About Scale & Stem

Scale & Stem is a free resource site covering freshwater aquariums, hydroponics, aquaponics, and off-grid solar. The core of the site is the calculator suite: 27 tools for sizing tanks, dosing nutrients, planning stocking lists, estimating solar loads, and the rest of the math that comes with keeping water-based systems running.

The species database covers 210 fish (128 ornamental, 82 food-grade for aquaponics), 231 edible plants with hydroponic and aquaponic parameter data, and 73 aquarium plant profiles. All of it feeds into the calculators so the numbers are grounded in real species data rather than generic rules of thumb.

Guides and articles fill in the context around the tools.

Contact

Questions? Suggestions? Found a bug? Something you'd like to see added? Email [email protected]. I read everything.

Disclaimer

The calculators produce estimates based on published data and established methods. Fish are living animals, plants don't grow in spreadsheets, water chemistry has more variables than any tool can model, and solar gear has datasheet specs that drift in real conditions. Use the numbers as starting points, then watch your actual system.