. The core of the curriculum should consist of experiential learning from
knowledgeable staff. Books will be available for loan and internships will be available on a seasonal basis (spring
and summer). Highly recommended, comprehensive books on the subject of aquaponics, its equipment and DIY
construction are Sylvia Bernstein’s Aquaponic Gardening or The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Aquaponic Gardening
by Meg Stout. Having these books on loan or for resource reading in-house would benefit the development of
knowledge on the subject.
Fish raised closer to the people who will eat them and their plants would have the advantage of freshness as
well as savings on transportation costs.

2. 2
Resources
Ackerman, K. Urban Agriculture: opportunities and constraints Columbia University 2012 Woodhead publishing.
Liang, Jung-Yuan, Chien, Yew-Hu Effects of feeding frequency and photoperiod on water quality and crop
production in a tilapia–water spinach raft aquaponics system. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation.
2013 Elsevier Ltd
Buzby, Karen M. Lin, Lian-Shin Scaling aquaponic systems: Balancing plant uptake with fish output Aquacultural
Engineering 63 (2014) pp.39-44
Graber, A. and Junge, R. Aquaponic Systems: Nutrient recycling from fish wastewater
by vegetable production / Desalination 246 (2009) 147–156 149
Lam et al. Biological nutrient removal by recirculating aquaponic system:
Optimization of the dimension ratio between the hydroponic &
rearing tank components International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 102 (2015) 107-115
Love et al. Commercial aquaponics production and profitability: Findings from an international survey
Aquaculture 435 (2015) 67–74
Rafiee, G., Saad, C.R. Nutrient cycle and sludge production during different stages
of red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) growth in a recirculating aquaculture system Aquaculture 244 (2005) 109-118
Rakocy, J.E., Hargreaves, J.A, Bailey, D. S. nutrient Accumulation in a Recirculating Aquaculture System
Integrated with Hydropoince Vegetable Production Aquaculture Engineering Conference, American Society of
Agricultural Engineering