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Aquaponics
Aquaponic systems combine the best of both worlds: hydroponics and aquaculture. Fish are raised in one area and the plants in another. The waste from the fish is pumped into a holding area where it is usually treated with bacterial agents that help break it down. Then the treated waste is pumped in the plant area to be used as fertilizer for growing. The used water is pumped from the plant area back to the fish. The system is very nicely self-contained. Further Reading
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The arts of aquaculture and hydroponics have been around for hundreds of years. Aquaponics has been on the rise for decades. However, it is only recently that large, commercial aquaponics operations have been implemented and in-depth research has been conducted. Two of the primary reasons for this growing interest stem from the fact that these farms have been becoming more profitable and that they face the problem of waste by-products head-on. Both traditional field crop agriculture and aquaculture have faced dramatic problems with, respectively, pesticide and waste buildup. A new system had to take the spotlight.