The Online Urban Aquaponics Manual currently comprises 22 sections:
Foreword – In this section, you’ll hear from Bruce Sambell, proprietor of Ausyfish and Past President of the Aquaculture Association of Queensland. He is one of Australia’s foremost aquaculturists with over 20 years’ experience of breeding and rearing Australian freshwater fish.
A Pocket History of Aquaponics – While most people know that aquaponics is the combination of Aquaculture and Hydroponics, rather fewer know much of how it came about. In this section, we’ll review some of the events that led us to aquaponics as we currently understand it.
In Search of Aquaponics - In this section, we relate our personal journey in integrated backyard food production and, more recently, in aquaponics. We’ll show you all of our aquaponics systems…..from our first tiny system to our latest design – The Queenslander.
Urban Aquaponics - Imagine being able to raise your own freshwater fish and salad – simultaneously – in your own backyard. Well, you can…..using aquaponics. In this section, we look at what aquaponics is, how it works and why people do it.
The Aquaponics Eco-System - In this section, we take a look at how the integration of fish and plants forms an eco-system that enhances the productivity and resilience of both sets of organisms.
Understanding Filtration - In the preceding section, we looked at how aquaponics works from a basic microbiological perspective. In this section, we look at how we optimise the conditions under which the beneficial bacteria work – in the best interests of fish health and well-being.
Designing an Aquaponics System - In this section, we consider system design criteria – those things that should be a feature of every aquaponics system – and we look at designing for optimum performance and resilience.
Choosing an Aquaponics System Layout - In this section, we consider the various system layout options and describe how they work.
Selecting System Components - While a basic recirculating aquaculture system comprises a tank, a pump and a grow bed/bio-filter, there are many variations on the basic RAS theme. In this section, we consider the essential components and some of the performance-enhancing extras.
Selecting Your Growing Systems - Aquaponics is the integration of recirculating aquaculture and hydroponics……in all of its forms. In this section, we consider the range of hydroponic growing systems that are available for use with aquaponics systems.
Controlling the Movement of Water - In a healthy aquaponics system, the water is continuously moving. In this section, we consider the various options for controlling that movement.
Choosing Your Fish - In this section, we look at the diverse range of fish species that are available for use in aquaponics.
Growing Plants - In this section, we look at some of the wide variety of plants that can be grown in aquaponics systems…..and their environmental and nutrient requirements. We also consider plant spacing and pest control in aquaponics systems.
Managing Water Quality – Water quality management epitomises aquaponics. In this section, we look at how to keep your fish alive and healthy.
Managing Water Temperature - Most species of fish are produced within a narrow water temperature range. Supplementary heating will be required to keep most species at their optimum temperature for at least part of the year. In this section, we consider some of the options for managing water temperature.
Starting Up Your AP System - You’ve assembled the components for your AP system and now you want to know how to start and run it. In this section, we cover the most important (and least understood) aspect of operating an aquaponics system……cycling.
Operating an Aquaponics System - In this section, we cover the day-to-day operation of an aquaponics system.
Bullet-proofing Your AP System - In this section, we look at the common causes of failure associated with an aquaponics system……and how to prevent them.
Feeding Your Fish - Understanding the full effect of feeding fish in an aquaponics system is central to realising its productive potential. In this section, we look at some of the more important aspects of feeding fish.
Variations on the Aquaponics Theme - The basic recirculating aquaponics system is unquestionably a useful means by which to produce fish and plants. It is, however, not the only way that the production of fish and plants can be integrated and, in some circumstances, it may not even be the best way. In this section, we look at some other growing system options.
Microponics - Aquaponics is the integration of fish and plants through the combination of recirculating aquaculture and hydroponics…..resulting in what we refer to as an Aquaponic Eco-system. The more diverse the eco-system (the greater the number of integrations), the more resilient and productive it becomes. In this section, we look at Microponics – the integration of fish, plants and micro-livestock.
Bibliography - In this section, we list those books and publications that have most influenced our thinking about integrated backyard food production.
This is the material that we've added to the Manual since it's launch in January 2011.
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