I dislike answering a question with another question but Best for what?

Producing fish?

Producing vegetable?

Backyard operations?

Commercial-scale?

I think simple single-loop systems are fine for back-yard operations, particularly those producing for the home and neighbors. They also work well as teaching systems in schools.

Decoupled aquaponics are more appropriate for large operations and provide three opportunities:

1. Relatively simple removal of nitrate and phosphate from RAS systems; and

2. A way to produce organic-certified "hydroponic" vegetables without using high-priced organic hydroponics fertilizers;

3. An opportunity to produce two income streams.

Dear Prof Kevin Hopkins,

Thanks for answering.

The best system, I mean for producing vegetables and Backyard operations.

In addition, Decoupled system look as source for pure Nitrate and for long term for phosphorus.

I prepare experiment by using Decoupled system and I have some confused?

In Decoupled system, After water circulation from RAS go sum Tank 1 and then to additional tank 2. additional tank provided the hydroponics unit the nutrients needed?? this for NFT???

I have confused about the complete circulation in Decoupled system??

2.Can apply the De-coupled system in Deep water culture, because we need continuous circulation?

I hope to insert more information about this Points(3. An opportunity to produce two income streams.)

I can recommend you the attached paper.

FYI.

Hi,

each design has its pros and cons, but as stated by Kevin Hopkins, the decoupling seems to me rather used by larger, commercial farms.

The reason behing this is probably due to the fact that you are not relying on 1 water pH value for all organisms (fish, micro-organisms and plants), and can therefore modulate and adapt the water parameters to the needs of both fish and plants. The latter tending to better absorb nutrients at a lower pH than the optimal one for closed-loop aquaponics.

The greatest benefit of it is that in case of pests attacks on your plants, your can use a treatment that would not be compatible with fish and/or denitrifying bacteria in a closed-loop design.

It also allows you to have higher fish-stocking densities and only use part of the water effluent to fertilise plants.

In my backyard i have a closed-loop one, but if i were to go commercial-size, i would decouple.

this book could help you: https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030159429

Kay Plat

Thanks already follow Dr. Simon for all his publication.

I read this book.