Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

+1
I never bothered with IBC's cos one I was given I could put my hand through. You can extend the life by shading and painting but its easier to get something that will last.

Thanks guys - yeah was only considering IBC's if they were cheap as one alone os already bigger capacity than the spa. The key words here are "on a budget". Especially dont want to be spending cash on a tank when it would be better putting it to a pump/airator....

Been thinking lately of digging a big hole and using pond liner, wil suss out prices but the guy over the back has a bobcat (front end loader) and a back hoe, and I definately have the space. Might be a smarter move given that any tank I bought I would be digging in anyway.......

That's the way to go........or value for your hard earn buck........and a bigger system

In an attempt to pull my finger out and hopefully get some trout happening over winter Ive decided to use the spa as the fish tank, if I upgrade later I can use it as a sump I guess..........

Then this arvo while watering some seedlings (pines) I look out into the front paddock and notice an old spray tank that the old owner left behind. Got to thinking it could be awesome (and cheap) as growbeds ?!?!





Took some measurements (in the dark) and unforuntately if I cut it round the middle the beds would ony be about 250 deep (maybe a bit more), and roughly 1000x1100. I read somewhere here 300 should be the miniimum depth? If I cant get away with two beds may just use base and cut top off 300 up from the bottom.......

any thoughts?

oops forgot to mention - think the tank has never been used. I have vague memories of the previous owner telling me how he bought it and never got it rigged up to use.........

As long as it has never been used it would be okay. But they are expensive to buy new. Strange that they would never use it. Or did they buy it second hand.

hahahaha you got it strange. The guy I bought the property off was the king of the bodge-job, the unfinished project and was the anti-handyman all rolled into one

Doesnt surprise me he never used it at all after dealing with him for 6 months.........

Still worth looking for chemical residue on the thread and inside the tank before giving it a bleach washout.

yep will do

Hey Username

my growbeds are only 250 mm deep and work well so it isnt a hard and fast rule
it more a consideration when setting up siphons and when growing larger plants like tomatoes as it gives you less dramas with the size of their roots and the roots blocking up the drain holes for your growbeds

and using the spray tank should be fine so long as it hasnt been used and you should clean it well with bleac h then wash and dry and rinse and dry and rinse again and then wash with vinegar and dry and rinse and dry and rinse and then fill with water and then put in a air bubbler and wait 2 days and then add 1 goldfish

if he lives for more than 2 weeks you should be right to put them to use as growbeds

good luck with it

Also bed depth aids stability of taller plants eg corn..
but this can be overcome by supports and ties

If you lived relatively close to me I'd say rather than cut up an unsed spray tank worth hundreds of dollars (I kid you not) why don't you swap it with someone for a bunch of baths or similar. Spary tank cut in half will make two crappy growbeds (shallow, saggy sides, etc.) where as whole it would be an excellent tank to be used for a small fish tank, yabby tank, fiingerling transport, fire fighting unit, etc.

If by NSW you mean Moama then I'll drive up there and offer you the trade. Other wise someone else may have to make the deal with you.

Fish transporter I like that

Sorry guys been in Melbourne all week for work and didnt have net access.

Stuart I live in the middle of NSW (as far as distance to the border goes). Thanks to all for their advice

Well as an update I ended up advertising the spray tank for sale, I ended up selling it and was hoping to use the proceeds for a pump or some other form of growbed.

Cash ended of being spent on a mothers day present for the wife, but it was more than well deserved so I didnt mind

Have also started digging the hole to bury the spa, which will become the fish tank, I will post some pics shortly