Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Sorry, I'm a little slow.

I'm guessing the top of the gbs will come to about waist height, and you will walk between them to get to the FT that will be at ur feet?

Exactly. I will have a cover over the fish tank so that I can walk on it. Once the fish tank is built, the bottom will be filled in to the higher level.

I keep changing my mind on how I want to do thing. I was going to make the fish tank out of cinder blocks, fill with concrete and waterproof, then I was going to pour a concrete tank using forms. Now I think I am going to purchase a platic tank like this one. The tankw will either cost the same, or less than the other 2 methods. What do you guys think is the best choice? This tank is going to be buried up within about 6 inches of the top, and I will have to cut a bigger hole in the top of the tank.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/storage-ta ... a--2125652

my friend used tanks like that for fish breeding grow out and he cut some pie slice shaped hole out of the top to get access. It kept the top strong and he did not bury them. He grew huge amount of ciclids for wholesale but shut down after it was cheaper for place to import them and his wife wanted to park in the garage again. He was also worried that he would wake up one day with his kid stuck in there.

Cool thanks.

I love those tanks, aah some day...

Keep an eye out for deals, Rob (Web4Deb) scored a free 1000 gallon tank like that somehow. Had cosmetic defects or something...

Wow that would be great. I don't mind cosmetic defects, especially since it is going to be buried. Going to run a add in our local online swap shop.

I have the 1200 gallon one. Works wonderful. No issues in 3+ years. Had it half buried at one time, moved and now not buried at all. Just cut a bigger hole as suggested, it should hold up fine.

Well I'm actually Waiting for My tank to arrive..

about that volume and it shall be buried to the half way mark..

A few Pie cut's outs to the roof so I can go Fishing for Fish.. and also access the inside of the tank..

Juergen

Cool looking forward to some pics. Waiting till after Christmas to pick my tank up. For what I spent on Christmas I could have bought the tank and poured the concrete.

That is great news. I would think buried that they would last a lot longer than above ground.

Awesome start, Helomech!
Regarding the tank -- I know when we bury IBCs, it's recommended that they be re-enforced, by putting some plywood or something around the outside of the cage. Is that necessary on these tanks?

As a general rule, it's rarely a bad idea to oversize a fish tank. I'd recommend getting the biggest you have the space and money for. Just keep it in mind when you're stocking the fish, so you don't overstock.

Working on a system this big, I wouldn't mess with blue barrels on the sides. Barrels are great for starter systems, and for bigger systems in certain circumstances, but they're fiddly, they cost a lot to plumb, and are generally a pain. I'd build bigger beds out of concrete (besser) blocks, water troughs, or wood and liner, and just empty them for the winter.

If you do use blue barrels, I'd recommend cutting them horizontally instead of vertically, so you get deeper, more stable beds that don't need as big a rack system. Like these from OutbackOzzie (right? Damn, I've been gone too long):

Thanks just thinking of barrels because I can get all I want for 9 bucks each. I do have 7 IBC's, but they had a water based paint in them, so they would need a liner. Going to use a couple of them for my sump tanks. Also thinking of raising minnows in one of the sump tanks.

As far as the size of the fish tank money is the limiting factor. I have plenty of land, and can make the hole as big as I want. The problem with the tanks that are bigger than 1500 gallons is that they are VERY deep, I can't seem to find any bigger ones that are not 10 feet tall.

I don't think these tanks need more reinforcements they are over a half inch think, and round. So no flat sides for the pressure to push against.

Water based Paint.. have you tried cleaning them out with a high pressure washer and then letting them it for a few weeks filled with a bleach or something..

Juergen

Not yet, was worried chemicals would be in the plastic. Do you think it would be safe.