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Commercial Aquaponics 
 Ken Semmens Matthew Ferrell 
 
 Examples – “Business Model” 
 
 Production System 
 University of the Virgin Islands Recirculating 
Aquaculture System 
 Flowing Water System at Reymann Memorial Farm 
This presentation 
is intended to help you understand 
more about aquaponics on a 
commercial scale. 
 Rob Nash 
 Commercial system 
 Started as tilapia, but it was found to energy intensive in the 
winter 
 Sells at local farmers market, contracts with restaurants 
 2-3 dollars a head lettuce, sells kale, peppers, and tomato's as 
well 
 Brings lettuce still attached to net pots and roots 
 His farmers market activities drive system sales 
 
 
Business Model 
Restaurant, Farm Market, System Sales 
 
 Nate Story- Zip Grow Towers 
 Commercial Vertical system 
 Aim is to locate very close to city 
markets 
 Sell live products in store 
 Use as much space as possible within 
grow house 
 At one point used tilapia, but has 
moved on to non food fish 
 
Business Model 
Retail and System Sales 
 
 
Marc Laberge from Quebec (http://www.cultures-
aquaponiques.com/team.htm). 
 
He raises rainbow trout and lettuce. He sells about 
$1000 worth of smoked trout a week and 6,800 
heads of lettuce. He has survived for 8 years just 
doing production. Now he sells franchises. 
Business Model 
Off the farm, grocery, and franchises 
 Green Acre Aquaponics 
 Based on modified UVI system 
 Been in operation 3 years 
 Supplement their organic wholesale food and CSA 
products 
 Large percent of income directly related to their teaching. 
 Commercial guide cost $995 
 Classes are $1295 per person 
 
 
Business Model 
Wholesale , CSA , tours and education 
 
Growhaus - Variation on the UVI Design 
 Hybrid System 
 25% Beds with substrate 
 75% Rafts 
 Plants primary 
 Fish secondary 
 
Tilapia 
Fingerlings 
Tilapia 
grow out 
Settle solid 
waste 
Substrate 
Reservoir 
1st raft 
channel 
2nd raft 
channel 
3rd raft 
channel 
Pump 
Growhaus - Denver 
Tilapia 
Fingerlings 
Tilapia 
grow out 
Settle solid 
waste 
Substrate 
Reservoir 
1st raft 
channel 
2nd raft 
channel 
3rd raft 
channel 
Pump 
Growhaus - Denver 
 
 Will Allen’s Growing Power 
 Is a multi disciple agriculture 
learning center 
 Aquaponics is a small part of the 
system 
 Charge for tours and sell produce 
 Use mostly volunteer labor and 
“internships” 
 Many paid positions are grant 
funded or through Americorps. 
 
 
Business Models 
Nonprofit, Educational and Agri-tourism 
 After School Matters 
 Allen Foundation 
 Andrah Foundation, Ruth Knoll 
 Anonymous Family Foundation 
 Bayshore Community 
Foundation Fund 
 Bradshaw Knight Foundation 
 Brewers Community 
Foundation, Inc. 
 Brico Fund 
 Bruce and Muriel Hach 
Scientific Foundation 
 C.G. Schmidt Construction 
Company 
 Ceres Foundation 
 Chicago Community Trust, 
Searle Family Fund 
 Chicago Department of Family 
and Support Services 
 Chicago Police Department 
Force for Good 
 Chicago State University 
Foundation 
 City of Chicago Community 
Development Grants 
Administration 
 City of Milwaukee, Community 
Development Grants 
Administration 
 Clif Bar Family Foundation 
 Community Benefit Trust Fund 
 Cream City Foundation - 
Joseph R. Pabst LGBT 
Infrastructure Fund 
 Critical Mass Leadership 
Education 
 Dagoba Organic Chocolate 
 David & Julia Uihlein 
Charitable Foundation 
 Farm Aid 
 First Unitarian Society of 
Milwaukee 
 GE Foundation Matching Gifts 
 The Goggio Family Foundation 
 Greater Milwaukee 
Foundation 
 Greater Milwaukee 
Foundation, Henry & Mary 
Franke Idea Fund 
 Greater Milwaukee 
Foundation, Frank Kirkpatrick 
Fund 
 Greater Milwaukee 
Foundation, Kopmeier Family 
Fund 
 Greater Milwaukee 
Foundation, Walter and Olive 
Stiemke Fund 
 Green Bay Packers Foundation 
 H.H. Camp Foundation 
 Headwaters Foundation for 
Justice – Young Donors Circle 
Fund 
Business Model 
Nonprofit - contributors 
 Helen Bader Foundation 
 Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation 
 Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation 
 JPMorgan Chase Foundation 
 J.R. Albert Foundation 
 Kohl’s Stores A-Team 
 LaSalle Bank 
 Lawson Valentine Foundation 
 L.E. Phillips Family Foundation, Inc. 
 Liberty Property Trust 
 Linda and Jock Mutschler 
Foundation 
 Lubar Family Foundation - Sheldon 
& Marianne Lubar Charitable Fund 
 Manaaki Foundation 
 Medical College of Wisconsin, 
Healthier Wisconsin Partnership 
Program 
 Meshewa Farm Foundation 
 Miller Brewing Company 
 Milwaukee Area Workforce 
Investment Board 
 Milwaukee County Community 
Development Block Grant 
 National Education Association 
Foundation 
 Northwestern Mutual Foundation 
 Patrick and Anna Cudahy Fund 
 Parkways Foundation 
 Richard and Ethel Herzfeld 
Foundation 
 Rotary Club of Mitchell Field 
Charitable Foundation 
 Scott’s Miracle Grow 
 Service Club of Milwaukee 
 Silver Spring Neighborhood Center 
 St. Pius Congregation 
 State of Wisconsin Office of Energy 
Independence 
 The 11-10-02 Foundation 
 The Barnwood Foundation 
 The Cleveland Foundation 
 The Community Foundation 
Serving Boulder County 
 The E-Z Coffee Stand 
 The Gardner Foundation 
 The J.M. Kaplan Fund 
 The John D. and Catherine T. 
MacArthur Foundation 
 The McCormick Foundation 
 The Monches Foundation 
 The Robert R. McCormick 
Foundation 
 The Seed Fund 
 University of Wisconsin Extension 
 USA for Africa 
 US Environmental Protection 
Agency Environmental Justice 
Grants Program 
 USDA Community Food Projects 
 USDA Farmers Market Promotion 
Program 
 The following businesses and 
individuals have contributed their 
time, money, and materials: 
 Growing Power's Board of 
Director's and the Chicago Advisory 
Board for their guidance and 
generosity with their time 
 Will Allen, Milwaukee 
Business Model 
Nonprofit - contributors 
 
 Alterra Coffee 
 Avec, Chicago 
 Blackbird, Chicago 
 Bleeding Heart Bakery, 
Chicago 
 Breadsmith Bakery, 
Milwaukee 
 Columbia College, Chicago 
 Dagoba Organic Chocolate 
 Dave Ditscheit, Milwaukee 
 First Slice Cafe, Chicago 
 Floriole Bakery, Chicago 
 Fraiche Kitchen, Chicago 
 Get Me Greg's, Chicago 
 Gino's Deli & Catering, 
Milwaukee 
 Goodness Greeness, 
Chicago 
 Joan Jacobs, Milwaukee 
 Jonathan’s Bagel, 
Milwaukee 
 Lakefront Brewery, 
Milwaukee 
 Kitchen Chicago, Chicago 
 Magilo's Produce, 
Milwaukee 
 Elizabeth Malone, 
Milwaukee 
 Arthur Marburg, 
Milwaukee 
 Marcus Corporation, 
Milwaukee 
 Outpost Cooperative, 
Milwaukee 
 The Publican, Chicago 
 Red Hen Bread, Chicago 
 Seedling Fruit, Michigan 
 Sendik's Grocery, 
Milwaukee 
 The Signature Room, 
Chicago 
 The Simple Soyman, 
Milwaukee 
 Sprecher Brewery, 
Milwaukee 
 Sunday Dinner, Chicago 
 Dave Swanson, Milwaukee 
 Vella Cafe, Chicago 
 Whole Foods, Chicago 
 Wild Flour Bakery, 
Milwaukee 
Business Model 
Nonprofit - contributors 
 Currently aquaponics is a viable business that seems 
to require diversification of productsand services. 
 
 It is difficult, though possible, to run a farm with 
revenue from the produce alone. 
Take home message: 
Reymann Memorial Farm (WVU) 
Cold Flowing Water System 
Wardensville, WV 
Spring 
Trout 
Raceway 
Aquaponic 
Channel 
with rafts 
Polishing 
Pond 
Discharge 
to Stream 
Cold Flowing Water System 
Facility Components at Reymann Memorial Farm 
Plants adapted to cool root zone: 
• Watercress 
• Lettuce 
• Swiss Chard 
• Kale 
• Kohlrabi 
• Broccoli 
• Cabbage 
• Nasturtium 
• Calendula 
• Dianthus 
• Mums 
 
 
Greenhouse 
High Tunnel 
 Nutrient levels low, do not accumulate 
 Seeking to determine what grows well and rates of 
production 
 First goal - product value, second goal - improve 
water quality. 
 More information on this work covered in Research 
Update part of today’s program. 
Reymann Memorial Farm (WVU) 
UVI -best known, most well researched 
aquaponic production system 
Diagram from Recirculating Aquaculture Systems by Timmons et al 2002, pg 637. NRAC pub 01-002 
Slides from Plant Production Presentation at the 2012 
Aquaponics Association Meeting 
James Rakocy, 
PhD 
Director/Consultant of The Aquaponics Doctors 
http://theaquaponicsdoctors.com/ 
 
Formerly: 
 
AES Director, Professor of Aquaculture at University of the Virgin Islands 
 
Pioneered Aquaponics research and development. 
 
Nutrients Required for Plant Growth 
 Macronutrients 
– C Carbon* 
– O Oxygen* 
– H Hydrogen* 
– N Nitrogen 
– K Potassium** 
– Ca Calcium** 
– Mg Magnesium 
– P Phosphorus 
– S Sulfur 
 
 
 Micronutrients 
– Cl Chlorine 
– Fe Iron** 
– Mn Manganese 
– B Boron 
– Zn Zinc 
– Cu Copper 
– Mo Molybdenum 
* Supplied by CO2 and H2O ** Must be supplemented 
Rakocy 2012 
Production Methods 
 Staggered 
 Allows weekly harvests 
 Facilitates market development 
 Maintains uniform nutrient uptake 
 Batch 
 Easier management 
 Can deplete nutrients 
 
 
Rakocy 2012 
Seedling Production 
Greenhouse or shade house 
 Protected area 
Keep it clean 
 Metal tables 
 Install drain if concrete floor 
 Weed barrier if gravel floor 
Planting media and dead plant material can 
harbor 
 insects and disease 
 
Rakocy 2012 
Planting Media 
Soilless potting mix 
Coir (coconut fibers) + Vermiculite 
 60% + 40% mix 
 Free from pythium 
 Requires fertilizer supplementation 
 Labor required to prepare mix 
Rakocy 2012 
Planting Media 
 Peat potting mix (i.e. 
Promix BX) 
– Inexpensive 
– Readably available 
– Contains micronutrients 
for seedling growth 
– Can have pythium 
spores 
 Jiffy peat pellets 
– Expensive 
– Easy to use 
– Can have pythium 
spores 
 Oasis root cubes 
– Expensive 
– Requires additional 
nutrients 
– Dries out quickly in 
greenhouse 
 Rockwool 
– Expensive 
– Non-biodegradable 
Rakocy 2012 
Seedling Production 
 Fill flat with mix 
 Seed at required depth for plant variety 
 Automatic seeder for small and surface planted seeds 
 Cover flat until seeds germinate 
 Many seeds germinate better in the dark 
 Keeps mice from stealing seeds 
 Keeping covered too long causes seedlings to elongate 
and have weak stems 
 Water as needed 
 Some seeds prefer dryer conditions than others 
 Use mist nozzle for first week 
 Fertilize 2-3 times weekly 
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Watering Equipment 
Hozon Siphon Mixer 
– 1:16 proportioning device 
Rakocy 2012 
NPK Nitrogen, Potassium, 
Phosphorous 
N - Nitrogen - shoots 
P - Phosphorous - roots 
K - Potassium - flowers and fruit 
 
Use 9-45-15 for seedling production 
– Promotes strong root formation 
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Deep Flowing Channels 
 
 Six channels 
 100 ft x 4 ft x 16 in 
 Total water volume 
 18,000 gallons 
 3 hr retention time 
 72 rafts 
 8 ft x 4 ft 
 Growing area 
 2304 ft2 
 
 
 
 100 ft x 4 ft x 16 in 
 
 
– 72 Rafts 
2.4 m x 1.2 m x 3.8 cm 
(8 ft x 4 ft x 1.5 in) 
214 m2 surface area 
(2,304 ft2) 
Rakocy 2012 
Raft Preparation 
 Closed-cell polystyrene (Dow blue board, not 
scored) 
 Dow Styrofoam® Square Edge Extruded 
 4 ft x 8 ft x 1.5 in 
 Paint 
 White, latex, non-toxic, roof paint 
 Plant holes – 1.87 in 
 Use template for spacing 
 Spacing varies for vegetable variety 
 Net pots: 2 in x 2 in 
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Production Management 
pH maintained at 7.0 
 KOH 
 Ca(OH)2 
Chelated iron 
 2 ppm (mg/liter) 
 Chelated iron is 13% pure so multiply by 7.7 
 (i.e., 15.4 mg of product gives 2 mg of iron) 
Manage net tanks with cleaning schedule to 
control nitrate levels 
Biological pest control 
 Integrated pest management Rakocy 2012 
Rakocy 2012 
 
Rakocy 2012 
Lettuce 
High nitrogen levels promotes leafy growth 
Short production cycle generates steady 
cash flow 
Strong demand 
Rakocy 2012 
Lettuce Production Cycle 
Greenhouse Phase 
 Week 1 
– Day 0: seed 
 Week 2 
– Day 7: thin flat 
– Day 7, 10, 13: fertilize 
 Week 3 
– Day 14, 16, 19: 
fertilize 
Aquaponic System Phase 
 Week 4 
– Day 21: transplant to 
aquaponic system 
– Day 23, 26: spray with BT 
 Week 5 
– Day 30, 33: Spray with BT 
 Week 6 
– Day 37, 40: Spray with BT 
 Week 7 
– Day 42, 45: Spray with BT 
– Day 49: Harvest 
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Rakocy 2012 
Lettuce Harvest Procedures 
 Move sheets with mature plants to one end of the raft 
 Lift sheets to harvesting stand or harvest in place 
 Cut off lettuce stalk with a sharp knife and remove 
lower poor quality leaves 
 Discard any poor quality lettuce 
 Pack 24 lettuce heads to a box 
 Weigh several randomly selected boxes minus the 
empty box weight to calculate total harvest weight and 
average weight per head of lettuce. 
 Count box to determine total lettuce number and 
percentage of marketable yield 
 
Rakocy 2012 
Lettuce Harvest Procedures 
 Lettuce that is not distributed immediately should 
be stored in a moist refrigerated room 
 Surface of the sheets should be washed with 
dechlorinated water to remove any dead leaves 
and quickly returned to hydroponic tanks 
 Plants roots and growing media should be 
removed from net pots and discarded 
 Cleaned net pots should be disinfected by soaking 
them in water containing bleach, rinsed and then 
dried before they are used again. 
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Lettuce Production Values 
Type Romaine Crisphead Leaf Bibb 
Variety Parris 
Island 
Montello Sierra Boston 
Bibb 
Density 
(plants/raft) 
48 60 60 88 
Harvest 
(cs/sheet) 
2 2.5 2.5 3.67 
Value 
($/case) 
30 25 25 20 
Total 60 62.5 62.50 73.4 
Rakocy 2012 
Leaf Lettuce 
 Sierra 
 20/m2, 60 per raft 
 Staggered production 
18 rafts harvested/week 
 Market value 
$1.00/head 
 Value$196/m2/year 
~$41,900/system/year 
 
Rakocy 2012 
 
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Romaine Lettuce 
 Parris Island 
 16/m2, 48 per raft 
 Staggered production 
18 rafts harvested/week 
 Market value 
$1.25/head 
 Value 
$157/m2/yearr 
~$33,600/system/yearr 
Rakocy 2012 
Pythium spp. 
 Root fungus 
 No IPM control 
 Low temperature 
reduces growth and 
impact of some 
Pythium species 
 Select resistant 
varieties 
 
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Basil Production 
 48 plants/sheet 
 Staggered production 
 Complete harvest recommended 
 Cut and come again at 4 week intervals is 
alternative 
 Grow for 3 months 
 Harvest (cut) three times then remove 
 Reduces survival and increases pythium 
 Seedlings 
 3 weeks in greenhouse 
 
Rakocy 2012 
Basil 
Genovese 
16/m2, 48 per 
raft 
Market value 
 $10.00/lb 
Value 
 $515/m2/yr 
 
$110,210/system/yr 
 
 Rakocy 2012 
Melon Production 
2 plants/sheet 
 Use one side only and allow plants to run on 
ground 
 Plant other side with companion crop 
 Or construct narrow hydroponic tanks 
< 3 month crop 
Plants die as melons ripen on the vine 
Seedlings 
 1-2 weeks in greenhouse 
Rakocy 2012 
Cantaloupe 
 Jaipur 
 0.67/m2, 2 per raft 
 Market value 
 $3.99 each 
 Value 
 Each: $46.28/m2/yr 
 $9,900/system/yr 
 
 
 
Rakocy 2012 
Revenue for Various Crops 
Crop $/m2/yr $/ft2/yr 
Leaf lettuce (20/m2) 196 18.22 
Romaine lettuce 
(16/m2) 
157 14.59 
Basil (16/m2) 515 47.86 
Okra (3.7/m2) 15 1.39 
Cantaloupe (0.67/m2) 46 4.28 
Rakocy 2012 
Plant Pest and Disease Control 
No synthetic chemical pesticides 
 
Biological controls used to control insects 
 
 IPM to reduce pest pressure 
 
 
Rakocy 2012 
Biological Controls 
 Dipel 
 Bacteria 
 Controls 
caterpillars 
 
 Armicarb 
 Potassium 
 bicarbonate 
 Controls fungus, 
 powdery mildew. 
 Changes pH of leaf 
 surface making it 
 unsuitable for 
 fungus growth 
 BotaniGard 
 Fungus 
 Controls soft bodied 
insects (white flies, 
aphids) 
 
Rakocy 2012 
 Application 
of Dipel with 
gas powered 
backpack 
sprayer 
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Soaps and Oils 
Coats insect causing 
death. 
Kills all insects 
 Including beneficial 
Ladybugs, wasps, bees 
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Barriers 
Shade cloth 
Tangle foot 
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Thank you, Jim, for sharing these 
slides. 
 
Questions?