If you strictly follow the prescribed method, you can expect outcomes akin to those showcased by Mark McMurtry in his research trials, and later by… Read More »How to Build & Operate an iAVs
A single pipe outlet works against the way an iAVs sand bed is meant to behave. The slit drain (a thin gap running the full… Read More »5 Reasons Not to Use a Single Pipe Outlet
5 Reasons Not to Use a Single Pipe Outlet
If you’ve ever kept an aquaponic system going, you’ve met the pH problem. You fill the system, the water is fine. Two weeks later, the… Read More »Why the Water in an iAVs Stays at pH 6.4: and Why That’s Not Normal
Why the Water in an iAVs Stays at pH 6.4: and Why That’s Not Normal
The mainstream aquaponics literature treats iron, calcium, potassium, and trace‑element supplementation, together with regular carbonate dosing for pH control, as a standard part of system… Read More »Plants, Feed, and Balance: Why iAVs Does Not Need the Iron, Lime, and Buffer Supplements That Other Recirculating Systems Do
Plants, Feed, and Balance: Why iAVs Does Not Need the Iron, Lime, and Buffer Supplements That Other Recirculating Systems Do
In November 2025, a team at the United Arab Emirates University published Current technologies for nutrient recovery in aquaponic systems: a review in Frontiers in… Read More »Omission, Selective Citation, and Poor Scholarship: The 2025 UAEU Nutrient Recovery Review
Omission, Selective Citation, and Poor Scholarship: The 2025 UAEU Nutrient Recovery Review
As global supply chains become increasingly fragile and the cost of basic agricultural inputs skyrockets, the need for true, localized food sovereignty has never been… Read More »We Are Translating the iAVs Manual – And We Need Your Voice
We Are Translating the iAVs Manual – And We Need Your Voice
M. R. McMurtry, D. C. Sanders, J. D. Cure & R. G. Hodson This paper documents a year-long greenhouse experiment designed to answer a simple… Read More »Effects of Biofilter/Culture Tank Volume Ratios onProductivity of a Recirculating Fish/Vegetable Co-Culture System
Effects of Biofilter/Culture Tank Volume Ratios onProductivity of a Recirculating Fish/Vegetable Co-Culture System
This PDF is a straight aggregation of source material pulled verbatim from the first eleven pages of a Google search for “aquaponics history + McMurtry,”… Read More »iAVs and Aquaponics History
iAVs and Aquaponics History
Why Serious Growers Use Compartmented Systems it is considered better practice—especially for commercial growers – to utilize multiple, smaller compartmentalized systems (modules) rather than fewer,… Read More »A Case Study into an iAVs Nematode Infestation: What they did wrong, and how to do it the right way
A Case Study into an iAVs Nematode Infestation: What they did wrong, and how to do it the right way
tl;dr; iAVs (Integrated AquaVegeculture System) is NOT “Sandponics.” iAVs is an open-source, scientifically validated system using fish waste as the sole nutrient source for plants grown in… Read More »Sandponics is NOT iAVs
Sandponics is NOT iAVs
This is a guide for a standard ‘on-ground’ iAVs build with a 2000L biofilter (growbed) and a 1000L fish tank. Watch the video for a… Read More »iAVs Build Guide 2025
iAVs Build Guide 2025
This is an excerpt from the iAVs Handbook. Aquaponics, the integration of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soilless plant cultivation), is a field attracting considerable… Read More »Elevating Aquaponics to a Validated Science
Elevating Aquaponics to a Validated Science
This is an excerpt from the iAVs Handbook The commercial-scale project established by Dr. Boone Mora, a retired veterinarian and self-described “jack-of-all-trades” (McClintic, 1994), in… Read More »An iAVs Case Study
An iAVs Case Study
To comprehend the significance of Dr. Merle H. Jensen’s association with the Integrated Aqua-Vegeculture System, it is essential to first establish his independent stature as… Read More »Spotlight on Dr. Merle Jensen, key member of the iAVs research group, known worldwide for decades of research into sand culture
Spotlight on Dr. Merle Jensen, key member of the iAVs research group, known worldwide for decades of research into sand culture
Introduction This guide covers the basics of iAVs without going into the complexities of construction or the finer points of plant and fish care. Keep… Read More »iAVs in 30 Steps
iAVs in 30 Steps
tl;dr; Murray Hallam is experimenting with iAVs (sand-based aquaponics) based on Dr. McMurtry’s research. After 22 months, he’s seeing fantastic results with minimal maintenance, stable… Read More »Murray Hallam talks about iAVs
Murray Hallam talks about iAVs
Welcome to our 2020 proof-of-concept demonstration! This innovative setup has yielded over 25 tons of fish and 67 varieties of fruits and vegetables. Constructed from… Read More »5000sq/meter iAVS
5000sq/meter iAVS
Horticultural sand, also known as sharp sand, emerged from the convergence of three pivotal 19th-century developments: the professionalization of horticulture, driving demand for standardized, reliable… Read More »The Evolution of Horticultural Sand: A Historical and Scientific Journey
The Evolution of Horticultural Sand: A Historical and Scientific Journey
The aspiration for food and water self-sufficiency remains a critical, yet elusive, goal for Palestinians. In recent years, the situation, particularly in the Gaza Strip,… Read More »Denied: How a Plan to Feed a Million Palestinians with a Revolutionary System Was Sidelined for a Costly, Less Effective Alternative
Denied: How a Plan to Feed a Million Palestinians with a Revolutionary System Was Sidelined for a Costly, Less Effective Alternative
Professor H. Douglas Gross (1924-2022), was a distinguished figure whose expertise and vision significantly shaped the early understanding and promotion of Integrated Aqua-Vegeculture Systems. His… Read More »In Memory of Professor Douglass Gross
In Memory of Professor Douglass Gross
Note: This is a reprint of an article originally published in 1990. (1990, March/April). ALTERNATIVE GREENHOUSES: New Ideas for Design and Operation. Missouri Farm Magazine,… Read More »ALTERNATIVE GREENHOUSES: New Ideas for Design and Operation (1990)