From a media bed unit start-up in Bangkok to a fully developed 120 households deep water culture (DWC) unit in Ethiopia, aquaponics is showcasing its true potential to produce sustainable food anytime, anywhere. A marriage between aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish, snails or prawns in tanks) and hydroponics (cultivating plants in water), aquaponics is a ‘clean and green’ way of efficiently cultivating plants in recirculating systems. 

To date, more than 150 different vegetables, herbs, flowers and small trees have been grown successfully in aquaponic systems, including research, domestic and commercial units.

Whether you are starting your aquaponics unit at home, developing a large-scale aquaponics project, or championing small-scale aquaponic units in the classroom, here are seven rules to follow.