Aquaponics math and honest takes. For backyard system builders, garage tinkerers, and the small-farm folks who actually grow food this way.
Most aquaponics content is either commercial-system marketing (selling you a $4000 IBC totes setup) or YouTube tutorials by people who set up a system last month and haven't seen what summer heat does to it yet. The middle is missing.
These tools are for someone whose system is past the first dead-fish phase. The fish-to-plant ratio that actually works at home scale. The flow rate that doesn't cavitate your pump. The pH adjustment math when your water source is alkaline.
Tools
Fish-to-Plant Ratio Calculator
Stocking ratio by fish species, system volume, and target crop. Honest about the 1:1 lb-fish-per-sq-ft-grow-bed rule and where it breaks down.
System Flow Rate Calculator soon
Pump GPH sizing for media beds, NFT, DWC. Includes head loss for vertical lift and the realistic derating most pump specs don't list.
Biofilter Sizing Calculator soon
Surface area needed for nitrification at your fish load. By species feeding rate and target ammonia/nitrite cycling speed.
pH Buffer Calculator soon
How much potassium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate to add to shift system pH safely without crashing the nitrifying bacteria.
Plain note about money: Some links are affiliate (eBay Partner Network). Small commission on purchases. Doesn't change your price. The tool reviews come from running a backyard system through actual winters. The $4000 commercial kits are mostly overkill; the parts are worth maybe $800 if you build it yourself.