Work out aquaponics fish to plant ratio instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Aquaponic systems are balanced on feed input, not fish numbers: media-bed systems support roughly 40-80 grams of feed per square metre of bed per day for leafy crops. Feed rate also implies fish biomass, since fish are fed about 1.5% of body weight daily, and biomass divided by stocking density gives the tank volume.
Feed-rate balance
Grow bed area = daily feed (g) / feed rate (g/m2/day)
Fish side
Biomass (kg) = feed (g) / 0.015 / 1000; tank volume = biomass / stocking density
Nutrients entering the system come from feed. Two tanks with the same fish weight but different feeding rates supply very different nutrient loads to the plants.
Either increase feed input or reduce bed area. Persistent deficiency in a balanced system usually points to insufficient biofilter surface or low pH suppressing nitrification.