The container I'm looking at is 20x26 inches (6 inches deep), and I think I'd like to start with lettuce. If all goes well, I can try other things (spinach, kale, or maybe something else?) once the lettuce bolts. Minnow loves lettuce, so if any of it manages to grow over the edge and down into the tank, it's fair game for a treat. Since Minnow's tank is 48-inches across, this plant system will still allow her to bask under her light on one side, while the plants filter and grow on the other. I'm not 100% on how I'm going to deal with lighting. Minnow needs her basking light focused on her basking platform. I don't think it will be close enough to help the plants, but I may have an extra clamp lamp that I can rig up for this project.
The other aquaponic attempt is doing alright. The lettuce is leggy, but still growing. I'm not entirely sure why it's leggy as the light is on a timer (12 hours on, 12 hours off) and is positioned 6-9 inches above the plants.
In other news, the house I had my eye on is off the market (I assume sold yesterday). I'm a little disappointed, but I know something will come along. The right one will come along when the time is appropriate. It's just hard to wait.
Despite not knowing where we will be come spring/summer, I have discussed with Tony and he has encouraged me to go ahead and plan on winter sowing again this year. We can grow most of the smaller stuff in buckets or containers, and the only thing that really truly has to be in the ground (because I don't have big enough buckets) would be the tomatoes. This year they didn't get into the ground until June (and still produced abundantly), so they should be alright to winter sow. Hopefully we can get moved and situated with enough time to still have a successful garden!