Best Aquaponics Books

Aquaponic Gardening: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Vegetables and Fish Together (Best for Beginners)

Author: Sylvia Bernstein · Publisher: New Society Publishers, 2011

Frank called this a beautifully composed and thought-provoking guide to DIY aquaponics, and one of the most popular aquaponics books ever written, deservedly so. The quality of the information and the way it is presented are both excellent for beginners. Bernstein and her husband ran The Aquaponic Source, an aquaponics supply company, so there is a bit of a bias towards their products, as you would expect, and it is not as in-depth as some of the books further down.

He also took a point off for a somewhat preachy chapter on "world problems" and for leaning on websites rather than scientific sources. Neither is a deal breaker. If you want to get into aquaponics, this is a great book to start your journey, and if you prefer to learn by video, Bernstein's Udemy course is based on it.

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Idiot's Guides: Aquaponic Gardening (Best Q&A Format)

Author: Meg Stout · Published: 2013

Extensive and comprehensive, Meg Stout's book is a fantastic source of knowledge for novices and answers the hundreds of questions you have when you are just starting out. It touches on most subjects, from setting up a system to choosing fish and plants, and it even covers how to resize a system or move it between indoors and outdoors.

It would benefit from more images and illustrations, as it has very few, and from more detail on specifics such as nitrate production estimates. Even so, it covers a lot of essential ground. The listing we link is mostly sold as a used copy by third-party sellers, so check the condition before you buy.

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Aquaponics At Home: Growing Fish & Vegetables

Author: Amber Richards

Another popular introductory guide, with a focus on having aquaponics at home, which Frank appreciated. It leaves you with the fundamentals you need to build a successful system whatever space you have, and adds useful tips on maintenance and a handful of other subjects. Short but punchy, with a welcome focus on DIY: a great read if you want to get started quickly on a small home garden. Our own guide to home aquaponics covers the same ground for free if you want a preview.

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Backyard Aquaponics Made Easy

Author: Andrew Handley · Format: Kindle

A basic but complete overview of home aquaponics that does not overstay its welcome. From the physical parts of a system to the nitrogen cycle, temperatures and types of systems, it is all there in an easy, quickly understood way, helped by useful illustrations and practical tips. You will probably be hungry for more afterwards, but it is a no-filler starting point.

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Tabletop Aquaponics: for Homes, Schools, Churches, Clubs, and Science Fairs

Author: John Choisser · Format: Kindle

A very short, easy guide for absolute newcomers who want just the basics, both in information and in the system itself. It is a shallow look at aquaponics, but clear and practical, and as the title says it is ideal if you want to start a small tabletop garden at home, in a school, a church or a club. Pair it with our page on the aquaponics fish tank if you are choosing a tabletop unit.

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Aquaponic Design Plans: Everything You Need to Know, from Backyard to Profitable Business (Most Complete)

Author: David H. Dudley

Chock-full of useful information and truly comprehensive, this book lives up to its title. Beginners get a mountain of practical advice and detailed step-by-step guidance, and experienced growers still get plenty of technical advice to take them to the next level.

What Frank loved about this book is that it is practical and down to earth instead of circling around the subject or only laying down theory, as many others do. It shows you how to design a system for your space, and it even covers how to turn aquaponics into a business. It is one of the very best aquaponics books on the market. The edition we link is the current printing sold by Amazon; older printings appear under other listings.

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The Aquaponic Farmer: A Complete Guide to Building and Operating a Commercial Aquaponic System (Best for Commercial Growers)

Authors: Adrian Southern and Whelm King · Publisher: New Society Publishers, 2017

If you are thinking of selling what you grow, this is the book to read before you spend money on a farm. As its subtitle says, it is a complete guide to building and operating a commercial aquaponic system, from the same publisher as Bernstein's beginner book. It is not where a hobbyist should start, but it is where a hobbyist with business plans should go next.

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Aquaponics Food Production Systems (Best for the Science)

Editors: Simon Goddek, Alyssa Joyce, Benz Kotzen and Gavin M. Burnell · Publisher: Springer, 2019

This is the academic reference: a multi-author book on combined aquaculture and hydroponic production, written for researchers, students and serious growers. Springer publishes it as open access, so you can read or download it free on Springer Link. The Kindle edition is handy if you prefer to read it on an e-reader.

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