The most common fish used in aquaponics setup is tilapia. It has a lot of advantages, not least being their popularity as food, which means they are a dependable “cash crop” for commercial growers. Aside from their taste, tilapia are extremely popular because they’re very easy fish to grow. They can survive a wider range of temperature, pH and ammonia levels that most other fish species, and they’re very adaptable, meaning they’re more likely to survive the occasional missteps of new aquaponics operators. If you’re not looking for your fish helpers to end up on a dinner plate, then koi are a good alternative. Like tilapia, they’re hardy, can tolerate less than ideal water quality, and they offer the added bonus of great personalities. Be honest: how many radishes are going to crowd up to greet you in the morning when you get to work?
Plenty of other fish species can thrive in aquaponics systems, but you may want to compare their ideal growing conditions to the conditions that your plants need. A plant that prefers acidic conditions won’t do well with fish that need more alkaline water, for example, and cold water trout may not coexist happily with pineapples. Once you’ve got some experience under your belt, trout, salmon and even largemouth bass are excellent choices. It’s worth mentioning as well that catfish are quite tolerant and make extremely good options for beginners, especially if the electrical supply is questionable in your setup.
