Avoid these 3 Easy to Make Aquaponic Mistakes

Believe it or not my dear readers, I've made a few mistakes along my aquaponic journey.  No, it’s true … I really have.  I'm kinda still making some of them.  Sure, I have some great growth on my plants and my SWC aquaponic garden bed is covered in lush green growth.  Sure I've been at it for almost 3 years now … oh my, I've been at this for three years?  Where does the time go … anyway, back to the topic at hand.

The easiest mistake to make with a new, or an old, aquaponic garden is over planting.  What’s that?  I hear you asking about how that can be if  one of the advantages of aquaponics is it can grow so many more plants?  Here, let me explain this thought a little better.  Plants need a few basic things besides just water and nutrients.  Light and air flow are great examples of this.  Even though you CAN grow 50 plants in 16 square feet of garden, really doesn't mean that you should.  Based on my own personal experiences, I would recommend using something similar to the square foot gardening method when it comes time to plant your aquaponic garden bed.  Yes, it’s less plants but it’s also more nutrients for each plant so think about the potential for a bumper crop of whatever you plant in there.

Over Planted Much JT?

The second super easy to make mistake is shallow garden beds.  I have two grow beds that are each only 6 inches deep and I can honestly tell you, it’s not deep enough.  Sure, I saved a few dollars buying the shallow bed and sure I saved a few more when I made the second one at that same depth.  However, it’s just not a good idea.  It may work, but it’s not a good idea.  I think that ideally an aquaponic garden bed should be at least 12 inches deep to allow for proper water flow and bacterial function.  Plus deeper beds allow for adding worms to help with any solids that might sneak past your filters.

An Excellent Example of a Bad Drain,
sadly taken in my greenhouse today.

The third and final mistake that can be made with great ease involves drains.  One can be easily tempted to use an extra piece of the irrigation pipe to make the drain for the grow bed.  DON’T DO IT!  When it comes time to build your drain think big.  Like Texas big.  Big.  As a minimum I would recommend something at least twice the size of whatever pipe is feeding water into the garden to ensure a smooth a quick drain cycle every time.  Drains, bell siphons in particular, seem to cause many fresh aquaponic gardeners a great deal of frustration that can easily be avoided by building a wider drain.  Simple as that.

So here you go, learn from my mistakes … don't repeat them.
Now go out there and get growing!

JT Bear