Aquaponics is a system consisting of fish and plants. The fish produce waste that is used as fertilizer for the plants and the plants thus filter the water so the same water can continue cycling through the system. The system will continue to cycle and both the fish and plants will continue to grow with only the input of fish food.
The system built at MdL was constructed using two 55-gallon barrels. This is sometimes referred to as “Barrelponics”. One barrel is cut in half and used for two grow beds. These are placed on a wooden stand above the fish tank. The second barrel is placed in or on the ground and serves as the fish tank. The completed system is shown in the picture below.
The aquaponics system built at MdL complete with two grow beds filled with gravel and a fish tank filled with river water.