Our system uses channel catfish, a species of edible freshwater fish, for a number of reasons. They are remarkably hardy when it comes to temperature, disease, and parasites.  Catfish are large waste producers and require lower energy inputs. They also are easily raised, offering opportunities for research that the team has explored in the past.

Some plants have proven more successful than others in an aquaponic setting. Some of the plants that have thrived in our system include vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and broccoli. Along with herbs such as mint, lemon balm, basil, cilantro, and parsley. Excess produce is cleaned, packed up, and given to a local food pantry.

Our team uses the media bed design for our systems. Flat grow beds are filled with hydroton, which support the plant roots and act as a mechanical and biological filter to break down waste. Water from the deep fish tank is pumped up into these beds and returns to the tank after being filtered.