Types of Aquaponic Systems

At GreenView Aquaponics Farm, we run multiple hybrid aquaponics systems, which simply means we have more than one type of aquaponics system on one recirculating loop.

In one of our hybrid systems in the photo below, there are four types of systems integrated into one recirculating system with fish rearing tanks (front left), tomatoes and peppers growing in a media bed above a sump (back left), DIY dutch buckets (middle), vertical (front middle), deep water culture (right).

Aquaponics utilizes many of the same and/or similar systems as Hydroponics. Some systems are adapted specifically to aquaponics since the aquaponics water is generally not as crystal clear as hydroponics due to the biological activity present in the aquaponics systems. Here's an overview of the types of aquaponics systems that can be utilized for aquaponic growing.

Types of Systems:

Deep Water Culture (aka DWC) is a system that utilizes a trough with a specified depth of water in which the plants are grown in rafts that float on top of the water with the roots being suspended in the nutrient rich water.

Flood and Drain (aka Ebb and Flow or Media Beds) is a system in which plants grow in beds filled with expanded clay balls, expanded shale, or other pH neutral media where water floods the bed using ebb and flow. Ebb and Flow involves water entering the grow bed and draining either by the use of a bell siphon, knee or "u" siphon, indexing valve or gravity.

Nutrient Film Technique (aka NFT) is a system in which plants grow in channels with a thin film of nutrient rich water flowing continuously or on a timer. This method may also be adapted to warmer climates by running larger volumes of water through larger diameter channels.

Vertical is a system that utilizes a similar system to the NFT in a vertical orientation rather than a horizontal on. There is usually a substrate inside to hold the plants in position as well as a drip function. Unlike a NFT, it is generally done with the use of a timer and may or may not recirculate. Examples are BrightAgrotech's ZipGrow Towers and Verti-Gro Systems.

Dutch Buckets (aka Bato Buckets) is a system that utilizes a similar system to the Flood & Drain with containers rather than grow beds that contain similar media that are sub-irrigated usually on a timed intervals and drains by gravity.

Wicking Beds is a system that can be troughs or containers that contain a soil-less media with a large reservoir to hold water. These are generally sub-irrigated. EarthBoxes are an example of the same sub-irrigating concept that is often used with or without soil.