Coming up with the right design for your aquaponics garden is very important, as it will help to make your garden look nice, function properly, work more efficiently, and cost less in terms of water and energy use.

Below you’ll find some useful tips to help you create a highly effective system, and at the bottom of this page you’ll find links to resources that’ll help speed everything up for you.

Tip #1: Try Shorter Tubes

The idea is for your garden to use the least amount of energy possible, but having to pump the water through long tubes can end up costing you a small fortune in electricity at the end of each month. If you’re going to use a continuous feed system, it’s best to keep the tubes as short as possible. Set up the garden immediately above the tank, and keep the water tube short to reduce the strain placed on your pump.

Tip #2: Reduce Your Tank Height

Many people like to use a 30-inch fish tank, but it may be a bit larger than you need. A 24-inch fish tank will give your fish more than enough space to swim around in, and it will ensure that your garden beds are at a level that is easy for you to reach.

Tip #3: Consider a Sump Tank

If you are going to grow on two or more beds, you will have to rely on a drainage system to catch the run-off water and send it back to the fish tank. However, you may find that your tank gets filled too quickly when all of the water collects at the same time, which means that it will drain too quickly when it’s watering the rest of your plants.

Installing a sump tank beneath your grow beds is a good solution, as it will catch the water and reduce the amount of run-off that fills the tank immediately. The sump tank can be set to fill the fish tank only when it gets too full or the water level in the fish tank gets too low, which will reduce the drastic fluctuation of water levels.

Tip #4: Try Auto-Siphons

The goal of your aquaponics design is to make the system work all on its own, without the need for you to do anything more than check the water levels and harvest the plants. If you use auto-siphons, it will help to prevent the tank’s water level from getting too empty. The auto-siphons will collect the water as it drips from the plants, and the water will be drained back into the tank. This will ensure a fairly consistent water level in the tank, which will help to keep the fish safe.

Coming up with a good aquaponics design will ensure that your fish tank is just as safe for your fish as the garden is for your plants. You can’t focus on only the plants, as that may cause your fish to die or suffer from neglect. If you take care of your fish, they will keep your plants healthy. If you take care of your plants, they will keep your fish healthy. It’s the cycle of nature, and it’s your job to ensure that you are keeping it as balanced as possible.

Aquaponics Design Resources:

• Aquaponics 4 You
• Easy DIY Aquaponics
• Aquaponics Made Easy