Aquaponics & Hydroponics from zero.
Even in Siberia. Even in a basement. Even in winter.
Both grow plants without soil. The big difference: where the nutrients come from.
Plants grow in water with chemicals you add yourself. You control everything. No fish needed. Great for total beginners.
Fish poop → bacteria convert it → plants eat it. A living ecosystem. More complex but produces fish AND vegetables.
Plant roots hang in water (or grow medium) that's packed with dissolved nutrients. That's it. No soil magic needed.
Use tap water (let it sit 24h to off-gas chlorine) or filtered water. Start with 20–50 liters.
Add Part A and Part B nutrient concentrates (never mix them together before diluting!). Target EC 1.2–2.4 mS/cm for most veggies.
Use pH Up (potassium hydroxide) or pH Down (phosphoric acid). Test with a cheap pH meter — don't guess.
Fill net cups with grow medium (clay pebbles, rockwool, or perlite). Roots should just touch the water surface.
Water must circulate and stay oxygenated. Add an air stone/pump for extra oxygen if using DWC (Deep Water Culture).
LED grow lights, 2000–4000 lux for seedlings, up to 20000+ lux for fruiting plants. Keep 30–50 cm above canopy.
A closed loop. Fish eat → fish poop → bacteria eat poop → make plant food → plants clean water → fish happy.
Larger = more stable. Use food-grade plastic containers, IBC totes, or fiberglass. Add aerator pump from day one.
Add a small amount of ammonia (or fish food) daily. Wait for beneficial bacteria to colonize. Test water: when ammonia AND nitrite drop to 0, you're ready for fish.
Start with 1 fish per 40–50 liters. Don't rush. Overstocking kills the system. Feed only what they eat in 5 minutes.
Hydroton (expanded clay) is best. Rinse until water runs clear. Flood/drain cycle: 15 min on, 45 min off using a timer pump.
Start with easy plants: lettuce, basil, spinach, kale, mint. Fruiting plants (tomatoes) need more mature systems.
Test: pH (6.8–7.4 for aquaponics), ammonia (0), nitrite (0), nitrate (5–80 ppm), temperature.
Plants need 17 essential elements. These are the big ones you'll manage in hydroponics:
You don't always need expensive hydroponic stores. Many nutrients come from common industrial chemicals or even natural sources available everywhere — including Siberia.
Cold weather is actually your friend in some ways — fewer pests, natural cooling for certain fish. But you need to solve heat, light, and insulation first.
Wrap tanks in foam insulation (пеноплекс). Keep reservoir above 18°C minimum for plants. Fish may need aquarium heaters in extreme cold.
Winter days are 4–6h in Siberia. Plants need 14–16h light minimum. Full-spectrum LED panels (Samsung LM301B chips) are most energy efficient.
Rainbow trout thrives at 10–16°C. European perch: 8–20°C. Both produce excellent waste for nitrates and are food fish too.
Basements stay 8–14°C year-round — perfect starting temp. Add heating only as needed. Natural humidity helps.
Tap water in Siberia can be 3–5°C in winter. Always pre-warm water before adding to system. Cold water = slow bacteria = system crash risk.
Lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, chard, herbs (basil needs warmth), microgreens. All grow at 16–22°C under artificial light.
Russian electricity: ~3–6 rub/kWh. LED panel 200W + pump 50W = ~6 kWh/day. Calculate your local costs. Systems pay off in 6–12 months vs supermarket prices.
Epsom salt (MgSO₄): любая аптека. Potassium nitrate: агрохимические магазины. Calcium nitrate: садовые магазины. Citric acid: любой продуктовый.
You can start a working hydroponic system for under 3000 rubles / 30€ with these parts: