This past Monday New Mexico State University Professor of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology Wiebke Boeing and a group of students met with Zoo staff to talk about the Zoo having an aquaponic display. 

The University has received funding for this project and would be able to pay for supplies and student labor to put everything into place.  Aquaponics is a sustainable farming method that combines aquaculture (raising fish) with hydroponics (growing plants in water). Basically, the fish produce waste that provides nutrients for the plants, and the plants, in turn, help filter and clean the water for the fish. It’s important because it uses significantly less water than traditional farming, and it allows for food production in places where soil quality or space might be a problem. So, it’s a really cool, eco-friendly solution for both food and water efficiency!

The group toured the Zoo and walked over to several areas like the Koi Pond where an aquaponic display could help our community learn about a perfect blend of both aquatic life and plant life.  It would give visitors a chance to see a microcosm of an ecosystem.   We could teach about symbiosis – how fish and plants work together all in one space.   It would be educational, beautiful and kind of futuristic.  

One of the students told us that he has a 20-gallon fish tank at home that he is using to grow food for his family!  A 20-gallon fish tank is relatively small, so you’d likely be limited to things like microgreens, leafy greens, or herbs. You could grow salad greens—like lettuce, spinach—or maybe herbs like basil or cilantro. If you’re going full aquaponics, you’d also have to consider fish stocking—usually small fish, like goldfish.  So, it won’t be a full meal plan, but it can supplement your diet.  You can probably expect a modest yield. For example, you might get a few heads of lettuce every couple week, plus herbs like basil that grow pretty quickly—maybe a handful of them each month. With a good balance, you might produce enough leafy greens for a few salads per week for one person. So, it’s a nice boost, but not a full replacement for grocery shopping.