I find the concept of aquaponics interesting and I do like watching YT videos on the subject - I think some of the set-ups are awesome, but a friend asked my opinion the other day whether I thought aquaponics on a small backyard scale was worth the effort and personally I don't think it is unless you are into the "hobby" of keeping fish and are really dedicated to looking after the whole system. I disagree with people who say aquaponics is a "set and forget" system that requires little attention, low cost, and is the perfect eco-cycle symbiotic way to grow produce and fish at the same time. My research has not shown this to be the case. If you really love fish and are the type of person who likes to tinker around with pipes, filters, pumps etc, then aquaponics is great fun I'd imagine; however, if the main interest is in growing some greens for yourself and the family then the conventional garden bed or growing in containers (even hydroponics) is still the way to go - that's just my opinion. Cheers :)

All the comments are bashing this guy but this video inspired me to want to do aquaponics. All his videos seem to be showing what you can do to be self sufficient and not how to

I see many comments that are slightly condescending and or critical of the presentation, now now, at least he had the brains to try to show this way to the people. he gets my vote and regards.

With so many out there with ponds for ambiance and aesthetics, there's a population out there with the basic skills to step over into the world of aquaponics. John - your passion is infectious! Keep up the great work promoting on getting back to basics.

Never done aquaponics and here is what I think, he made this for the beginner not for those already with the knowledge. His phrases, his terms are his way of explaining, everybody has their own flair when doing something. The take away: his explanation makes perfect sense for everything I've seen about beginning a project like this, of course in due time I will go in my own direction if I feel I can improve or do something differently. Root rot Root death Root fungus Root sickness Root failure Root dysfunction Root flood syndrome Root negativity Root malfunctions Root etc, ect, you see there are many ways to express something but it all means trouble for growing your plants, if the explanation he gives doesn't suit you then the video isn't for you, I've watched this man and his experience and work he puts in gives me confidence that he is someone to learn from, that said please everybody having misgivings about what he says do your own video so I can learn from you too, maybe your way is better, but let me decide.

This video is 6 years old. Turned out to be really informative

Thank you John it's always wonderful pleasure watching you educating others don't quit we all need you keep up the good work

WELL SAID!!! "Botany,-the science of the vegetable kingdom, is one of the most attractive, most useful, and most extensive departments of human knowledge. It is, above every other, the science of beauty. ...................."

Best Video By Far, I will watch at home again, you have all the systems working

Hello, My name is Adeleke Favour and am a farmer from Nigeria I really appreciate you and your team for bringing creativity and sustainability into agriculture by introducing aquaponics in its best way. Actually in my farm I grow fruits, vegetables, livestocks and herbs and we're really intentional about this because we feel we add values to humanity. Meeting our customers need consistently had not been too easy on us basically because there is a whole lot more we need to learn from experts in this field in terms of technology advancements seed quality and more, and that is the main reason why we need your company's experience to guide us in achieving this. Actually we really want to add values to our country which is suffering from food insecurity, malnutrition, stunting and hunger. We can be of help to our country by improving our productivity rate and by making research on how to grow and sustain our farm for the future in other to help solve most problems we go through in health here in Nigeria. I know your company had made a difference by setting up a strategic plan on how to grow vegetables organically, and we would love to do the same here in Nigeria in other to reduce most paradox we go through. We would love to know more on how to set up an aquaponic farm in terms of finances, equipments, structural planning and resources in other to achieve this. We can also bridge a gap in terms of building a capacity of collaboration. Thank you so much QIQI farms.

Hi John, I too am so glad you found aquaponics! I'm here is So Cal and have been running my system for the past 3 years. This past year I've moved my starter flood and drain system 110 gal to the side and now running it as a CHOP2 system using an IBC.

Thank God I found this when I did. I'm about to start a greenhouse, and I was so pumped for that, but now that I've seen this, my excitement is at a new level. Awesome vid! Appreciate it

This was the first video I watched that properly explained and showed a bell siphon and how it works and why you use one vs just an overflow valve. Great explanation of the whole process. Thank you so much for your video!

I'm doing this at my home! I CAN'T WAIT to get started!

Wow! You've done the best so far to really explain the whole set-up! Thanks!

Awesome!!! One of the few entertaining, interesting and informative videos on 'aquaponics' I've seen! Thank you John, really enjoyed this video!

Super informative. Thank you for the short video jam-packed full of valuable information.

Said it before, Ima say it again. I love this guy. He's passionate, articulate and he encourages viewers to do their own research.

This is by far the best video explaining how a aquaponics system works!!! Thank you brother!!!

Finally someone properly explaining aquaponics and how it works.

John, you are amazing and have taught me so much. I really enjoy your videos and it's great to see how passionate you are about spreading the message of clean living and a natural diet. Keep going man! I just started making my first video to try to help people understand growing better.

I'm glad you covered this John because I've always had a nagging question about aquaponics, but no personal experience to find out. As conscientious gardeners, we want the best stuff to go into our plants so that we have the best stuff go into us. The main nutrient input in these systems are the fish food. After working in a fish shop for years, I learned that the majority of commercially available fish foods are made out of crap ingredients. Do the aquaponics places that you've visited feed premium foods made from good ingredients? Assuming the owner of a system eats the fish as well, this would be doubly important and I'm interested to hear what you have heard on this issue.

Thanks for the in-depth look at what aquaponic systems are. I've been wanting to learn more about it and I'm a very visual learner.

Great video thank you John, the two differences are now clear. I really appreciate your work. I see you have a ton of these video's... so I subscribed.

15 years old, really great passion for farming. Hope to be one one day. Love growing food!

I am very much looking forward to expanding into Aquaponics :) thanks for sharing.

Thanks John, this was a great episode and the best explanation of aquaponics that I've seen.

I can't thank you enough. This was the perfect introductory video, I just finished my own and it is going GREAT!!! By the way, you are absolutely adorable :-D

Another awesome video, John. I learned something new, as I do in every one of your videos.

They could grow duckweed in the ponds with the fish. Tilapia eat duckweed and it grows super fast, so they might be able to stop feeding purchased fish food. At the very least, it would significantly cut the cost of purchased fish feed.

well done John. I finally totally understand what is aquaqponics and how the whole system work in detail. Thanks

I love it when you do videos on aquaponics, it is such a great process that everyone who likes fresh veggies should do it (I am still waiting for the video on your system, lol). I just started aquaponics last spring so this is my second growing year, third system (two still running), and I actually have been using Azomite rock dust in the systems as well as in my dirt garden, thanks to you. Everything grown has been great but I have to say that the strawberries I have grown are THE best and juiciest strawberries that I have ever grown, by far!! I can't wait to see your AP garden with your new pets! BTW they have automatic fish feeders for when you are off shooting video of other peoples gardens, just saying!!

I LOVE THIS GUY AND HIS ADVICE HAS HELPED ME ALOT ON MY HOMESTEAD!

Hi John, glad to see you discovered Aquaponics. As you see the possibilities are endless. Plumbing, filtration, drip irrigation, dutch buckets, paintstrainers, 5 gallon buckets. The systems allows for green growing in a biological and clean way but also triggers the male need to invent and experiment to the max. Great stuff and a hobby to last a lifetime... Thanks for sharing. BTW: if you are in Malaysia at any time, do look up Affnan (to be found on youtube) He is an inventor of various ingenious plumbing ideas for aquaponics and has developed several very practical parts for the system. Good luck and regards, Sander Tel.

You changed my life man..the 2nd Device was truly insane

I researched aquaponics all last year for some DIY projects I was doing and it took me a long time to really understand what a bell siphon was all about just from vague videos and diagrams. Your explanation here is the best I've ever heard. If only I had this video 16 months ago... :p

I always enjoy your videos John, would love to see YOU add an aquaponic garden to your yard. Somehow I suspect it would be a pretty epic patch of greens.

Is there a constant water height? Since you said it fills and emptys i guess it changes, whats the time intervall to keep conctant optimal wetness for the roots?

the most educative video I ever watched on any subject. Great Job!

Such a wholesome video!! Gave me a huge head start in terms of gaining knowledge! THANKS

Growing fish would be cool to get rid of the risk of contamination from mercury and other random risks from wild fish.

outstanding presentation. i am impressed

Thanks John, VERY informative as always. Love your work and attitude!!!!!

Great informative video. I have always raised all kinds of aquatic life , so ive seen the benefits of the "waste" water from aquariums going into your plants . I'm big on prepping and zombie apocalypse culture so this is a great self sustainable system to provide for a family in any survival scenario. I've gotten cilantro to grow with only a beta fish , cilantro bed with a bottom drip reservoir beneath the plants , and with siphon tubes passing the water back up to the fish bowl. I didn't know I was using aquaponics when I was younger but now that I see all these videos and organic methods I thinks it's great untapped culture that could benefit many. Thanks again.

I wish I had the room to do something like this.

Really great system there! The set up is so cool!!! Thank you so much for sharing :)

Who wouldn't be happy and enthousiastic in Hawaii! Helpful video - thank you

Thanks much! you come across as such an honest person! rare thing to find

Love this guy! Haha, such a quirky character. Very informative, thank you!

who else saw the green lizard at 6:03

Kickass dude! Thanks for making this video! Really covers all the bases. Great work!

This guy is awesome, I love his excitement and explanations.

good job

Thanks Sir. It is very informative!

Thanks Mr John u de man, First ever look at this fantastic new system and I chose the right one ,x

As always a good update! been following your channel for some time and always get good tips... Thanks!

Love our aquaponic set up & just got another 100 fish yesterday :) I know a some folks that use rock dust here in Australia along with things like Seasol (seaweed emulsion) worm tea to help boost the levels of the micro nutrients.. Did you know that you can also use aquaponics to grow in soil for the double whammy of nutrients John? ;) Great clip mate, Cheers

It would be cool if they went to mars with an aquaponics system on the ship.

I feel so inspired and planning to start my fish farm at home. Keep on with the great job

Such an honest enthusiasm. Your work is good

You're a boss! Thanks for the video, I love your enthusiasm, refreshing! Have you heard anything about aquaponics with oysters? Could be interesting.

I do believe you can find most things you will need for aquaponics at home depot except the cinder rock and fish if there no is aquaponics store near you. I wish I had an aquaponics store near me the convenience would be amazing!

Loved this episode! One of the first videos able to keep my attention!

I am very happy you explain everything in details. I learned something new on this video that I will try it out. Thanks for the informations.

That was the best all around explanation I have seen so far. Thanks much! Some questions: The cinder, is it same as charcoal? On another video a guy talks about choosing the correct rock. He states that some rock he bought had limestone and other stuff that messed with the PH of the water. Is that why you chose cinder, is it PH neutral or something? I think the Bell syphon is the way to go. I say this because even though plants that could do well with roots straight in water, I believe those same plants would do good in the flood/drain of the Bell syphon. True? Another thing I wonder is why people who set up these systems don't use kid pools..? Thanks for your knowledge and care of details.

I've down on paper the comprehensive DIY aquaponics system that all inexperienced can easily follow.

This is amazing. I gain a lot knowledge by watching this & It’s really encourage me as a beginner to start it. Thank you very much.

Thank you John for this very well presented information about aquaponics in Hawaii. Thank you and Aloha.

I am starting an aquaponics system in my backyard

Btw the beneficial bacteria will grow by themselves in a time space of 6weeks to 12weeks (nitrogen cycle)

awesome world of knowledge, thanks for all the info. on the wonderful way of growing. many blessings and keep up the great work that you do for us all.

This video is wonderful, thank you for showing this video to us!

"You have to go to several different stores to get everything." Or you could just go to Lowes, or Home Depot, or if you're really cheap, Ace Hardware and buy everything at one place.

btw ... I hope you do a show that builds on this video, would like to get even more detail on how you introduce the iron chelate and the rock dust and enzyme stuff. What types of chelate would be best?... How is everything introduced? i.e into the water or "soil"? How much and how would you determine this? How do you measure and keep track? What is temp range for Tilapia? I have hesitated because I imagine the delicate balance required and know this would be critical to monitor in a seasonal environment. This was still one of the best videos I have viewed to date. Ahh... to create your own "eco-system" ... great video... :)

Thank you for sharing. I did not realize that aquaponics required so much outside ingredients to work. I had see other videos where nothing else was added in that it was a closed system.

Great video. Really informative. We've just started playing around with aquaponics using a small fish tank and the advice and information you presented in this video seems really sensible, practical and more comprehensive than other sources we have been looking at. Thanks! BTW my daughter insisted I mention the small castle feature we have in our fish tank as it is really cool.

Aquaponics is the future

This could be the best way to produce food for a future colony on Mars.

Amazing video, and amazing system, thanks so much for let us to know it, and learn how to do it!

Keep making these videos because this channel encourages me to do better not only for me but others in my community. Especially, those who've laughed at me in the past now come over apologizing asking for food now they're out of jobs.

When I lived in Germany, we got lots of hydroponic tomatoes. They were flavorless. If I grow with a system like this, am I giving up flavor? Are there some veggies that will taste ok, and others that wont have any taste?

"And i love eating em, especially young babies. Love em".

I love you, this is the fundamental knowledge of aquaphonic

Great video! You are so informative and seem like a really genuine guy.

Use a bug zapper and you don't have to buy fish food :)

and i LOVE eatin' em. ESPECIALLY when they're young babies.....

Awesome intro to aquaponics....I can't wait to look into it more.

AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME THIS IS GENIUS

Geko at 6.03

87% of food is imported into Hawaii. Insanity.

JOHN, ONCE AGAIN AN AWESOME VIDEO! I LOVE ALL OF YOUR VIDEOS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, FOR ALL THE TIME AND MONEY THAT YOU PUT INTO MAKING THESE VIDEOS. I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE ON KZfaq. GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS! ❤️

Thanks, a well detailed explanation of the system.

AquaSystem. xyz - Great aquaponics system.

what about cucumber

Your are a good man doing a great video to help us grow food.

Man, you are sooo lucky!! Thanks for the great vid!

You remind me of that guy in Superbad. They guy who backs up into Seth, outside the liquor store.

Can i grow weed on aquaponics?

One of my favorite channels John

Thanks John really enjoyed watching and got all my questions answered:)