Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Welcome to my attempt at making a Aquaponics system.

I have started with a 4500L 2.1m x 1.3m squat poly water tank.

The cut was made at the 900cm height giving me about 2700L with water 10cm from the lip.

The grow bed will have about 40cm of depth but will be a challange with the shape of it when upside down.

I intend on using the flood and drain option for the grow bed.

Here are some of the pics I have taken so far.

BigRed

looks promising there... what did you pay for that tank (if you dont mind me asking) and where/who did you buy it from?

It cost $915 from the local irrigation shop. I rang around all over the place and they all seem to be taking advantage of the new rebates so the price I think has gone up a bit.

It was local and handy so I took the plunge. If it is a failure I can put the top back on and use it as a water tank.

I also believe that I can claim the rebate as it is a water tank and for the garden so it will be cost neutral.

Great start BigRed! will your growbed sit on a stand??

LB,

That is what I have planned. The hard part is trying to make a stand for such a weird shape

bite your tongue! You WILL get it right... with all the help you could get from here how could you go wrong!!!!???

Thats true what was I thinking. :toothy3:

BigRed
You could try a low level block/brick work wall fill with sand. enough height not to bury the drain pipe..drain back to a sunken sump..
Did you plan to use two pumps?

I think I will need to as I dont want the grow bed to high.

It looks like I will use an extended auto siphon with the intake part in the centre and it extending out to the side so I dont have to go through the bottom.

The low level block wall is a good idea. I didnt think of that. Thanks.

Hi BigRed

Because of its depth, you may be required to have a pool fence. Pools, ponds and water features have limits but dams do not.

See: http://www.caboolture.qld.gov.au/servic ... encing.pdf

It's a little ambiguous if you are talking about a cut down tank but they could classify it as a portable wading pool.

edited to add: To get the $300 rebate Council will come around to inspect it. I've got my 14,500 lt tank on order so I have looked at regulations etc. My tank is for garden use and topping up my soon to be started/completed aquaponics system.

cheers
Derek

Derek,

Thanks for the tip and link. I thought I might be like an above ground pool. I will have a look maybe I can just put some reo over the top like they do fish ponds.

I wasnt going to worry about the Council rebate cause the State Gov one covers the cost.

Unfortunately, you can only get the State rebate after it has Council approval. You can always try, because Council may not actually do the inspection.

See: http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/water/saversc ... _tanks.pdf

BigRed

Have you decided what type of fish you are going to growout?

LB,

I am not sure which fish as yet. It depends on what I can get when I am ready. I have always fancied some Barra but most likely perch or some sort.

Derek,

What a bummer. As its for the garden, free standing and not used internally I have assumed that I didnt need council approval.