But not to worry – even the seemingly fringe subject, which is essentially the marriage of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (soil-less gardening) brought a full house and the robust participation for which the monthly get-together is known.

And leave it to the science-minded to come up with the kind of questions and comments that leave even the uninitiated muttering, “wow … fascinating.”

“A lot more came than I thought would,” Marcek said afterward. “And what we liked best was there were so many new faces.”

From proper climate and light, breeds of fish, types of filters and the introduction of predatory spider mites to ward off pests, three individuals with varying, but similarly deep, knowledge of aquaponics and its cousin hydroponics covered most everything there is to know about the increasingly popular endeavor that many are adopting as a hobby.