Controlled aquaponic system

1. A controlled aquaponic system comprising:

an index valve, a controller, a pump, an aquatic species tank, and a plurality of grow beds having associated siphons and flow sensors,

wherein the index valve, grow beds, siphons, aquatic species tank, and pump are in fluid connection with each other such that water can flow across the index valve and into the grow beds, then out of the grow beds, through the siphons and back to the pump for recirculation across the index valve;

wherein the flow sensors detect water flow conditions within the siphons and communicate the flow conditions to the controller;

wherein the controller selectively operates the pump to send water across the index valve and into the grow beds;

wherein the index valve has a plurality of positions for selectively sending water to one or more grow beds; and

wherein the siphons are located entirely external of the grow beds.

2. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 1 , wherein the siphons are bell siphons configured in a position horizontal to the grow beds.

3. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 2 , wherein the siphons are configured with an overflow safety feature.

4. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is an electronic circuit with plug-and-play connectivity.

5. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is programmable.

6. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 5 , wherein the controller has a low-water sensor alarm.

7. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is programmed to interpret water flow signals from the sensors to detect flooding of the grow beds.

8. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 5 , wherein the controller has programmable safety features.

9. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 1 , wherein the controller has both an alternating and a direct current electrical supply.

10. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is programmable to support customized hold times for selective grow beds to accommodate different crop needs.

11. A controlled aquaponics system comprising:

an index valve, a controller, a pump, an aquatic species tank, and a plurality of grow bed arrays having associated siphons and flow sensors, the grow bed arrays each comprising a plurality of individual beds connected in series,

wherein the index valve, grow bed arrays, siphons, aquatic species tank, and pump are in fluid connection with each other such that water can flow across the index valve and into the grow bed arrays, then out of the grow bed arrays, through the siphons and back to the pump for recirculation across the index valve;

wherein the flow sensors detect water flow conditions within the siphons and communicate the flow conditions to the controller;

wherein the controller selectively operates the pump to send water across the index valve and into the grow bed arrays;

wherein the index valve has a plurality of positions for selectively sending water to one or more grow bed arrays; and

wherein the siphons are located entirely external of the grow bed arrays.

12. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 11 , wherein the siphons are bell siphons configured in a position horizontal to the grow bed arrays.

13. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 12 , wherein the siphons are configured with an overflow safety feature.

14. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is an electronic circuit with plug-and-play connectivity.

15. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is programmable.

16. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 15 , wherein the controller has a low-water sensor alarm.

17. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is programmed to interpret water flow signals from the sensors to detect flooding of the grow bed arrays.

18. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 15 , wherein the controller has programmable safety features.

19. The controlled aquaponic system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is programmable to support customized hold times for selective grow bed arrays to accommodate different crop needs.

20. A method of controlling a multiple grow bed aquaponic system comprising the steps of:

configuring a plurality of grow beds in fluid connection with an aquatic species tank, a pump, and a valve;

positioning bell siphons entirely external to the grow beds such that water from each grow bed can flow through the bell siphon into an aquatic species tank;

sensing the flow conditions inside the bell siphons;

controlling the pump in accordance with the sensed flow conditions inside the bell siphons;

activating the valve to selectively distribute water from the tank, through the pump and into the grow beds.