The Aquaponics project is researching, designing, and building an aquaponics system with the long-term goal of bring locally and sustainably grown organic produce to UCSD dining halls. The current prototype design is shown above. Aquaponics is a method of simultaneously cultivating fish and plants whereby effluent-rich water from the fish tank is pumped through a hydroponic growbed. Bacteria break the fish waste down into nutrients the plants can absorb, thereby purifying the water so it can be returned to the fish tank. As a method of food production, aquaponics uses up to 90% less water than traditional agriculture. Aquaponics also requires no soil, as plants are grown in a hydroponic growbed, and so can be done indoors or in a climate-controlled greenhouse for optimum productivity.
In addition, the Aquaponics project is working to design and build smaller, desktop-sized working aquaponics systems for individual use. A non-working mock-up is shown on the right. These systems will use traditional fish tanks or recycled materials to grow plants and fish.
Posted by Sage Aquaponics on October 30, 2011 at 9:52 pm
I like what you guys are doing. I am currently trying to find the funding to build a commercial aquaponics system here in Texas. I plan on donating a large portion of the food to charity and low income families. Do you have any insight into grant funding?
Posted by Ben Gould on November 10, 2011 at 10:24 am
Thanks Sage! Your project sounds awesome and very exciting. All of our funding to date has come from a special fund set up by UC San Diego, using student fees to pay for on-campus sustainable projects, so I’m afraid I don’t think we can offer much help when it comes to grant funding. However, your local library or the Small Business Association (www.sba.gov) might offer free assistance with finding small business finances — they might know where you can find grants to apply for.
Good luck!