Limitations of Aquaponics

1. Costly to Set Up
One of the disadvantages of aquaponics is that it is costly to set up and maintain. to
build and set up a backyard aquaponics system ranges from $2000 to $11000
depending on what kind of set up. Below is a table of the of the total cost of
everything to set up and maintain a aquaponics system. Most of the cost is buying all
the equipment. This is of course only the cost of set up. There is also the fish and
plants to buy and there is your monthly electricity bill as well. The fish will cost
around $200 to $1320 depending on what system. The seedlings are much cheaper
and will range around from $60 to $360.

2. High Electricity Usage

One disadvantage of using an aquaponic system is that the electricity outputs are very
high. This is because the fish tank needs to be kept a certain temperature 24 hours a
day. This is an obvious problem for developing countries, as they don’t have any
power sources in their villages.

3. Water needs to be constantly monitored

To make sure the water quality is OK for fish. This is certainly the case during the
first couple of months. After the system has matured water testing is usually carried
out only once a week unless there are problems.

4. Have to provide fish food

Ok so you don't have to add fertilizer or nutrients but you do have to provide fish
food. Yes, you do, the fish eat the food and their waste is used to produce nutrients for
the plants. Of course, you also have to feed fish in an aquaculture system and in an
aquaculture, system fish waste is not used in such a productive way. Fish are some of
the best animals at converting food into body mass (different fish species vary) and so
are an efficient way of producing meat and protein. Most people buy commercially
available fish food for their fish although many people supplement this feed by
growing worms, duckweed and other plants and animals