Skip to main content
Calcimator

Aquaponics System Designer

Design a balanced aquaponics system by calculating grow bed area, water flow, and plant capacity based on fish tank size and stocking density.

Inputs

gallons
plants/ft²

Results

Recommended Grow Bed Area

30 ft²

≈ 45 sheets of paper

Plants Supported

60 plants

Pump Flow Rate

450 GPH

Grow Media Volume224 gallons
Sump Tank Volume112 gallons
Total System Water636 gallons
Daily Fish Feed3.6 oz
Fish Per Gallon0.1
Stocking AssessmentGood density for aquaponics
Base Grow Bed (sq ft)300
Gallons Per Lb20
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter Fish Tank Volume, Number of Fish, and Plant Density.
  2. Review Recommended Grow Bed Area (ft²), Plants Supported (plants), and Pump Flow Rate (GPH).
  3. Use Grow Media Volume (gallons) and Sump Tank Volume (gallons) to inform your decision.
  4. Use the chart to visualize the results and explore different scenarios by adjusting inputs.

How the result changes with Number of Fish

Number of FishRecommended Grow Bed AreaPlants SupportedPump Flow Rate
101101 ft²202 plants450 GPH
351351 ft²702 plants450 GPH
650650 ft²1,300 plants450 GPH
900900 ft²1,800 plants450 GPH

What each input means

Fish Tank Volume
Volume of the fish tank in gallons. Common sizes: 55-300 gallon tanks for hobby systems.
Number of Fish
Total fish in the system. Aim for 1 fish per 5-10 gallons for tilapia or similar species.
Plant Density
Plants per square foot of grow bed. Leafy greens: 2-4, herbs: 4-8, fruiting plants: 1-2.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    Fish Tank Volume = 300, Number of Fish = 30, Plant Density = 2 = 3 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Recommended Grow Bed Area
    Recommended Grow Bed Area
    30 = 30
  3. Calculate Plants Supported
    Plants Supported
    60 = 60
  4. Calculate Pump Flow Rate
    Pump Flow Rate
    450 = 450
  5. Calculate Grow Media Volume
    Grow Media Volume
    224 = 224
  6. Calculate Sump Tank Volume
    Sump Tank Volume
    112 = 112

Related Calculators

The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.

Aquaculture

Recirculating System Design

Design a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with biofilter sizing, pump requirements, and tank volume based on fish biomass and feed rate.

Aquaculture

Water Quality Calculator

Assess aquaculture water quality by evaluating ammonia, nitrite, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature against safe thresholds for fish.

Aquaculture

Fish Stocking Rate

Calculate optimal fish stocking density per acre based on pond size, species, and target harvest weight for sustainable aquaculture production.

Wildlife Management

Fish Stocking Rate Calculator

Calculate optimal fish stocking density for sport fisheries management based on water body characteristics, species, and management goals.

More in Agriculture & Farming.