Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Or even better.... 3000L BYAP tank for $975 + delivery.... http://www.freshbynature.com.au/index.p ... t&Itemid=1

And I'm only just down the road....

Dagz,


Not yet, I'm only doing a small system, so I am using a 800Litre Megabin from Peopleinplastics. $300 delivered in Brisbane.
I will be insulating it with 75mm composite colourbond steel/EPS sandwich panel and installing a couple of acrylic viewing windows in the side.
But, Fibreglass would be better; long lasting and safe.

Cheers IanK

And isn't UV stabilised food grade HDPE polyethylene just as durable and safe....

Indeed there are question marks (I believe) about certain fibreglass resins and gelcoats...

Ian, installing "windows" into those meag bins will compromise their structural strength IMO...

And effectively, you can only get about 700L max in them anyway....

Okay Rupert, im pretty much sold.....a 3000 ltr would give me a reasonable fish load with 4-5 growbeds yes?
combined with a 1000 ltr sump perhaps> would make it a reasonable home system??

I can only hope the weather clears up to get these renos done asap so i can get to enclosing the carport and convincing the boss that its a good idea ( 1/2 way there...)

then we shall surely discuss this further.

now Joel, wheres my dvd + book ????

cute little white container Ian...looks nicer than my nasty black IBC...still gonaa try to get a trial system i can tool around with goin over next 2 months tho...

cheerz

D

A 3000L tank, 1000L sump... and 4 growbeds... what we call a BYAP "Family" system Dagz....

The 6 growbed option is the "Deluxe" system...

Here's a 5 bed BYAP system that Joel did ... viewtopic.php?f=34&t=2003]

And a 4 bed system I installed for Helmut in Sydney... viewtopic.php?f=34&t=4522


You can view other BYAP installs here... viewforum.php?f=34

Hi Rupe,
Yes, I like the HDPE food grade plastics and when I mentioned safe FG, I was sort of inferring Structurally safe. As you know, there has been a bit of discussion about what resins, gel coats and the like to use in FG, in this thread in fact.

The acrylic windows I'm putting into my Megabin are 6mm thick food grade Perspex (Used for aquaria etc) and will handle the static head OK. The wall of the Megabin where I am placing the windows, is twin HDPE skins at about 4mm each, no gap. I am not disrupting the structural integrity of the purpose installed wall thickenings or the like. Using SS blind pop rivets at 50mm centres around the perimeter (250 wide x 300 high openings), through a 3mm thick aluminium flat bar as a continuous anti-pull out washer, through the skins of the tank and sealed with Gold Label food grade sealant from the inside, will ensure water tightness. As far as the structural integrity goes, I am also insulating the tank with 75mm thick, double sided, colorbond steel faced EPS panel with a surround angle of 75x50x3mm. This extra reinforcing will allow the megabin sides to be restrained in situ and will negate any loss of "membrane" tension. The top of the tank will also be restrained by a 75x38 Hardwood fitted perimeter batten to fix the top flashing and provide a "hoop" brace for any tank distortion. The base of the tank and the EPS panels will be restrained by a 150x50 HW fender fascia, all fixed with SS bolts and corner brackets. I think I have pretty well allowed for any abnormal stresses that may occur, statically and dynamically, for the tank to be a sturdy solution. Have a look at the section drawing attached. I would be interested in your thoughts.

I have been fiddling and futzing about for 18 months now, and am finally putting the little system together, ready for fish next summer. I will start a thread later when it is up and running to show what I have done.
Cheers IanK

Good stuff Ian... I'd forgotten that you intended to insulate and re-inforce with the colourbond....

A 3000L tank, 1000L sump... and 4 growbeds... what we call a BYAP "Family" system Dagz....

Helmuts system looks like the sort of setup id like, tho its gonna start gettin a little exy$ im guessin with all the legit components....

does this system come all inclusive? pumps/stands/plumbing etc?
I was hoping to use $10 bathtubs for my growbeds for instance and save a lot rather than use the ( admitedly marvelous ) byap growbeds....

all up though, very neat, very impressive and inspiring....

i better go have another look at ur website..

The kit systems are all inclusive Dagz.... but you can also buy individual components and add other bits yourself...

COol.
think that'll be my plan as i really like the idea of recycling stuff like the baths etc where possible ( like Wormz's system) but the fish ponds and pump might be good to have top qual new as components.

Once i get my trial system up, will hope to get some M.Australiense going, so will stay in touch as im sure you might like some to trial, ( i know Nocky is hangin....:_D)

Hi all,
Geez this is a buzy forum!!!!
Just got back from contributing to another thread and in 12 minutes since posting the little pic of my Megabin, there have been 54 viewings!!

It's getting hard to keep up!!!

Cheers IanK

I like the idea of a display window. But in a ft that low is it worth doing. Would be easier to take photos of the fish.

Like this

Hi Duff,
My main reason for including a window into the tank was to allow my grandkids to look at the fish without having to open the top lids and have to climb up and possibly fall in!!
It will also make it easier to observe feeding, fish condition and general tank & water conditions without having to peer through surface reflection and distortion.
It will hopefully provide a talking point to those I'm showing the system and make AP seem as visually attractive as possible as well as being practical.
Cheers IanK

Well, after cutting part of top out and bleaching twice, and running my hi-pressure gurney over it a few times, still couldnt get the detergent-y smell outa my ibc....so back to square 1 as i am not prepared to use it if the smell is that persistent, however innofensive it may be.

fellow Newcastle Ap-er has put me onto good 2nd hand bathtub source ( thx Wormz!) and as i have some serious lengths of metal pipe left over from the renos, the bathtub growbeds option seems both doable and affordable.
Prop just gonna go to B's and get me a 500 ltr job for a FT to xperiment with if they are on sale soon.

ibc not a total write off, have chopped it off and gonna use some pond liner and dig it in wayyy down the back on the hill and use it for a shrimp pond when i get some ( hopefully soon)...

oh well , cest la vie