Hydroponics is a technique used to grow plants without soil. The first commercial hydroponics installations were built in the 1930's. Hydroponic plants, like those grown in soil, get their nutrients from the water they absorb. The difference between the two is their nutrient source. In soil, the nutrients come from organic matter breaking down into inorganic nutrients. In conventional hydroponics, the nutrients are added as inorganic commercial fertilizer. In Bioshelters systems, however, the nutrients are derived from fish wastes which decompose into plant fertilizer in the filters. The major benefit of hydroponics is much faster growth rates than those possible in soil because of the ease of nutrient and water absorption. Hydroponic farming has provided yields that range from 6 to 26 times the production of conventional agriculture, depending on crop selection.

The integration of hydroponics with aquaculture allows Bioshelters to grow two crops in a common space. This reduces the overhead of hydroponic production by sharing common expenses such as heating and building maintenance. Due to the high quality and winter availability of hydroponic produce, market acceptance has been exceptional and the demand for quality herbs keeps growing.