Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Question, im trying to find the best or most suitable system for my backyard im probably going to start small. I looked up "barrel ponics" is this a good system to start off with ? I had another thought of getting my hands on some potato bins from a local farmer these are about 4 foot square made of wood, and if i lined them with pond liner or thick black plastic to rear the fish in any thoughts ? Trying to keep away from expencive plastic tubs.

i reccon if you can fit them into your yard the potato bins sound great as long as they are strong enough to hold the weight of the water
basicaly there is no right way to do this ( though there are a few wrong ones )

Good luck
Cheers

Doot,
Kennour and Myself have purchased poly tubs. 600L 1mx2m - great growbeds. Is $125 too expensive? - It's the cheapest deal by shedloads I've found. Less than half the price of the nearest competition.

As for the tater bins, they should work, liners aren't cheap, but probably cheaper than $125. Just make sure they'll be easy to service and will be tough enough to hold the water. - I'd suggest getting one, rigging it up, filling it, then laying into it with your boot for a while. If it doesn't fall apart, it should be fine :-)

For the engineered approach, it would depend on the dimensions of the bins. I'm going to guess 1mx1mx0.5m...

this means you have 500L of gb in each tater bin.
gravel takes up 60% of your bin
so 40% is water = 200L = 200kg
gravel is approx 2.5kg/L = 300L = 750kg
so lets say a ton per GB

1000kg/1sqm = 10kPa of pressure. This is the same as what an IBC (1000L plastic drum in cage) exerts near the bottom.
You should be fine.

Be wary of the gaps in the tater bins though. Your liner will tend to bow out in these gaps, and this may become a problem, may not too.

Also be sure to get the expensive pond liner rubber type liner, as scoria is quite abrasive, and I wouldn't trust it on black plastic sheet.

I hope I've given you less to think about rather than more, but I fear not...

If you can find a cheap source for plastic barrels (that you know what they had in them and know it is safe and cleanable) then the barrel-ponics makes a good starter unit that you can get instructions for! I built one and I estimate it cost me around aprox $300 total US for all the parts/lumber/blocks/barrels/pump/gravel
It isn't big enough to grow lots of fish to eating size or anything but it is a good small start for learning on and getting some mature gravel for helping kick start your next system.

The potato bins sound pretty cool too! Liner is $$ but definitely cheaper than buying new plastic tanks. Definitely go for the 45 mil rubber or EPDM liner as it is more flexible and has better UV resistance than the different vinyl or PVC liners.

Good luck and welcome