In an aquaponic system, the fish consume food and excrete waste.
Beneficial bacteria convert the waste to nitrate which the plants use in the growth process.
Essentially, aquaponics is a recirculating, symbiotic aquatic system in which the fish provide the food for the plants and the plants help to purify the water the fish live in. The Aquaponics Journal is a quarterly publication de dicated to gardeners, commercial growers, researchers and educators who use the fascinating technologies of aquaponics, hydroponics and aquaculture to grow plants and fish. These technologies can be used to commercially grow large quantities of food in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way. Aquaponics can provide year-round fresh fish and vegetables for a family and to educate students in the areas of biology, botany, chemistry, integrated science, business and mathematics.