This course gets you started, providing a sound foundation from our team of academics who have decades of experience with aquaculture and hydroponics.

What to expect:

Aquaponics combines plant cultivation with aquaculture to produce edible plants (eg. vegetables, herbs, fruits) and animals (eg. fish, crayfish), from the same system. It can be a highly productive, environmentally friendly way of food production; whether for personal use or commercial farming. You can manage aquaponics on a tiny scale in as little as 1 square meter; through to a very large scale over any number of acres.

How does it work?

At the end of each lesson, you will be given a short interactive test to undertake, which will provide an indication of how your learning is progressing. Upon completing the very last lesson, you will be offered a more thorough automated test or examination. This final assessment can be undertaken at any time of day or night; and any day of the week; and if you achieve an overall pass (60% or more); you will be able to obtain a “certificate of completion” with your name and completion date on it.

Note: these short courses are self-guided online courses and are not to be confused with our tutor-supported online courses.

There are 5 Lessons in this course:

1. Scope and Nature of Aquaponics

• • What grows well in aquaponics?
  • Home systems
  • Commercial farms
  • Advantages of aquaponics
  • Aquaponics is about balance

2. The Aquaponics System

• • What media is best for your grow beds?
  • What else do you need to consider?

3. Growing Fish in Aquaponics

• • Key facts for growing fish in aquaponics
  • Feeding fish
  • How many fish?
  • Monitoring fish
  • Common problems and their symptoms

4. Fish suited for Aquaponics

• • Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)
  • Golden Perch (Macquaria ambigua)
  • Jade Perch (Scortum barcoo)
  • Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii)
  • Barramundi (Lates calcrifera)
  • Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)
  • Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
  • Carp
  • Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
  • Catfish
  • Eel Tailed Catfish (Tandanus tandanus)
  • Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
  • Silver Cobbler (Neoarius midgleyi)
  • Lake Argyle Catfish (syn. Arius midgleyi)
  • Eels (Anguilla)
  • Tilapia
  • Freshwater Crayfish
  • Marron (Cherax tenuimanus)
  • Red Claw (Cherax quadricarinatus)
  • Yabbies (Charax destructor)

5. Growing Plants in Aquaponics

• • What system?
  • Planting guide
  • Planting
  • Herbs
  • Some herbs to grow hydroponically
  • Basil (Sweet) Ocimum basilicum
  • Mint (Mentha spp.)
  • Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
  • Vegetables
  • Cabbage (Brassica oleraceae – Capitata Group)
  • Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
  • Pak-choi and Bok-choy (Brassica rapa – Pekinensis Group)
  • Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
  • Water Chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis)
  • Other
  • Iris species (Iris spp.)
  • Nutrients and deficiencies
  • Mobile and Immobile Nutrients
  • Plant Nutrition
  • Nutrient Deficiency
  • Control of water quality
  • Measuring pH and EC
  • EC Meters and EC Controllers
  • pH Controller
  • Plant pest and disease problems in aquaponics
  • Pests
  • Diseases
  • Damping-off disease
  • Grey mold
  • Powdery mildew
  • Wilt