🌱 Aquaponics FAQ & Plant Guide
Everything you need to know about running an Edward aquaponics system
🚀 Getting Started
What is Edward?
Edward is an open-source aquaponics monitoring and management platform. It combines
IoT sensors (ESP32), automated controls (tidal flow, lighting, pumps), and a web dashboard for
tracking plants, fish, water quality, and harvests across distributed lab stations.
What is aquaponics?
Aquaponics is a sustainable farming method that combines aquaculture (fish farming)
with hydroponics (growing plants in water). Fish waste provides natural fertilizer for plants, while
plants filter the water for fish — creating a closed-loop ecosystem. It uses ~90% less water than
traditional farming.
How do I set up my first station?
1. Register an account on the platform
2. Click "Add New Station" and give it a name
3. Choose your board type (Aquaponics, Hydroponics, etc.)
4. Enter your location for the map
5. Use the pairing token to connect your ESP32 device
6. Start adding grow areas, plants, and fish to your logbook!
2. Click "Add New Station" and give it a name
3. Choose your board type (Aquaponics, Hydroponics, etc.)
4. Enter your location for the map
5. Use the pairing token to connect your ESP32 device
6. Start adding grow areas, plants, and fish to your logbook!
How do I connect my ESP32 hardware?
Your station has a unique pairing token (shown on the station card). Flash your ESP32
with the Edward firmware, enter your WiFi credentials and the pairing token. The device will
automatically connect via MQTT and start reporting sensor data.
💧 Water Quality
What pH level should I maintain?
Ideal range: 6.0 – 7.0
This is a compromise between what fish prefer (7.0–8.0) and what plants need (5.5–6.5). Most aquaponic systems settle around 6.8. Use pH Up (potassium hydroxide) or pH Down (phosphoric acid) to adjust.
⚠️ Never change pH by more than 0.2 per day — sudden swings stress both fish and plants.
This is a compromise between what fish prefer (7.0–8.0) and what plants need (5.5–6.5). Most aquaponic systems settle around 6.8. Use pH Up (potassium hydroxide) or pH Down (phosphoric acid) to adjust.
⚠️ Never change pH by more than 0.2 per day — sudden swings stress both fish and plants.
What water parameters should I test?
Critical (test weekly):
• pH — 6.0–7.0 ideal
• Ammonia (NH₃) — should be < 0.25 ppm
• Nitrite (NO₂) — should be < 0.5 ppm
• Nitrate (NO₃) — 20–80 ppm is healthy
• Temperature — 22–28°C for most systems
Optional (test monthly):
• Dissolved Oxygen (DO) — > 5 mg/L
• Iron (Fe) — supplement with chelated iron if low
• Calcium & Potassium — important for fruiting plants
• pH — 6.0–7.0 ideal
• Ammonia (NH₃) — should be < 0.25 ppm
• Nitrite (NO₂) — should be < 0.5 ppm
• Nitrate (NO₃) — 20–80 ppm is healthy
• Temperature — 22–28°C for most systems
Optional (test monthly):
• Dissolved Oxygen (DO) — > 5 mg/L
• Iron (Fe) — supplement with chelated iron if low
• Calcium & Potassium — important for fruiting plants
The nitrogen cycle explained
Fish produce ammonia (NH₃) in their waste → Nitrosomonas bacteria convert ammonia to
nitrite (NO₂) → Nitrobacter bacteria convert nitrite to nitrate (NO₃) → Plants absorb nitrate as
fertilizer → Clean water returns to fish tank.
This cycle takes 4–6 weeks to establish in a new system ("cycling"). Until then, monitor ammonia and nitrite levels daily.
This cycle takes 4–6 weeks to establish in a new system ("cycling"). Until then, monitor ammonia and nitrite levels daily.
How to log water measurements on Edward?
Go to your station's Logbook → Activity Log tab → "+ Log Activity".
Select type "💧 Water Test", enter your pH value as quantity, and add other measurements in the notes field (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temperature). Your measurements are tracked over time.
Select type "💧 Water Test", enter your pH value as quantity, and add other measurements in the notes field (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temperature). Your measurements are tracked over time.
🌿 Best Plants for Aquaponics
These species thrive in aquaponic systems with nutrient-rich water.
🐟 Best Fish for Aquaponics
Popular fish species that work well in recirculating aquaponic systems.
🔧 Troubleshooting
My plants are yellowing — what's wrong?
Yellowing leaves (chlorosis) usually indicates:
• Iron deficiency — most common in aquaponics. Add chelated iron (Fe EDDHA).
• Nitrogen deficiency — check nitrate levels. May need more fish or feeding.
• pH too high — above 7.5, nutrients become less available to plants.
• Root rot — check dissolved oxygen levels.
• Iron deficiency — most common in aquaponics. Add chelated iron (Fe EDDHA).
• Nitrogen deficiency — check nitrate levels. May need more fish or feeding.
• pH too high — above 7.5, nutrients become less available to plants.
• Root rot — check dissolved oxygen levels.
Ammonia spike — what to do?
1. Stop feeding fish for 24–48 hours
2. Do a 25–30% water change
3. Check for dead fish or decaying plant matter
4. Ensure your bio-filter is properly aerated
5. Add beneficial bacteria (cycling starter) if needed
Ammonia above 1 ppm is dangerous for fish.
2. Do a 25–30% water change
3. Check for dead fish or decaying plant matter
4. Ensure your bio-filter is properly aerated
5. Add beneficial bacteria (cycling starter) if needed
Ammonia above 1 ppm is dangerous for fish.
Algae growing in my system
Algae thrives on light + nutrients. Solutions:
• Block light from reaching water (cover pipes, tanks)
• Add more plants — they outcompete algae for nutrients
• Reduce feeding — excess nutrients fuel algae
• Consider adding snails or duckweed as natural algae control
• Block light from reaching water (cover pipes, tanks)
• Add more plants — they outcompete algae for nutrients
• Reduce feeding — excess nutrients fuel algae
• Consider adding snails or duckweed as natural algae control
⚡ Hardware & Scenarios
What can Edward control automatically?
Edward supports these automated scenarios via ESP32:
• Tidal flow — flood & drain cycles for media beds
• Lighting — LED grow lights on timer/solar schedule
• Pumps — water circulation, air pumps
• Heating — water or air heaters for temperature control
• Fans — ventilation for greenhouses
Scenarios can be shared with the community and imported to other stations.
• Tidal flow — flood & drain cycles for media beds
• Lighting — LED grow lights on timer/solar schedule
• Pumps — water circulation, air pumps
• Heating — water or air heaters for temperature control
• Fans — ventilation for greenhouses
Scenarios can be shared with the community and imported to other stations.
What sensors does Edward support?
Built-in support for:
• Temperature (water & air) — DS18B20, DHT22
• pH — analog pH probe
• EC (electrical conductivity)
• Water level — ultrasonic sensor
• Light level — LDR / BH1750
• Camera — ESP32-CAM for growth timelapse
Additional sensors can be added via the MQTT protocol.
• Temperature (water & air) — DS18B20, DHT22
• pH — analog pH probe
• EC (electrical conductivity)
• Water level — ultrasonic sensor
• Light level — LDR / BH1750
• Camera — ESP32-CAM for growth timelapse
Additional sensors can be added via the MQTT protocol.