About Growing Vegetables the Aquaponics Way
There is nothing like the flavor of homegrown vegetables. Many of us in southern California
lack the space, time and knowledge to grow a traditional vegetable garden.
In the USA, we have access to low priced produce that is grown on huge commercial farms.
The problem with these vegetables and fruit is that they are literally bathed in herbicides,
pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Many have been genetically selected to withstand
mechanical picking, long trips to market and treated to have a long shelf life. The end result is
a far cry from what is supposed to be nutritious, tasty, fortifying, real food. Vegetables and fruit
grown in aquaponics systems cannot have any type of toxic treatment. To do so will kill the
fish!! A properly constructed aquaponics system is a model demonstration of working with
Mother Nature and not against her. The result is an abundance of real food that tastes great
and nourishes the way it was intended.
You can grow your own fish for consumption if you would like. Tilapia, trout, catfish, perch,
barramundi and freshwater crayfish have all been successfully raised in aquaponics systems.
You can maintain beautiful goldfish or koi to provide the nutrient rich water the plants depend
on. Which ever way you go, you are utilizing a truly organic fertilizer to grow your produce. And
no, it does not make the fruits and vegetables taste fishy. On the contrary, the nutrient rich
water contains all the trace nutrients your plants need to grow. You will notice the plants are
turgid, healthy, fast growing and taste incredibly good.
About our Business
When we first heard of aquaponics, we thought it was a phenomenally great idea. A perfectly
balanced ecosystem for food production!! And, one that rivals any draught tolerant gardening
method known. We immediately saw the potential for the arid Southwest of the United States.
We also thought the idea would and should catch on globally, especially in developing
countries or in isolated communities such as small islands.
As fate would have it, we were presented with an opportunity to partner with Helen Reddy to
develop aquaponics at her home on Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island is a minuscule dot in the
South Pacific one thousand miles from Australia and 900 miles from New Zealand. Click here
to read the news articles that tell the story of how we achieved success in our endeavors and
what our future plans are for the residents of Norfolk Island. We are truly fortunate to have
been given this chance to make a positive impact on the lives of others and have a great time in
the process.
Upon our return to the USA, we started our aquaponics business. Our own aquaponics system
is in place and working at our home in Encinitas. We put it right in the front yard so people
could see how it works and that it can be a beautiful landscape focal point. We also still have
our experimental system working in the back yard and are using it to grow fish to supply to our
clients for their new systems.
About Us
Sue and Theron Spray are the owners of Expert Aquaponics. Sue is a retired comparative
medicine veterinarian and Theron is a retired construction project manager. Their
backgrounds, experience and knowledge are a natural segue into the aquaponics field.
Prior to retiring from Scripps Research Institute, Sue held the position as their senior
veterinarian. In this position Sue worked with world class scientists designing and developing
instrumentation and techniques that allowed them to reach previously unattainable research
goals. Research and development of aquaponics systems was a perfect fit for Sue's
imaginative and inquisitive nature.
As a construction project manager for a large aerospace company, Theron directed and
coordinated projects for cutting edge aircraft manufacturing and other government projects.
The coordination of specialized components of unique projects into a smoothly operating and
functioning final product is a highly specialized task in which Theron excelled. Aquaponics
requires design, development and construction of unique systems that allow plants and fish to
live together. Carpentry, plumbing, electrical, system design and layout are all integral
components of an efficient, economic, esthetically pleasing aquaponics system.
Aquaponics is the combination of many sciences and business entities. Biology, ecology,
physics, along with agriculture, aquaculture, business and education are all components of a
well rounded research program. Knowledge in these areas is extremely beneficial in
developing aquaponics systems that function properly.
With this combined knowledge base and skill set, Sue and Theron are uniquely qualified to
develop Aquaponics systems. They are skilled and qualified to design and test scientific
parameters, make evidence based design and procedure changes to enhance system
operation and function and disseminate this information to others.
They are dedicated to the principles of self reliance and sustainability and see aquaponics as
one method to provide a means of taking control over what we subject our bodies to. The
aquaponics systems they developed for Norfolk Island shows how their ingenuity and
resourcefulness resulted in a remarkably efficient method of growing food easily and with
minimal water use.
lack the space, time and knowledge to grow a traditional vegetable garden.
In the USA, we have access to low priced produce that is grown on huge commercial farms.
The problem with these vegetables and fruit is that they are literally bathed in herbicides,
pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Many have been genetically selected to withstand
mechanical picking, long trips to market and treated to have a long shelf life. The end result is
a far cry from what is supposed to be nutritious, tasty, fortifying, real food. Vegetables and fruit
grown in aquaponics systems cannot have any type of toxic treatment. To do so will kill the
fish!! A properly constructed aquaponics system is a model demonstration of working with
Mother Nature and not against her. The result is an abundance of real food that tastes great
and nourishes the way it was intended.
You can grow your own fish for consumption if you would like. Tilapia, trout, catfish, perch,
barramundi and freshwater crayfish have all been successfully raised in aquaponics systems.
You can maintain beautiful goldfish or koi to provide the nutrient rich water the plants depend
on. Which ever way you go, you are utilizing a truly organic fertilizer to grow your produce. And
no, it does not make the fruits and vegetables taste fishy. On the contrary, the nutrient rich
water contains all the trace nutrients your plants need to grow. You will notice the plants are
turgid, healthy, fast growing and taste incredibly good.
About our Business
When we first heard of aquaponics, we thought it was a phenomenally great idea. A perfectly
balanced ecosystem for food production!! And, one that rivals any draught tolerant gardening
method known. We immediately saw the potential for the arid Southwest of the United States.
We also thought the idea would and should catch on globally, especially in developing
countries or in isolated communities such as small islands.
As fate would have it, we were presented with an opportunity to partner with Helen Reddy to
develop aquaponics at her home on Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island is a minuscule dot in the
South Pacific one thousand miles from Australia and 900 miles from New Zealand. Click here
to read the news articles that tell the story of how we achieved success in our endeavors and
what our future plans are for the residents of Norfolk Island. We are truly fortunate to have
been given this chance to make a positive impact on the lives of others and have a great time in
the process.
Upon our return to the USA, we started our aquaponics business. Our own aquaponics system
is in place and working at our home in Encinitas. We put it right in the front yard so people
could see how it works and that it can be a beautiful landscape focal point. We also still have
our experimental system working in the back yard and are using it to grow fish to supply to our
clients for their new systems.
About Us
Sue and Theron Spray are the owners of Expert Aquaponics. Sue is a retired comparative
medicine veterinarian and Theron is a retired construction project manager. Their
backgrounds, experience and knowledge are a natural segue into the aquaponics field.
Prior to retiring from Scripps Research Institute, Sue held the position as their senior
veterinarian. In this position Sue worked with world class scientists designing and developing
instrumentation and techniques that allowed them to reach previously unattainable research
goals. Research and development of aquaponics systems was a perfect fit for Sue's
imaginative and inquisitive nature.
As a construction project manager for a large aerospace company, Theron directed and
coordinated projects for cutting edge aircraft manufacturing and other government projects.
The coordination of specialized components of unique projects into a smoothly operating and
functioning final product is a highly specialized task in which Theron excelled. Aquaponics
requires design, development and construction of unique systems that allow plants and fish to
live together. Carpentry, plumbing, electrical, system design and layout are all integral
components of an efficient, economic, esthetically pleasing aquaponics system.
Aquaponics is the combination of many sciences and business entities. Biology, ecology,
physics, along with agriculture, aquaculture, business and education are all components of a
well rounded research program. Knowledge in these areas is extremely beneficial in
developing aquaponics systems that function properly.
With this combined knowledge base and skill set, Sue and Theron are uniquely qualified to
develop Aquaponics systems. They are skilled and qualified to design and test scientific
parameters, make evidence based design and procedure changes to enhance system
operation and function and disseminate this information to others.
They are dedicated to the principles of self reliance and sustainability and see aquaponics as
one method to provide a means of taking control over what we subject our bodies to. The
aquaponics systems they developed for Norfolk Island shows how their ingenuity and
resourcefulness resulted in a remarkably efficient method of growing food easily and with
minimal water use.
About Us
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