Already an internet hit with their mushroom-growing kit, Back To The Roots went from fungi to fish. Raising over double their Kickstarter goal, they just launched this Home Aquaponics Self-Cleaning Fish Tank.
This self-cleaning fish tank features five pots on the top for growing herbs and plants such as spinach, baby greens, oregano, beans, basil, mint, parsley and thyme. The fish waste naturally fertilizes the plants above. So, all you really have to do is feed the fish!
JeroenW on 01.09.2013 at 15:59 PM
Well.. and a betta of course.
Amazing to see how people can always manage new ways to improve on cruelty to fish. Tropical fish need a heater!
aj on 01.11.2013 at 10:53 AM
You obviously have not kept fish before. Please don’t start now.
Mella on 01.14.2013 at 16:26 PM
No, tropical fish do need heaters if the water gets colder than the temperature that they thrive at. So if the water dips below 75 degrees, then it is not the optimum temperature for the fish. Sure they won’t DIE from being at 72 degrees, but they act sluggish and all-together unhappy.
Fish guy on 02.09.2013 at 22:33 PM
Wrong , fish do not need a heater or a filter for that matter. Bertta fish are labyrinth fish that can get oxygen from the surface. Most other tropical fish get there oxygen from the water.
This in not cruel to a betta at all , look up where a betta comes from ,this is like a mansion for a betta.
JeroenW on 01.19.2013 at 04:00 AM
Sure.. I’ve not kept fish before. Right… Then this thing in the corner of my room must be a figment of my imagination.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/8358132435/in/photostream
jessi on 01.18.2013 at 18:36 PM
And bettas actually breathe air from the surface of water along with getting oxygen from their gills, so this contraption is really better suited for a goldfish!
pop on 01.09.2013 at 17:46 PM
It is very interesting and unique
adora on 01.09.2013 at 18:09 PM
I’m very sick of seeing this design. Anyone who has owned a betta fish or grown basil at home would know that this thing will be death in a month. I doubt the designers themselves could keep it for a year without having to replace the plants or the fish.
There is more science than this loop. There is the pH and oxygen level for the tank. The plants need sun but the fish can get fungal infection with too much sun. And salt deposit from the plant needs to be flush out every 2 weeks. Betta fish is carnivore, they like shrimps. It’s not a simple 2-way loop.
It would be fun for a child, but I afraid that it teaches them the wrong science. I mean, if it is this simple, wouldn’t all fish farms be coupled with herb farms?
Tessa on 01.09.2013 at 20:14 PM
Wow…seriously? Where is the fish getting an adequate supply of oxygen? And yes, PH, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels are important even with bettas, if you want them to live healthy for a long time. People who don’t know any better will overstock the hell out of this. Not to be harsh or judgmental, but it seems a bit tacky in my opinion to post something like this as some innovative design element. The thing is garbage and unhealthy for the fish.
JeroenW on 01.19.2013 at 04:02 AM
But Tessa… this is not designed to have anything live for a long time. This is for people with a low attention span. After 3 months you’ve got some herbs, the rest is going yellow from too much water. You got a dead fish and you can throw away the whole thing.
Robbie G splashduck on 01.10.2013 at 08:51 AM
what a great design, i want to have one :)
JeroenW on 01.19.2013 at 04:02 AM
Because you feel like torturing a fish to death?
Okurinu on 02.10.2013 at 01:14 AM
I think you’re taking this a bit too personally for an article on the internet. Were you adopted by a pair of kind fish as a child or something?
Jack on 01.16.2013 at 16:02 PM
There’s been a million reiterations on this idea for years. Fish cannot survive happily in a small, filterless space. It’s just not going to work.
Alissa on 01.21.2013 at 16:04 PM
Hi everyone,
My name is Alissa and I’ve been heading a good portion of the aquaponics research at Back to the Roots. First, I’d just like to thank everyone so much for the feedback. We’re doing the best we can to make this a quality product, and constructive criticism is really important in achieving that.
For those who expressed concern about temperature, pH, and other water quality measurements, you’re 100% right that these are important measurements to monitor. As far as temperature goes, heaters can absolutely work with our system. I have two at home and both have heaters, as my room can get a bit chilly. That said, we haven’t been able to include heaters in the kits yet, as it’s a bit cost-prohibited. Our goal is to inspire people who have never grown food before to have their own herb gardens on their kitchen counters. We’d also like to encourage people who have never kept fish to really see the beauty and fun in it!
Regarding oxygen levels, the airlift pump in our system definitely helps oxygenate the water. As a few people have mentioned, bettas can actually gulp air from the surface of the water. It’s difficult to see in the pictures of our systems, but the grow bed and fish tank are two different components. It was designed to look continuous, but there’s actually a 1″ gap of air in between them, so the betta can definitely breathe air from the top.
The plants and beneficial bacteria are huge when it comes to regulating ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. The bacteria help convert the ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates, and the plants take up those nitrates as they’re prime plant food.
For pH, we’re looking into all natural ways to help get the pH to the right level for whatever fish our customers choose to include in their systems. Of course, not all fish are going to work, as our system is on the smaller size, so we will be sure to only recommend ones whose growth will not be stunted.
Finally, there’s the issue of sunlight. You can see from our pictures that we have white panels on two of the sides to block out the sunlight. We’ll also be designing panels for the back side that will have fun patterns, but will also help keep sunlight out of the tank, but on the plants!
I hope this information helps, and anyone is more than welcome to give us a call (510.922.9758) or email me directly at [email protected]! We really do want to make this a quality product and one our customers keep in their kitchens for years, and we’re pumped to make it the best we can from the get go and then keep improving on it!
Best,
Alissa
chris on 01.28.2013 at 14:27 PM
Nice design Alissa,
glad you stepped in to stop all the ignorant gripes.
It’s great to get people growing plants (herbs no less).
I guess you should ad some marking images that show concerns above. perhaps some illustrations of where ther air pocket is, how its cleaned, what plants work, what fish work….
keep up the good work.
Sandy on 05.15.2013 at 14:17 PM
Have you guys seriously SEEN the conditions the betta lives in, in all the stores that carry them? I have had betta live for years with the pothos plant in the top and roots in the water, in a huge glass vase. I usually changed out the water once a month or so. And there are lots of types of fish that could be in there for a while, then moved out to a larger tank. Guppies come to mind…. I think it is a great idea. I want one to put in my kitchen and grow grass and catnip for the 6 cats that I rescued. Plus they can watch the fish. Cat TV!!