Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I had posted this in the introduction section, and thought I should post it here as it's a more appropriate place. I am not trying to spam the place by posting this all over, last time I post it I promise

I got an idea today, and wanted to join up to ask some advice on it. I have a 10 gallon aquarium that is sitting empty at the moment. I was thinking of taking this tank, cutting a piece of stryofoam that fits inside it, and cutting out holes for netpots kinda like how people grow lettuce on rafts, but much much smaller. We have a large picture window in our living room with a window sill large enough to hold the tank. I was thinking of setting this up for the kids and using it to grow little stuff like an indoor herb garden, things like basil, thyme, oregano, cilantro, maybe a lettuce, etc.

My only concern is that since this design is so simple, and the roots will be where the fish swim in a deep water culture, that the fish may eat the roots and kill the plants. I wanted to avoid buying a lot of stuff like water pumps for an ebb and flow and a growbed on top if possible.

Anyone know of plant friendly fish that won't eat the roots? Does anyone else see in other issues I may not have seen with this idea? Any other advice any one wants to share would be appreciated.

My first true AP system was DWC with a Spathophylum (Hawiian Peace Lily), with Siamese Fighting fish, in clear glass vases. The plants were purchased at a local store, washed the dirt off the roots and just stuck them in the vase and placed on a kitchen window seal that didn't get too much direct sunlight. There was no aeration and I didn't have any problem with the fish eating the roots. In fact, I had the opposite problem, I had to cut the roots back so the fish could swim.
If you have just a few fish, even if they ate some of the roots, I'm sure the plants wouldn't suffer too much.

I have two small ivy clippings that are developing new roots finally, but I haven't noticed the fish eating any of them. Do fish only eat certain types of roots?

Depends on the fish and the plant.

Thanks for the replies.

I think I am going to go ahead and try it, after all, the work case scenario is some random herbs don't live, and it becomes just an aquarium for my kids.

Going to fill the tank with water today, and will get one fish in there to cycle it.