Bring Aquaponics Into Your Classroom Today
What Is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is the raising of fish and plants in a recirculating ecosystem. The fish waste provides nutrients for the plants. Bacteria and plants help to clean the water for the fish.
Why Is Aquaponics Important?
Aquaponics & Education
Check Out this video by Real World Apps – Biology!
Get Your Students Excited To Learn!
Growing Potential
With aquaponics, responsibilities are delivered to the students that involve cultivating a delicate, living ecosystem. System operations include everything from testing water chemistry to amending nutrients and students are able to directly observe the impact of their decision making.
In the video to the right, a school in New York refurbished an old building where we then custom designed and built our 23’x40′ Flourish Farm. With an aquaponic garden of this scale, students are encouraged to engage with the community and gain real-world experience.
Tour an Aquaponics Farm on a School Campus
Aquaponics Resources
Aquaponics Curriculum Sets
“The Aquaponic Garden Curriculum Set is a must-have if you’re teaching kids about Aquaponics! The teacher guide is well-organized, rich in content, and contains hands-on, engaging activities. I found the background information, vocabulary, charts, and illustrations clear and incredibly helpful, as well as easy to understand. Having an aquaponics system at my school has been fascinating; having the curriculum that explains key concepts truly piqued my students’ curiosity. I highly recommend this outstanding science curriculum.”
Aquaponics Complete Curriculum
An in-depth, 24-lesson exploration of aquaponics for students, the Aquaponics Complete Curriculum Set helps young minds delve deeply into an ecosystem of fish & plants. Teach your students how aquaponics is used to feed people around the world all while learning science, art, physics, humanities, and math. This curriculum has been school tested, teacher approved and it supports the Colorado Life Science Academic Standards.
Aquaponics Introduction Curriculum
This 6-lesson exploration of aquaponics for 3rd through 6th-grade students will introduce your students to all aspects of aquaponics in your classroom, including how it works, fish and plant selection, plant lighting and the role played by worms. This curriculum has been school tested, teacher approved and it supports the Life Science Colorado Academic Standards.
Aquaponic Gardening Online Course
Based on our award-winning book, “Aquaponic Gardening: A Step by Step Guide to Growing Fish and Vegetables Together” this online aquaponics course brings the book to life with demonstrations and examples. It is designed to be easy to follow, comprehensive, and fun. This course is perfect for “do-it-yourself” home aquaponic gardeners as well as teachers looking to bring aquaponics into the classroom. Learn all about fish, plants and bacteria and this thriving and highly productive ecosystem.
This course is included with the purchase of our Harmony Aquaponic System.
Flourish Farm Course Modules
We have created individual course modules tailored to specific areas of aquaponic gardening. Whether you’re interested in the basics of water quality, cultivating bacteria, selecting plants, or managing fish health, our modules are a one stop shop for all your educational needs.
Aquaponic Gardening
Aquaponic Gardening is focused on giving you all the tools you need to create your own aquaponic system and enjoy healthy, safe, fresh, and delicious food all year round. Starting with an overview of the theory, benefits, and potential of aquaponics, the book goes on to explain:
- System location considerations and hardware components
- The living elements—fish, plants, bacteria, and worms
There is nothing more important to us than making sure you are supported during your aquaponic journey. While we’ve done our best to make the systems as user friendly as possible, aquaponic gardening still takes time, practice and patience. Everyone’s results will be different with their system. Our goal is to make sure you have the resources and support you need to have a healthy vibrant aquaponic garden.
Customers who have purchased our systems are our number one priority. Call or email us anytime during business hours. We want to hear from you and we will help you however we can.
Classroom Systems for School Aquaponics
Aquaponic systems are our specialty. The best way to teach aquaponics is to have a system right there in your classroom, science lab or in a small greenhouse. We have several options for school aquaponics systems to meet your goals, your space, and your budget.
School Hydroponics & Aquaculture
If you’re looking for the separation of fish and plants, we have several system options that run independently as either a hydroponic or aquaculture system. All of our hydroponic and aquaculture systems are designed to leave the door open for future integration into an aquaponic system.
System Automation
As educators, automation offers peace of mind. Weekends, holidays, schools breaks, random acts of life can take you away from the classroom and your aquaponic system. We understand that, and so we’ve designed our systems to be as automated as possible (sorry, no automatic fish feeders) to allow your system to operate while you’re away.
HYDROS WIFI Controller
Remote monitoring of your system’s water quality has never been easier. The HYDROS controller monitors temperature, pH, ORP, and water levels, to name a few.
Control and monitor your system and share access with as many users as you’d like. Get reports related to temperature and pH spikes, water leaks, power outages, and flow rates!
The Pulse One Monitor
The Pulse One keeps you connected to your garden even if you aren’t nearby. With the Pulse One in your grow space, monitor your air temperature, humidity and light levels.
Pulse One easily connects to your Wi-Fi network and sends data to you so you can monitor your grow from anywhere in the world that has access to the internet.
Battery Power Backup
Our fish tank air pump has the ability to run for up to 8 hours on backup battery power and is also equipped with variable flow control.
When the power goes out, this air pump keeps running and your fish keep swimming!
Auto Topoff Valve
When the water levels in your system are lost (evaporation, transpiration), the float valve automatically opens to replenish the water levels.
Once the water level reaches the float valve, the valve will automatically close. All you need is a water source near the system to connect the filter or flaot valve to permanently.
Automated Heaters
Providing a consistent water temperature for your fish is critical for their health. Our heaters are programable to maintain steady water temps throughout fluctuating temperatures.
Automatic Power Functionality
For grow lights and certain pumps, our systems include digital and analog timers for complete hands-off operations before and after you’re in your garden.
Aquaponic Systems are our specialty and the best way to teach aquaponics is to have a system right there in your classroom, science lab or in a small greenhouse. We have several options for systems to meet your goals, your space, and your budget.
The AquaUrban System
Our AquaUrban Aquaponic System is our most popular school system. The grow bed stand is on wheels for easier mobility and flexibility in your classroom. Larger edible size fish can be raised in the 60 Gallon tank below. Grow a wide variety of crops in the 2′ x 4′ media filled grow bed.
The Harmony System
Our Harmony Systems consists of 2 media beds and a 125-gallon fish tank that are constantly circulating nutrients to your plants. Media beds are great for fruiting crops such as tomatoes and peppers, while still a great way to grow leafy greens. The Harmony System includes all plumbing components, powder coated steel frame, and optional exterior paneling.
AquaBundance Modular System
The AquaBundance Modular Series is great for larger classrooms and greenhouses. All equipment and filtration is easily accessible so students see system mechanics and water flow. A combination of media and deep water culture beds allow for experiments with different growing methods. Contact us, we can help layout the best system to meet your space, goals and budget.
Custom School System Designs
We know that your classroom has to provide space for a variety of activites, we can work with you to ensure that your aquaponics system provides the maximum utility for your space. Looking to add an aquaponic system to your school but don’t see a system that meets all your needs? Contact us today to speak with our design team about designing a custom aquaponics system.
School Profiles
Let Us Help You Get Started
We also offer installation and training services where one of our instructors will visit your school, set up your system and provide your teachers and students an aquaponics class! Instruction can be tailored to best fit your needs. We often provide remote ‘train-the-trainer’ sessions to help prepare you system operations. We love teaching and seeing the excitement when a system first gets installed.
Our team at The Aquaponic Source is dedicated to making sure your school project is successful. We would like to hear from you so we can make sure you get everything you need when you need it.
School Aquaponics FAQ
Of course! The majority of our school purchases are through POs. We accept Tax-Exempt Forms and can provide our W9 and any other documentation required to get us set up as a vendor.
We also accept checks, ACH payments, and credit cards (+ a small processing fee) for all of our systems, supplies, and training packages. Just send us an email and let us know what you need!
Absolutely! Included with the purchase of the system is general lifetime support. We are available for phone and video calls to inspect the system during the installation process. We help you get it right the first time.
During the life cycle of the system, we’re happy to answer your questions around fish, plants, and equipment at no extra charge.
We also have training packages available that dedicate more time to your project that guide you through system operations and a more detailed overview of aquaponics. We can custom tailor our consulting packages to your specific project.
Our systems ship on pallets delivered by a freight company. If your property doesn’t have a forklift or loading dock, we can schedule a freight truck that has a liftgate to lower the system from the truck. After that, it’s your responsibility to store the pallet in a safe location indoors where it will be protected from weather or being misplaced.
Every system is different and the size of the pallet varies from project to project. Part of our quoting process is to provide an estimate for the freight delivery. We do not upcharge on shipping, so when we invoice for the system, only the exact amount is billed.
We include insurance on all freight shipments. If damage occurs during shipping, we will send replacement parts and file a claim with the freight company. Your job is to notify us immediately of the damage and send pictures of the damage so that we can make the claim.
Yes! Our systems have been designed so people can install them without special tools, extra hardware or plumbing experience. For the AquaBundance system, all of the plumbing connections are Quik-loc, Uniseal or Fernco connections that don’t require any cutting, priming or gluing. We provide highly visual assembly manuals for the frame and plumbing systems. As always, we are here to support you the entire way and will be happy to assist if you have any questions during the installation.
If your system is large enough, we are also available to travel to complete the install for you. We normally discuss installation during the preliminary quoting stage so that we can forecast installation dates and fees.
Absolutely! We have three options for system: Stock, modular, and custom. For modular and custom options, our detailed design process dives into your project goals, the intended space for the system, and budgetary considerations. Once we have all the necessary information, we will provide concept layout drawings to show you exactly how the system will fit, how much food you can expect, and most importantly, the cost. We have solutions for every space, size, goals, and budget!
Yes! If your system is large enough, we are able to travel to complete the install for you. We normally discuss installation during the preliminary quoting stage so that we can forecast installation dates and fees. Travel and lodging fees will apply including the day rate for labor.
If you would like us to install your system, please contact one of our sales and design team specialists. They will discuss your project and location to determine an installation plan.