Aquafarm: Simon's New Home

Over 2 years ago, I wrote in excitement about this Kickstarter campaign that Back to the Roots had for their new Aquaponics product that they were developing. I can’t even believe it’s been over 2 years already, my does time fly! I’ve always wanted to try hydroponics, so this was going to be super fun for me. They started a kickstarter campaign to get enough funding to develop a fish tank that could grow plants on the lid. It’s a symbiotic relationship where the plants consume the waste produced by the fish. The waste is really good “fertilizer” / nutrients for the plants. By doing so, the plants helps the fish thrive by “cleaning” the water when it takes up the ammonia and nitrogen from the fish waste. As a result of this relationship, there is never a need to change the water in the fish tank. Anyone who pledged over $50 in the Kickstarter campaign would get their very own tank. I waited a year, and in June of last year, I received this box in the mail! I think I literally squealed in excitement when I got it.

It took me 6 months, but this past weekend I finally set up my Back to the Roots Aquafarm. I never got around to setting it up at home because I didn’t have a good spot for it. (I live in a tiny NYC apartment) But then one day, we decided to get a fish at work. This is Simon. He is an awesome male Betta. Inside the Aquafarm kit was a coupon for a 99 cent Betta. What a deal!

We followed the setup of the new Aquafarm exactly to the specifications on the instructions. We setup 3 grow containers containing wheat grass seeds, one with basil and one with lettuce. We did the setup on Thursday and then there was a weekend so when we got back on Monday, I screamed in excitement! Woooooo! Look what grew in 4 days! 4 days!!! I’ve grown wheat grass before so I know it grows pretty fast, but I was surprised to already see the lettuce and basil sprouting! AWESOME!

Here’s another view from a different angle. Simon looks so happy in his new home! Pretty soon, we’ll have to harvest some green treats! Woot! Woot!

Many of my friends asked me where they can get their own Aquafarm. They are sold in many places including on the Back to the Roots website, at Whole Foods, at Petco, and I read an article that it was also sold at Neiman Marcus. Definitely get one! You’ll love it!