Top 6 Best Aquaponics Kits to Grow Your Plants (Chosen by Experts)

The concept of aquaponics involves raising fish or other aquatic lives together with growing plants. Whether you are a beginner or an expert in this practice, you will need an excellent aquaponics kit to maintain a sustainable system with thriving plants and healthy fish.

Our research on the top products on the current market concludes the ECOLIFE Conservation Indoor Garden System as the best option.

This product differentiates itself from the other kits by utilizing energy and water to grow plants at a notably fast pace. The setup is also eco-friendly as it maintains clear water in the closed system.

Moreover, the detailed instructional videos enhance the product’s inclusivity, making it accessible for all users.

ECOLIFE Conservation comes at an affordable price to provide organic, healthy vegetables or stylish touch to the landscape.

This article will guide you through the fundamental factors to buy the best aquaponics system for your plants and fish, as well as diving into the top products’ benefits and limitations.

Best Aquaponics Kits Reviews

ECOLIFE Conservation Indoor Garden System – Best Overall

ECOLIFE Conservation designs excellent flexibility for you to practice aquaponics indoors, whether you plan to grow fresh fish or harvest vegetables.

Each unit includes a filter to remove components, bringing clean water to the roots. This mechanism keeps the water fresh all year long, so you only need to refill the evaporated water.

Plus, you can save up to 90% of water and grow edible plants 25% faster than the soil environment. The remote-controlled LED lights have 4 modes to suit the plants’ requirements.

ECOLIFE Conservation provides a vast resource of instructional videos. Its customer service also responds quickly to technical issues.

However, the package gets damaged easily during the shipping process, which breaks the water pump occasionally.

What we like

• Easy setup process
• Enhanced plants growth rate (25%)
• Water-saving (90%)
• Detailed instructional videos
• Energy-saving LED for the indoor aquaponic system
• Fast-responding customer service

What needs to be improved?

• Broken water pump in the shipping process

Back To The Roots Self-cleaning Aquaponics System – Best for Beginners

Back To The Roots is one of the top aquaponics starter kits for any home. This product comes with grow trays, air pumps, and other accessories at an affordable price. The list of items includes replacement parts and even two packs of non-GMO seeds and microgreen seeds.

With this kit, the organic plants are ready for harvest in only 10 days. The natural environment is suitable for succulents and common aquatic plants.

Manufactured in the USA, the high-quality materials guarantee to last in the long run. Back To The Roots introduced the self-cleaning technology to save maintenance time and make the kit even more beginner-friendly.

The only drawback of this product is the frequent algae issue. Therefore, it is compulsory to place the kit in a well-ventilated area.

What we like

• A fast growth rate of 10 days
• All-inclusive kit for beginners
• Organic seeds included
• Convenient assembly
• Verified quality in the USA
• Easy maintenance steps

What needs to be improved?

• Good air ventilation is required.

AquaSprouts Garden – Best for Herbs

AquaSprouts Garden aquaponic system has a stylish design that fits any standard tank. The compact light bar is removable to provide visual support.

Each purchase includes a water pump with a built-in timer and clay media. As the clay environment enhances the growth rate, you can plant and harvest fresh herbs from the tank straight to the dining table with ease.

Moreover, the lightweight materials shorten the setup time to less than 15 minutes. AquaSprouts offers resources for educational purposes, which enhances this product as the ideal classroom aquaponic tank.

One factor to note is you will need an additional purchase for the LED to grow lights because they are not included in the package.

What we like

• Quick set up process (less than 15 minutes)
• Stylish design
• An ideal choice for instant herb growth
• Lightweight materials
• Educational resources available

What needs to be improved?

• No LED grow lights

Aquascape Pond and Waterfall Kit – Best For Fish Supply

Designed to simulate the waterfall, this product brings a relaxing atmosphere to your garden or the patio.

Aquascape stands out amongst backyard aquaponic systems by building a safe waterfall mechanism for the fish. This feature removes the risk of fish getting stuck in the water pumps.

The pond is spacious enough for fish to thrive, creating a sustainable supply of clean and healthy food.

Aquascape supports the decorative purpose by adding gravel to the one-time purchase. Plus, the neutral color encourages users’ creativity.

When the pumps have dirt buildup, they can get clogged and produce noisy sounds. You will need a fixed schedule for cleaning to avoid it from happening.

What we like

• The ideal environment for fish (waterfall)
• Detailed assembly manual
• Minimal design
• High safety level
• Affordable price
• Inclusive package with accessories

What needs to be improved?

• Noisy water pumps

Penn Plax AquaTerrium Planting Tank – Best For Small Space

This ecosystem is customizable to help you plant small, decorative flowers. The compact size tank can fit anywhere in your home, including the tabletop in a small apartment. Its exotic design brings a new look with a relaxing sound.

Penn Plax’s materials help users move the tank around without any hassle. The category includes a coarse sponge and carbon filter media. Thanks to the integrated filtration, you can separate the parts from the tank for a quick cleanup.

The manufacturer has replacement parts available to enhance convenience for consumers.

The minus point is Penn Plax is in a higher price range than other products with similar functions.

What we like

• Customizable settings
• Portable materials
• Subtle design
• Filters and pumps included
• Replacement parts available

What needs to be improved?

• Expensive price (our own opinion)

VIVOSUN Aquaponic Fish Tank – Best For The Budget

This mini aquaponic tank implements the Flood and Drain System to help you plant over 150 aquatic vegetables and beautiful flowers. The list goes from common herbs such as rosemary, mint to asparagus and so on.

The durable plastic tank avoids accidental breakage, enhancing the safety level for children and pets.

VIVOSUN offers accessories in the package to ensure the best customer experience. The decorative stones add bright colors to any decorative style, and the portable charger keeps the system running smoothly. 

Aside from the automatic siphon bell that keeps the suitable water level for the roots to immerse, the thermostat adjusts the temperature for the best growth environment. 

VIVOSUN’s tank has clean water for a long time with support from the self-cleaning system.

Although this product comes with advantages, the tank size is limited. Therefore, it is not the top choice for growing fish for consumption.

What we like

• Self-cleaning tank
• Minimal design and durable materials
• Built-in thermostat
• A good option for various plants and aquatic life
• Good value deal

What needs to be improved?

• Limited capacity

A Buying Guide For Choosing The Right Aquaponics Kit

Types Of Aquaponics Kits

Nutrients Film Technique (NFT) 

NFT includes a simple design that grows plants well in most climates.

For this method, users set up horizontal PVC pipes with holes as plant pockets.

The water flows through these pipes to keep the plants hydrated and provide a sufficient amount of nutrients. At the end of the pipes, there is a pump for sending the water back to the fish tank and the excess parts as fish food.

NFT is typical for industrial farming purposes because it shows results in a short time. However, the setup requires a larger tank and a higher cost than regular methods.

Flood and Drain

Also known as a Media-based System, this aquaponics set has a versatile use in both home backyards and commercial settings.

The planting media can be made of gravel, lava rocks, or clay pebbles to extract solid waste and purify the water. The media also preserves nutrients to grow strong roots.

Depending on the purpose, users can operate a cycle of flooding and draining the plants. When the water reaches a designated saturation point, a bell siphon will drain the water.

In general, the Flood and Drain come at an affordable price, and the easy practice is suitable for beginners.

Deep Water Culture

You can plant a wide range of vegetables or flowers in beds made of polystyrene or foam.

These beds float on water in a larger raft bed. The filter removes fish waste to bring nutrients from the fish tank to the plants; then, the pump returns the water to the tank.

This method grows plants and fish faster than the other methods. Moreover, it is accessible to children, providing hands-on experience to the education process.

Fish And Plants Growing Purpose

When you’re considering an aquaponics aquarium, you can aim to build a convenient food supply right at home or have a colorful decorative piece in the living room.

Depending on the aquatic species, the system can have parts catered to the plants’ needs. Vegetables tend to grow in large numbers when the plant roots have enough room.

As for farming purposes, an ideal kit should have a functional and clog-free filtration to keep the aquarium water flowing with rich nutrients.

The types of fish and plants also hold an essential role in the process. While freshwater fish doesn’t cause much hassle, saltwater fish requires frequent checkups and experiments. You will need to invest time to test out different variations until you find the right solution.

A good practice is to test the chemical level in the water carefully. These measurements include pH level, ammonia, and nitrate.

Start by placing low-price seeds in separated jars and test as many variations as you can. This process helps you observe the results closely, and it ensures cost efficiency.

Tank Settings

Different species require specific environments to grow. A suitable aquaponics fish tank kit provides bigger fish and lush plants.

For example, if you’re looking to have trout, choose the kit with a water cooling function. An adjustable thermostat or UV sterilizer is a great help in nurturing a healthy environment.

Spacious tanks make the best grow room for lots of fish, and mini aquaponics DIY tanks fit nicely on the counter or make a subtle decoration on the patio.

Depending on the brands, the aquaponics settings may have a remote control.

This feature makes sure the tank is still running at night. Certain products have mobile phone applications for a convenient checkup and adjusting every detail, from toggling the central power, the temperature, water pressure to the LED grow lights for the indoor aquaponic system.

Location

The correct location for setting up your system adds significant effectiveness. External factors, especially the climate, can be critical to certain aquatic species.

Choose the location that makes it easier to access for the maintenance process. This location can have a balanced exposure to natural sunlight.

Accessories support balancing the temperature in the aquaponics fish tank. Mass-produced parts in the store can fit most standard-size tanks, which stores 10 gallons of water. You can also get these parts from the manufacturer at a lower price and faster shipping process.

Maintenance Efforts

Nowadays, most manufacturers include self-cleaning technology and removable accessories, which saves time for the users.

Although these systems work well on maintaining themselves, you may need a schedule for cleaning the pumps and filters, especially when you have much fish for farming purposes. Dirty, clogged pumps are the most common cause of algae and bacteria issues.

On the first week of operation, spend some time observing the tank and its residents. Water filters can have intense pressure and get fish stuck in them by accident. If standard system configuration is available, change the filter size to be appropriate for small fish.

After watching this video, you can build an Aquaponics Garden Kit in your backyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEBpCpx007o

Conclusion

After analyzing the best 6 products, our top choice for a home aquaponics kit is the ECOLIFE Conservation Indoor Garden System.

Aquaponics systems come in various designs. You will need to identify the purpose and the type of species you want to grow to choose the right product.

Ensure you place the kit in an open, well-ventilated space, so the cleaning process becomes more accessible and quicker. Prioritize self-cleaning technology to maintain nutrient-rich water in the long run.

Last update on 2024-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API