System Health (The Most Important Metric)
This is a score from 0.0 to 1.0 that acts as a multiplier for almost everything else. A healthy system (1.0) means fast growth, while a poor system (e.g., 0.3) will cripple your farm's output.
What affects it?
- pH: Drifting too far from the ideal 6.0-7.0 range will lower your health score.
- Ammonia (NH₃) & Nitrites (NO₂⁻): These are toxic byproducts from fish waste. As they rise, your health score plummets. This is the most common reason for a failing farm.
- Nitrates (NO₃⁻): This is what your plants eat. If it's too low, it slightly reduces your health score because your plants are starving.
The Nitrogen Cycle (The Core Engine)
- Your fish produce Ammonia. The more fish you have, the more ammonia is produced.
- Naturally occurring bacteria convert that Ammonia into Nitrites.
- Different bacteria convert the toxic Nitrites into Nitrates—the fertilizer for your plants!
- Your plants consume the Nitrates to grow.
Growth Rate
Both fish and plants have a base growth rate per day. This rate is multiplied by your System Health score. Daily Growth = Base Rate * System Health
This means if your health score is only 0.5 (50%), your fish and plants will only grow at half their potential speed. Plants have an extra dependency: if Nitrates are too low, their growth is halved again, no matter how good the rest of the system is.
Market Sales
The number of items you sell each day depends on:
- Your Price: The higher your price compared to the "Max Price," the fewer units you will sell. Finding the sweet spot is key.
- Market Demand: There's a base demand for each product that fluctuates daily.
- Quality: The health of your system also acts as a quality modifier. Healthier systems produce higher-quality goods that sell better.
Your goal is to create a self-sustaining, profitable loop. Here is the winning strategy:
Start Small and Balanced
Don't buy the maximum number of fish and plants on day one. Start with a few of each (e.g., 3-4 fish and 5-6 plants). This prevents your system from being immediately overwhelmed with ammonia before the beneficial bacteria (that convert it to nitrates) have a chance to establish.
Focus on Water Quality Above All
Your number one priority is managing the nitrogen cycle.
- In the early game, you will have more ammonia than your plants can handle. Be ready to use pH regulators to keep the pH in the sweet spot (6.0 - 7.0).
- A balanced number of plants to fish is crucial. The plants are your primary "filter" for nitrates. If you have too many fish and not enough plants, the nitrates will build up, but more importantly, the precursor ammonia and nitrites will spike and crash your system's health.
Scale Up Gradually
Once your water parameters (Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates) are stable for a few days, that's your sign that the ecosystem is healthy. Now you can slowly add more fish and plants. Add a few at a time and watch how the system reacts.
Pricing Strategy
- Don't always set your price to the maximum. You'll sell very little.
- A good starting point is 70-80% of the max price. For example, if Lettuce has a max price of $5.00, try selling it for $3.50 - $4.00.
- If an item isn't selling out, lower the price slightly. If it sells out instantly, you can try raising the price a bit the next day.
Smart Upgrades
- The Bigger Fish Tank is usually the best first upgrade, as it allows you to scale your production significantly.
- The Automated Feeder is a great mid-game purchase, as it saves you from having to buy food and removes the risk of your fish going hungry and getting stressed.
By focusing on balance and stability first, you'll create a healthy farm that produces high-quality goods quickly. That's the most reliable path to maximizing your profits!