"I've looked into these systems, and while they are cool - a failure (such as battery failure over time) can turn the system south (a windmill based pump is less consistant but more reliable).

While I cannot argue that 4-season growth is great - the labor and cost compared to my normal field grown crops is immense. There is no way I would every come out ahead over simple seasonal overplanting and food preservation.

Anyone going for urban - rooftop style survival, however, should definately give aquaponics a serious look."