Aquaponics - Component Ratio
by John Yazo
The component ratio is the ratio between the fish tank and the growing bed. The volume of either one will determine the other, for the most part the tank volume governs the maximize size of the bed. This ratio is very important in this method of gardening, plants need the effluent fish water, fish tank waste water, from the tank to thrive.
The larger the bed, the more plants, the more effluent fish water is required. Simply put, you need enough fish to support the water supply that the plants need. In general the recommended growing bed to fish tank ratio is approximately 1:1, being that the volume of the tank should be approximately equal to the volume of the bed. This ratio can be calculated in gallons per cubic foot or cubic feet per gallon, one cubic foot is equal to 7.48 gallons. If you know the gallon size of the fish tank you are using, then divide it by 7.48 and you will know what cubic foot size bed it will support. The ratio can be extended as far as 2:1, 2 being the fish tank size and 1 being the growing bed, but when done this way you will need to reduce the amount of stocked fish to the 1:1 ratio, due to the filtering capability of the growing bed and quantity of plants.
When planning an aquaponic growing bed, the depth of the growing media should be twelve inches. This will provide enough depth to support most plant life and to encourage an excellent bacteria development. A twelve inch depth also should never need cleaning if a good healthy eco-system is established, it should be able to take care of itself.
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