Engineering Data · Verified Calculations · Cornell-Aligned Training

Science & Academy

Every calculation verified. Every system designed for resilience. From the nitrogen cycle to solar economics — then six certification tracks to teach you how to build and operate it all.

The Core Process

The Nitrogen Cycle in Aquaponics

Fish waste → bacteria → plant nutrients → clean water

STEP 01🐟

Fish Produce Waste

Rainbow trout metabolize protein-rich feed, excreting ammonia (NH₃) through gills and waste. At 9–18 kg/m³ density, this provides abundant nutrients.

STEP 02🦠

Bacteria Convert

Nitrosomonas oxidize ammonia → nitrite. Nitrobacter converts nitrite → nitrate. K3 media provides 300–600 m²/m³ surface area.

STEP 03🌿

Plants Absorb

Nitrate-rich water feeds 1,884 grow sites across 36 towers. Plant roots uptake nutrients and filter water. Kalo loʻi provides natural polishing.

STEP 04💧

Clean Water Returns

Purified water cascades back through 9 drops (24ft total), gaining dissolved oxygen naturally via gravity. Uses 90% less water than soil farming.

90%

Less water vs soil farming

9.6

mg/L DO at 16°C

24ft

Total gravity cascade

34,100L

Fish-bearing volume

68 LPM

Flow rate (18 GPM)

Real-Time IoT Monitoring

Water Quality Parameters

Maintaining the perfect environment for fish, bacteria & plants

TEMPERATURE

14–18°C

Sweet spot for trout

Site delivers passively via 6ft soil thermal mass. No chiller needed.

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

>7.0 mg/L

Critical for fish + bacteria

9 cascades achieve 85–92% saturation via gravity alone.

pH RANGE

6.8–7.2

Balanced for all organisms

Volcanic soil naturally buffers. Coral sand for fine-tuning.

AMMONIA (NH₃)

<0.5 mg/L

Toxic above 1.0 mg/L

Biofilter sized for 2× expected load. Alert at 0.5 mg/L.

Off-Grid Capable · Net-Zero Energy

Energy & Water Independence

Solar + rainwater + micro-hydro = resilient infrastructure

☀️

Solar PV Array

26 kW Peak

65 panels × 400W. ~143–169 kWh/day. Powers 3 houses, pumps, 10 printers, LEDs, cold storage. 40 kWh LiFePO₄ battery backup.

💧

Rainwater Harvest

~148K–180K gal/yr

4,000 sq ft catchment. Stored in 4× 2,500 gal IBC totes. Primary source for aquaponic top-up, irrigation, and humidity.

⚡

Micro-Hydro

~43W Continuous

18 GPM × 24 ft head × 53% Pelton efficiency. Small but runs 24/7. Powers IoT sensors independently.

6 Certification Tracks · $49–$299 · 4 Languages

Choose Your Path

From beginner to Train-the-Trainer certification. Grounded in Cornell CEA frameworks, NCAT veteran farmer models, and the MALAMA community-based participatory learning approach. Priced at 1/10 of competitors. Multilingual: English, Spanish, Tagalog, Marshallese.

Hands-On Learning · Makawao, Maui

2-Day On-Farm Workshop

Immersive two-day experience at 3585 Baldwin Ave. Build a tower, test water chemistry, seed 200 plants, harvest produce, and earn your certification.

UH MALAMA · Peer Review · Cornell CEA

Research Foundation

Research from the University of Hawaiʻi MALAMA program (2024) confirms aquaponics as the ideal modern analog of the ahupuaʻa. All engineering calculations independently verified. Curriculum aligned with Cornell CEA frameworks and adapted for Pacific Island contexts.

Certification tracks

$49–$299

1/10 competitor pricing

Languages supported

2 Days

On-farm workshop

Cornell

CEA framework aligned

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