Aquaponic Systems for Schools and Universities
Nelson and Pade, Inc.® works with schools and Universities around the world, supplying our Clear Flow Aquaponic Systems® for schools, education and research. Currently, we have shipped systems to hundreds of schools and Universities in the United States and 25 other countries.
Aquaponics in schools is a primary goal of Nelson and Pade Inc. We provide assistance, documentation, curriculums and grower support so that educators can focus on what matters…successfully implementing an aquaponics program to educate their students.
Educators! Join us for the Aquaponics Master Class for Teachers!
Aquaponics in Schools
Aquaponics is an excellent means of demonstrating many principles of science, agriculture, math and business in all grade levels and for home schooling. Applications of these technologies are only limited by ones imagination.
The concept of interdisciplinary education shines when it comes to aquaponics in schools. In addition to the plant sciences, aquaponics incorporates and demonstrates many of natures natural cycles, nitrification, biology, fish anatomy and nutrition and high-tech agriculture. A unit in aquaponics enforces practical uses of chemistry, mathematics, physics, economics and engineering. The monitoring and care of an aquaponic system by students helps instill a sense of responsibility, inspires creativity and creates excitement in the learning environment.
A unit in aquaponics can be started at the beginning of a semester and run through the entire semester, allowing the educator to present the individual concepts and lessons as the plants and fish develop and grow.
FREE Aquaponics Curriculum Package to all schools who order a Premium Aquaponic system Package (see below)
Aquaponics in Universities
Nelson and Pade, Inc. is the leader in launching aquaponics in Universities by supplying aquaponic systems and training programs to Universities around the world. This includes the UWSP Aquaponics Innovation Center, the leading University Aquaponics project for education, outreach and research.
Additionally, Nelson and Pade, Inc. has provided science-based, proven aquaponic systems to the University of the Virgin Islands, University of Malaysia, University of Minnesota, Johns Hopkins, Sustainability and Wellness program, Acadia University, Flagler College Enactus, JSC University, University of Hawaii, University of Massachusetts, Shepard’s College, Lakeland College, San Diego State University, Embry Riddle University, University of Greenwich-London, and many more.
For aquaponics at your University, contact Nelson and Pade, Inc. to discuss how we can assist you in advancing your aquaponics program.
Dean Longhofer, Flagler College Enactus, comments: “We acquired the system early this year and already we are seeing tremendous results. We chose a Nelson and Pade system because it was highly recommended for its efficiency and its quality. This system has taught Flagler College and Flagler College Enactus the science of aquaponics through its hands-on experience. Because Nelson and Pade takes time to create high quality products, we were able to produce high quality plants.”
Give your students the opportunity to explore a new career field.
Aquaponics is a growing industry that needs an educated workforce. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point now offers courses in aquaponics and an Aquaponic Certificate program.
What is Aquaponics?
Contact us for more information
Four Great Systems for Schools and Universities
Small Fry
The Small Fry is a great little system to demonstrate the science of aquaponics. The Small Fry is intended to sit on a tabletop, with easy viewing of all tanks, bio-filtration components and the raft tanks. Whether you are a school that wants to showcase aquaponics on a table top, or a home owner who wants to grow fish, vegetables and herbs, the Small Fry will get you started in aquaponics.
- Vegetable Production:
- 312-416 heads of lettuce/year (or other vegetables)
- Fish Production:
- 32 lbs of fish/year
- System Dimensions:
- 7′ x 14 = 98 sq. ft.
- Suggested total area indoors or greenhouse:
- 12′ x 20′ = 240 sq. ft.
Estimated Labor/day
- 1/2 – 1 hour per day
- Electrical Requirements:
- 2.4 amps 120V, 24/7
- Grow Lights, optional, max: HID 1000 watts -or- LED 750 watts
- System Configuration:
- 2 – 16 gal fish tanks, all filter tanks and pumps, 2 – 3′ x’4′ raft tanks
- also available in a 1-raft tank version
- Small Fry Cost:
- Essentials: $2,995; Premium: $4,495
- Optional Greenhouse Kit (12′ x 20′) Cost:
- Basic $8,494; Advanced: $10,820
Request a Small Fry Order Form
F5 (Fantastically Fun Fresh Food Factory)
The F-5 is a fantastic system for the beginner or anyone who wants to set up a small but highly productive aquaponic system. An F-5 can annually produce 110 lbs of fish and 900-1,440 heads of lettuce, other leafy crops or a variety of vegetables such as tomatoes, beans, cucumbers and more. The F5 is a great system for a beginner and makes an ideal classroom aquaponic system.
- Vegetable Production:
- 900 – 1,440 heads of lettuce/year (or other vegetables)
- Fish Production:
- 110 lbs of fish/year
- System Dimensions:
- 6′ x 16′ = 128 sq. ft.
- Suggested total area indoors or greenhouse:
- 12′ x 20′ = 240 sq. ft.
- Estimated Labor/day
- 1/2 – 1 hour/day
Electrical Requirements:
- 2.4 amps 120V, 24/7
- Grow Lights, optional, max: HID 1000 watts -or- LED 750 watts
- System Configuration:
- 1-100 gal fish tank, all filter tanks and pumps, 2-3′ x 5′ raft tanks
- also available in a 1-raft tank version
- F5 Cost:
- Essentials: $2,995; Premium: $4,495
- Optional Greenhouse Kit (12′ x 20′ ) Cost:
- Basic: $8,494; Advanced: $10,820
Home Garden
The Home Garden will seriously supplement your family’s food supply, with over 200 lbs of fish and 1,350—2,160 heads of lettuce or lots of other fresh veggies every year. This is a great choice for a family who wants to get started in aquaponics. The Home Garden is a classic aquaponic raft system that in which you can grow a variety of crops – tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and more!
- Vegetable Production:
- 1,350 – 2,160 heads of lettuce/year (or other vegetables)
- Fish Production:
- 215 lbs of fish/year
- System Dimensions:
- 9′ x 23′ = 207 sq. ft.
- Suggested total area indoors or greenhouse:
- 12′ x 32′ = 288 sq. ft.
Estimated Labor/day:
- 1-2 hours
- Electrical Requirements:
- 2.4 amps 120V, 24/7
- Grow Lights, optional, max: HID 2,000 watts -or- LED 1,500 watts
- System Configuration:
- 2 – 100 gal fish tanks, all filter tanks and pumps, 3 – 4′ x 6′ raft tanks
- Home Garden Cost:
- Essentials: $5,195; Premium: $7,995
- Optional Greenhouse Kit (12 ‘ x 32’) Cost:
- Basic: $9,279; Advanced: $11,604
Request a Home Garden Order Form
Family Plus
Feed Your Family fresh, nutritious fish and veggies, year ’round! The Family Plus is great for home food production and big enough that you’ll likely have extra to share with friends or family. The Family Plus is twice as big as the Home Garden! It can annually produce 460 lbs. of fish and 2,700 – 4,860 heads of lettuce (or other vegetables).
- Vegetable Production:
- 2,700 – 4,860 heads of lettuce/year (or other vegetables)
- Fish Production:
- 460 lbs of fish
- System Dimensions:
- 11′ x 35′ = 385 sq. ft
- Suggested total area indoors or greenhouse:
- 18′ x 40′ = 512 sq. ft.
Estimated Labor/day
- 2 – 3 hours
- Electrical Requirements:
- 2.8 amps 120V, 24/7
- Grow Lights, optional, max: HID 3,000 watts -or- LED 2,300 watts
- System Configuration:
- 4 – 100 gal fish tanks, all filter tanks and pumps, 6 – 4′ x 6′ raft tanks
- Family Plus Cost:
- Essentials: $7,995; Premium: $11,995
- Optional Greenhouse Kit (18′ x 40′) Cost:
- Basic: $11,543; Advanced: $14,937
Request a Family Plus Order Form
Essentials vs Premium
We offer our Home Systems in two versions: Essentials and Premium.
Essentials
The Essentials version costs less with fewer parts included. Yet, we include all of the essential components you’ll need. Commonly available parts are not included and can be purchased locally. The Essentials version saves you money, but increases the time it will take to assemble it. They are great for DIY’ers who want to save money, source a few parts locally and don’t mind spending a little longer building the system.
Premium
The Premium version includes everything you need, including pre-cut pipes, fittings, labeled parts for easy assembly and hand-crafted cedar stands for the fish tanks. We have designed the Premium Systems to be complete easy-to-assemble packages, eliminating guesswork and trips to the hardware store.
Essentials vs Premium Comparison
Whether purchasing the Essentials or Premium versions, the Customer will be required to route their own drain plumbing, and the plumbing from the provided Air Blower to the Tanks that require Air. These runs of plumbing are not included or drawn out because each System location is unique as to where the Drain Lines can be run, and where the Blowers will be located.
Greenhouses for Aquaponics and Indoor Farming
Nelson and Pade, Inc. offers budget-friendly, freestanding greenhouse packages for the each of our Home Systems. These greenhouses can be used in cold, moderate and warm climates and will protect your crops from extreme weather conditions.
Learn more about our Greenhouse Kits
Success in Aquaponics
Nelson and Pade, Inc offer the Aquaponics Success Package for any customer purchasing Clear Flow Aquaponic Systems®. This a great opportunity to to get started and be successful in aquaponics.
Optional Equipment
We offer all of the supplies you need to keep you system running…fish food, grow cubes, pest controls, etc
Aquaponics Store
Learn more
Attend our Aquaponics Master Class.
Questions?
School and University Systems
What comes with the School or University Systems?
We offer our School and University Systems in two versions: Essentials and Premium. View Comparison
Note: Nelson and Pade, Inc can provide purpose-specific aquaponics systems for University-level research.
Please contact us to discuss your needs.
Don’t you Offer a FREE Aquaponics Curriculum Package for Schools?
Yes! It is included FREE with the Premium Package.
What else do I need?
Whether purchasing the Essentials or Premium versions, the Customer will be required to route their own drain plumbing, and the plumbing from the provided Air Blower to the Tanks that require Air. These runs of plumbing are not included or drawn out because each System location is unique as to where the Drain Lines can be run, and where the Blowers will be located.
You will need a source of potable fresh water (without chlorine and without contact with any copper pipe), electricity, a place to put the system (greenhouse-best choice, building-2nd best choice, outdoors-least favorite choice). Visit the aquaponics.com store to see other items that you might want to purchase, such as grow lights, fish tank windows or supplies.
Can I assemble it?
Yes, we supply detailed instructions in the assembly manual. If you are not handy with tools and basic assembly, we suggest that you enlist the help of someone who is.
What can I grow?
Our School and University Systems are designed for and intended to grow a combination of garden crops, such as lettuce, greens, herbs, beans, peas, cucumbers, peppers, cabbage, broccoli and more. You should grow what you will best suit your needs in education and research. The fish can be tilapia, blue gill, koi, goldfish or another fresh water fish that does well at 74℉.
Where should I put it?
A controlled environment greenhouse is ideal, but not a necessity for a school or university system. Most schools put these systems right in a classroom or a wet lab. One school even put it in an abandoned locker room! Just keep in mind that you’ll need fresh water, drains, electricity and grow lights if growing indoors. If you have a greenhouse, or a budget for a greenhouse, that is a great choice.
General Questions
How many have you sold?
As of Jan, 2018, there are nearly 500 Clear Flow Aquaponic Systems® around the world, with sizes ranging from home food production to large commercial ventures. In the next year, that number will likely double or even triple. We have shipped systems to almost every US State and 27 countries.
Why buy a Clear Flow Aquaponic System®?
Place your order, receive the shipment, assemble the system, add fish, add plants. Buying our system eliminates the need to invent and design a system, find and order the fish tanks, filter tanks, raft tanks, plumbing parts, water pump and aeration system. It all comes as one science-based, proven system with easy to understand assembly and operation manuals, developed by Nelson and Pade, Inc.® who have a longer history and more experience in designing, building, operating and refining aquaponic systems than any other company.
Do you offer training?
Nelson and Pade, Inc.® believes that success in aquaponics comes with a science-based system, proper training and tech support and we offer all three. For people in the knowledge-gaining process, we offer a variety of learning opportunities. We also offer our Nelson and Pade Grower Program.
If I attend a Master Class, do I get a discount on a system?
YES, follow this link to our incentive page.
Do you offer installation of your systems?
By following our assembly manual and using our Assembly Guidance Service, you can successfully build the system yourself. Or, if you are not handy, it is most cost effective to hire someone locally to help. Assembly Guidance is a support service that we offer and it is listed on all order forms, as a separate service or as part of our Success Package.
How does the tech support work?
Most new growers enroll in our Grower Program so that they have easy access to our support staff throughout the year. Learn about the Nelson and Pade Grower Program.
How can I learn more about aquaponics?
Nelson and Pade, Inc.® is known around the world as the leader in aquaponics education. We offer the 3-day Aquaponics Master Class®, our Extended Stay Learning Program and the Nelson and Pade Grower Program. Plus, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, we have developed and offer the first-of-its-kind 3-credit, full semester aquaponics course. Join us for any of the learning opportunities.
Why do your systems cost so much?
We have designed these highly productive systems, sourced the parts, written the manuals, built and packaged the systems for you. We use very high quality components, water pumps and air blowers and we use food grade tanks, liners and plumbing to keep your crops and you safe. If you sourced out equivalent quality parts, you would spend just as much or more, but not have our designs, our 20+ years’ experience available to you, our assembly, operation, SOP and GAP manuals, or our tech support. When you look at the quality and longevity of the materials, the design, manuals and support we offer and the production and ROI Clear Flow Aquaponic Systems® provide, you will see they are a great value. Plus, they are 90% made in the USA.