Aquaponics Intro

There are many reasons why so many people love aqauaponics, and why it is such a great farming method.  First off, what is aquaponics?  Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (raising aquatic animals) and hydroponics (growing plants in water, and without soil).  It's simple enough; you feed the fish, the fish feed the plants (with their waste), and the plants clean the water.  So why would anyone want to do this in the first place?  Here are some of the benefits of aquaponics:

1. No soil means no weeding, no soil-borne diseases, and no tilling!
2. The fish provide free fertilizer.
3. Plants grow as much as four times faster than those grown in soil or hydroponics systems.
4. Water waste is minimal.
5. Grow more with less space.
6. No land, no problem; land isn't required.
7. Fresh fish for the taking.
8. Year round growing is easily implemented.
9. Poor soil quality isn't an issue. 

I want to explore aquaponics further this blog will be a journal of my progress.  Feel free to participate in the comment section; I would love to hear any feedback, questions, or even photos of your own systems.