Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

In redesigning a new system FT is an IBC. it cannot be buried so what can I insulate it with and then cover in painted timber?

Will polyester insulation batts work? I guess something that wont rot or hold water......

Polyester batts will soak up the water and become useless if not totally protected from rain, dew etc.
Maybe you could build a woden box around the IBC and fill in the gap with that foam insulation in a can stuff- it expands into a space filling foam and sets hard.

I'm sure it would be toxic to fish, so make sure it cant get in the FT, nor any water runoff or splashing from it.

The cost of the can stuff would be quite expensive to fill the void, but there is a product here that is used instead of concrete for setting fence posts, basically the same as the can material, but far less expensive to use. 1 bag is equivalent to 100 lbs of concrete.

But it seems some of the Mods on this forum have shot the idea down on using it for AP. It's sad that other members will follow his advice over a product that they have not come up with themselves.
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Have I missed something Old P? What are you on about?

Really he means me Charlie but he's not picky .

To put it bluntly - Bullshit OP. First off what does this even mean - . Second, there were some valid questions about the product and I didn't advise anyone. Will the product stick and will it absorb water. One deals with how hard it would be to remove and the other affects it's insulating value. Another good question would have been does it breakdown over time and how long before that happens? As far as the foam product is concerned the idea was to give people enough information that they could make up their own mind whether it was what they needed. Who knows maybe it was the right stuff for them. Although I didn't state it, I was also interested in the product for AP and because I was building a fence. FWIW, I decided not to use the product and went with crush rock for the post holes instead (mostly cost but also because I couldn't find the answers to some of my questions).

You already insinuated that I was trying to jack up my post count by bumping posts when it's part of my job as a moderator (as Joel pointed out to you in his PM).



Others have gotten similar derogatory treatment.

If you want to be a troll go somewhere else, don't do it here.

i would suggest polystyrene, but the cage will create gaps, TBH, as guna said the expanding foam gap fillers would be the way to go, if the painted wood was hard up against the cage there wont be much gap to fill and that stuff can expand A LOT.

if the wood is screwed to the cage for eg. one can should be more than enough.

If you go to their website, they give you a lot of information. If you are here in the USA, you can go to Lowes and read the bag.

http://usa.sika.com/en/solutions_produc ... t-fix.html

If your in AU go to their site here http://aus.sika.com/en/group/Media/news ... t-fix.html

Or go to Bunning's to read the label https://www.bunnings.com.au/sika-979ml- ... x_p0760440


Sika Post Fix is a two-part, pre-proportioned polyurethane resin which, when mixed produces an expanding foam. It has been specifically formulated and packaged to provide a lightweight, mix-in-the-bag, fast-setting and high-strength backfill for wooden, PVC, steel and other in-ground supports, offering an innovative alternative to instant cement.
•Easy and fast to prepare; just roll up pouch, open and pour.
•Sets in 3 minutes; allowing faster placing and support of posts.
•High strength and resistant to uptake of water
•No special tools required
•Ready to work in just 2 hours

If, you need additional information, there are Contact numbers to their Tech department.

Does it stick, Yes it does, that what's it made for, to stick to objects, it also expands against the object and the existing hole you dug.

Is it waterproof, must be since it made for setting posts outside, in the weather.

They even have a video shows how to use it. No the video doesn't show every use under the sun that it can be used for, but the IBC tote wasn't invented to be used for a FT eithers, nor the new plastic barrels for GB's.

Most all your fears are answers are on the websites, use it for what's it worth to you.

yea i wouldnt fear using that around a growbed as insulation as long as it was kept below the top of the bed.

Do what the video shows you after it dries and has expanded out of the hole. Simple saw cuts it flat, but it still waterproof.

There is a person in our area that uses it to make specimen tree pots, some of them are 1,000 gal containers.

Want a round FT, it easier than you think using this product. Want to have a center bottom drain, molded into the bottom. Want a SLO installed later, just do a block-out for were you want it.

Yes, your ? about it sticking to the forms is already answered, you use a release agent sprayed on the forms before pouring. In fact this release agent has been used for more than 50 years in the construction of warehouses made from concrete, its called "Tilt-walls" The release agent is sprayed on the existing new concrete floors, then the walls are poured on top of the floor. When the crane picks up these wall sections the wall sections don't stick to the floor.

The release agent is nothing more, than a industrial concentrated soap, but it has a water based wax emulsion mixed with it so it becomes waterproof till the concrete is poured thus reacting to the hydrated lime in the water. Simple as Simple can get.

If you'd answered the questions when I asked them, the original poster in that thread would have had a better idea whether he could use the product so instead of blaming me for shooting down the thread consider what could have been had you gone the other route and followed through - better outcome every way and we wouldn't be having this conversation.

What other thread?

OK found it

Easy to do it with SIKA POST FIX http://usa.sika.com/en/solutions_produc ... t-fix.html though it's made for setting fence posts, it's just the same as the product you buy in the can for sealing your home, but this comes in a 2 part mix in the bag.

Here is a short video

https://youtu.be/xMGcwwgp_TE

Just like I thought, gave you the website you can go to for extra information and even a You Tube video to look at.

Did you want me to put butter on your bread, I'll be in the general area sometime next year.

I used polystyrene 50mm thick and then wrapped with builders foil and then clad the framed polystyrene with timber cladding.

But as a newbie myself I have yet to test it and see if it works. I am hopeful though. See pics on my build on page 6 I think

latest thought is removing FT IBC and GB 1/2 IBC from frames and covering with 180mm thick coolroom panels. I can get recycled ones 3.5m x 1.2m x 180mm thick $10. each.

Will the fish tank bow out or would that thickness panel hold it?