Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

hi all,

i was going through my tanks today when i came across a type i did't realize i had. as you can see in the pic the tank is 1mx1mx0.7m. through the middle of the tank is a fibreglass rim which can be used to make 2 levels. i have 2 of these types of tanks.

i am looking for some idea's how to best make use of the rim.

i could put a grill and have marron on the bottom and a few barra perch on the upper level. i could make a second level and use both for marron. i could put in some grill and have some water plants on top and some fish underneath.

what would you do with the tanks? would you link them or keep them separate? what species would you grow? what would you use as growbeds?

all ideas are appreciated. i can't decide what to do with them.

i'd go the grill with the marron on the bottom, fish on top, marron will eat any of the food that the fish miss

But first steve I would cover the fibres so that no loss could happen.
Stray glass fibre is not a good idea.(they never break down!)
Looks only to be a resin rich flow coat.
From what I can see it looks like the corners (the white bits) are not part of the substrate of the tank.
Would you say that you could pull a few fibres off without tooo much trouble?Then I will go on.
C1

I agree with steve, Crays in the bottom and fish in the upper with a grid... you could make one from pvc and netting. As for what would I go with for growbeds, what have you got laying about? Or what can you get at a good price!? Personally I'm looking at going with barrel grow beds due to their availability and cost. And I might add some vertical pipe beds too.

As for coating it, I would give it a coat of either gelcoat or a boat bottom paint.

You could see if you could get some of the plastic grid that goes into the flourescent lighting fixtures. Most home centers and hardware stores over here carry them, and I assume they are as available and cheap where you are.

I like the idea of either raising two species in one space, or how about an almost complete system in one tank? Fish below, a grid to support trays or a tub with drain holes in the bottom, and a pump set up to bring the water up to the plants, as well as aerate the water for the fish. (Would work great in a classroom setting for teachers wanting to introduce students to the principles of AP.)

Kevin

The only problem with the lighting egg crate stuff is that it's hard and that makes it a brittle plastic and it gets worse as it gets older, that's why I suggested the grid made from pvc and mesh netting. however the idea of a self contained system is a great idea.

Boat bottom paints are toxic to fish arn't they?

A cured acrylic or epoxy paint I thought were chemically inert and thus safe. Am I wrong?

If you have ever use epoxies, you will know that they cure very quickly.
Though some times a residue, like an oily substance forms on the surface,
which can be solvent wiped to remove it, then further with metho.
but don't leave epoxies in the sun unless u have coated them with a uv blocker. the sun will kill them soon!
acrylic take ages to cure (stop offgasing).
Sorry if you think I have an answer for everything resinous but hey build 1st f/g surfboard @12 continued in the industry when old enough 14 1/2
and pretty much since have had some involvement.
Including the last 17 yrs using epoxies for non-slipping and waterproofing in my own business.

I always assume a boat bottom paint has an anti fouling agent added to prevent alge growth, barnicals, and such. I know nothing about any of it other then what we used to put on submarines. The red paint below the water line.

That antifouling used to be copper based

http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/3883/
like this stuff

yep thats right!

hmmm, the pool guy I talked to recommended the boat paint and he's used it after fiberglassing koi ponds. But now I'm second guessing my decision to use it on my fiberglass tanks.

hmmm, the pool guy I talked to recommended the boat paint and he's used it after fiberglassing koi ponds. But now I'm second guessing my decision to use it on my fiberglass tanks.