Aquaponics machines, systems, methods, components, apparatus etc. Some such systems comprise solids/water separators, fish rearing tanks, and surface drains. The surface drains are in fluid communication with the separators and are positioned in the fish rearing tanks so as to drain solids/water mixtures from the surfaces of the water therein. Moreover, they are positioned to drain the solids/water mixtures to the separators whereby the separators separate fecal matter from the water. In some embodiments, thin film strippers are in the separators. Pumps in some systems can be further configured to pump water at a rate sufficient to create a vortex at the thin film strippers. If desired, the surface drains can be positioned near a downwind side of the fish rearing tanks. Furthermore, air stones spaced apart from the surface drains can over-aerate the water. Some systems further comprise plant growing tanks and/or polyethylene grow rafts positioned therein.
