Atlantic salmon

Water parameters

Minimum tank: 2000 L per individual at harvest size.

Feed and growth

Feed protein

45% target

Daily feed (warm)

1.20% of body weight

Daily feed (cool)

0.80% of body weight

Max density

60 g per litre

A 5000 g adult eats about 60.0 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~600 g daily.

Legality

Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.

Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".

Origin and habitat

Native to rivers draining into the North Atlantic Ocean, from Portugal and Spain to Norway and Iceland in Europe and from Connecticut to Labrador in North America. The species (Salmo salar) is anadromous in the wild: fish spawn in freshwater rivers, juveniles spend 1-3 years in fresh water as parr, then undergo smoltification and migrate to the ocean, returning to their natal river to spawn after 1-3 years at sea. Atlantic salmon is the most commercially important salmonid in the world, with global production exceeding 3 million tonnes annually from marine net-pen farms, primarily in Norway, Chile, Scotland, Canada, and Tasmania. The freshwater phase of production (smolt rearing) and the rapidly growing sector of full-cycle land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) make Atlantic salmon relevant to freshwater culture and, at commercial scale, to integrated aquaponics-style production.

Climate and outdoor ponds

Climate

cold-water (cool water required, dies in heat)

USDA zones

3–7 (winter low around -40°C or warmer)

Heating needed

no

Cooling needed

yes, if summer water exceeds upper tolerance

Care notes

Not a typical home aquaponics species due to the complexity and scale required, but included because land-based Atlantic salmon RAS facilities represent a fast-growing aquaculture sector and several commercial operations are exploring integration of plant production with salmon waste streams. The species requires cold water (8–14°C for optimal growth), high dissolved oxygen (above 7 mg/L), and pristine water quality (ammonia below 0.5 mg/L, CO2 below 15 mg/L). Growth in freshwater RAS is moderate: smolts reach 80–150 g in 12-18 months, and post-smolts can be grown to 3–5 kg harvest size entirely in freshwater at 12–14°C over 24-36 months. FCR is excellent at 1.1-1.3 on high-quality salmon pellet (40-48% protein, 20-30% fat). Stocking density in well-managed RAS: 40-80 g/L with supplemental oxygen. Disease management is demanding: ISA, BKD, sea lice (marine), and Saprolegnia require biosecurity protocols. Smolts are available from commercial hatcheries but in quantities suited to large operations. The economics require volume. For home aquaponics, rainbow trout or arctic char are far more practical cold-water alternatives.

Further reading

• The history of aquaponics: chinampas to backyard IBC totes