Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

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I am located in a suburb just outside of downtown Fort Worth, Texas. My city has the toughest city codes of all surrounding cities. They allow one greenhouse 10' * 12' and yet I live on 3/4 of an acre. Years in education has taught me it's easier to say "sorry" than ask permission. I plan to move forward.

My plans are to put the (6) 1200 gal. Rubbermaid tanks in the ground in a building located near a 20*50 greenhouse (the greenhouse I purchased is 30'*100'). I am shrinking the height and size to fly beneath the radar.

The original plans for gb's were 4'8' plywood and 2"*12" construction. After looking around the site I am leaning towards using the earth from the fish tanks to support 55 gal. plastic drums or using pond liner. I need the cheapest and most efficient beds possible (teacher salary).

The system is slated for Moz. tilapia/ basil plus other leafy veggies.

I am months away from construction and will accept all tips.

Go for it Rasko - as our major contributor Janet says,"Rules are for the obedience of the ignorant and the guidance of the wise". I have survived for years with one or both feet just outside the guidelines, never so far away that I can't get back inside the law with a single bound. How boring would life be if we steered the straight and narrow all the way. You'll find all the advice you need right here, all triumphs and most mistakes freely shared - you just have to seek and you will find. Welcome to the mob.

Hi Rasko

not long ago was a post on a hundred ibc for sale on ebay for 30$ a pop right in your neighborhood
they would do for grow bed liner at that price. 2-4x4 growbed liners from every ibc + less plumbing than barrels would require + use the dirt from burying the fish tanks for the support = economical
welcome to the forum and I look forward to your progress
pictures speak a thousand words

Thanks for the posts. The info. here is greatly appreciated and respected. The best I've seen. I look forward to contributing.

Welcome Rasko!

I think mounding up dirt and using pond liner for the beds is a good idea - I plan to do the same in the Spring. Just this morning I'm wondering if there is any cheaper way, like if you have clay soil maybe it could be done with no liner required. On the S&S email list a guy mentioned using cow dung as a coating for ponds; apparently it dries watertight.

I have said this elsewhere but to make the G Bs in dirt and simply spread a light coat of cement and sand on the dirt will make it very watertight and permanent if that is what you want. Might be even cheaper than pond liner. Not sure what it goes for there in Ft Worth.

Lots of places in your area to look for GB's TSC, Home Depot, Lowes. A lot of Ranch supply places in Weatherford.

[quote="dthawk"]I have said this elsewhere but to make the G Bs in dirt and simply spread a light coat of cement and sand on the dirt will make it very watertight and permanent if that is what you want.

DT,
Would you add reinforcement? I would worry about cracking/leaking. How thick is a "light coat"?

I knew there was a reason I have been collecting cement mixers. I made a mortar mixer to hook to my three point hitch.

Sure its called ferro cement. Simply dig your hole, try to slope the sides a bit, Cover the area with chicken wire, and simply use a mix of 3 parts sand:1 part cement and basically stucco the hole. You can do the same for a fish tank.

The neat thing is you can shape the tanks the way you want. An excellent way to make a decorative pond. They use that method to make swimming pools there too. Its called gunite.

Long arms will help...or you could dangle a junior member by the ankles and wave them around in there for the finish!

Link to an interesting concept for a liner. Unfortunately I can't find the original one with pics, it was amazing.

http://www.angelfire.com/in2/manythings ... CEMENT.htm

I found the pics. Very interesting stuff. So little time, so much fun to try! http://www.angelfire.com/in2/manythings/HOUSE.html.

Hye, i may have asked this before, but is the chicken wire mesh bonded with soft solder or is is fused? yep, i did ask this, and i think the answer came back "its safe"?

Chicken wire is usually galvanised wire, wrapped at the top and bottom of each "hole".
Covered in concrete it is protected from the water, and the fish from the zinc.