Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

hey Guys Got my IBC Tank organized today. and at the same time we got snowed under at work so its now just out the back at work and i will have to try find some time around 5 kids and my job to get cutting.

I am going to make a IBC System Cut 300mm off the top of the IBC and use the top as a GB and the bottom as the FT.

Going to use a Bell Siphon system and probably River Pebbles (round 15-20mm in size).

Other things i will implement:

- a 50mm pipe that will have holes drilled in it on my Siphon drain to assist with aeration of the tank (prob run it around 3 sides of the tank so it aerates all the way around

- same kind of setup on my feed line into the grow bed. (will be 20mm pipe though)

- Insulating my FT to keep the temp from spiking (toying with some Straw held in by wrapping shade cloth around tightly)

- i will be making an enclosed hot house over my GB around 3ft higher than the gb level, putting 25mm Mesh across the back of it for climbing Cherry tomatoes.

- As for Fish im pretty sure i will go for Golden Perch (yellow Belly) as bendigo can get quite extreme temps.

- Plants will consist of a Summer Variety to start with (lettuce, Cucumbers, Cherry toms, Capsicum and a varity of fresh herbs)

Any comments ideas or crits will be taken on board and used wisely

Thinking about eventually getting another IBC and just taking only the top off it so its the full 1000l and then turning the orig tank into another GB.

Cheers

Looking forward to seeing our progress. I use an IBC tank with the top chopped off for use as a GB as well.

One thing I recently did was to dig it partially in the ground. Some members had problems with it caving in, but if I recall correctly they were using it as a sump. I haven't had problems with it in the ground yet.

I use a double sided tarp to help with insulation. Dark side up for when I want to keep the tank warm and reflective side up for when I want to keep it a little cooler.

Welcome and Good Luck.

Hi m3tal,

I would prob give the Golden Perch (yellow Belly), a miss.

They are one of the harder fish to keep as they prefer live food. They mostly
refuse to eat pellets and will die.

I would suggest silver perch as they survive in similar conditions to golden perch and cod.

God bless, froggo.

Silvers are a great starter fish.


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Just wondering if silvers will live in colder temps, and also what kind of water temps i can try aim for we have had a fair few 0's already this year. we have this i" thick Polystyrene sheet at work (1200x2400) works out bout $9 a sheet (we use it to insulate outdoor alloy switchboards) Have been thinking about making a Steel FT lining it with that all around, then lining the inside with liner plastic and making a 3/4 lid also lined and insulated. im guessing it would be very good for insulation. Same kind of setup could be used with GB's

This AP bug is very bad...... i see containers as tanks and GB's iv been scoping out the recovery yard, my missus stops me every time i open my mouth to talk and says "if this is about AP, iv heard it already" hahahaha she reckons if i talked in my sleep it would be about AP. even my oldest boy is like DAD PLEASE STOP ON THE AP TALK...

i didn't buy the IBC As of yet.... i didn't get time to get back there to pick it up and im now thinking that its expensive and will look a lil ugly and hard to insulate (not saying peoples IBC systems are ugly ....)

im sure this will change again and again and again and again..... until the time comes.... iv actually got a setup heh....

You think IBC's are ugly??? How about 40 of them lol...

I have had Silvers down to 5 deg c.

Nah I like them missus just didnt look real impressed when i showed her one....

She wants me to build a system like froggo's but as i'm a Sheety/Welder i am retarded with wood.... i can burn it thats bout it... Will get some photos of my site tomorrow n put them up.

Were only renting ATM so i cant build anything too Permanent. (been here 3 years... prob be another 3)

Getting bit worried about the sun atm... in summer i have full sun from 8:30am til bout 1:30 (full shade from my house by 3:30pm so that 40 Degree sun wont do any damage)

now the winter sun has moved right into the tree line... comes on and off over those times.....

Maybe look at something that can shade on the really hot days but keep the system in the sunnier areas if you can. You'll get much better plant growth.

The difference in growth when we moved ours from a spot that was shaded from about 1pm to a spot that had all day sun was huge.

Jamie I think an IBC system is great if you don't want permanent, easy to expand on as well, it's not so much about looks, when you have veggies and fish no one takes any notice of the tanks just what's in them

Good Point! Still thinking about the IBC System been thinking if i move, i could easily come into my yard with my work truck and Lift the whole system on to the truck with the crane and move it very easily.

also i could start with the one IBC system then move upto a Chift Pist system using the orig FT as a sump and keeping a full IBC as a tank. and source some other things as grow beds.

a mate said today he knows where i can get one for round $100 so will look into that. Funds are tight at the moment, and iv got problems with patients... i want to get into building this baby and cycling.... just need to relax for a few weeks hahahaha.

Hi m3tal,

Tried to download a file for you but was not accepted.

PM "Ian" on this forum and I am sure he will send you an excellent pdf file on how to build a FT and GB from IBC which I might add would appeal to the missus.. Not only that pick it up with the forklift when you move.

IAN K. I tried to do a search on here for it but didn't work. If you read this could you please help

Hi Jamie,

i think the IBC would work fine as a fish tank. I have one in my hothouse that will soon become home for some catfish.

I tend to use anything I can salvage to build my system. At the moment I'm building a new outdoor growbed 4m x 3m made from 2 old steel tilt garage doors. I'm also setting up old 20litre foodgrade drums as auto pots for single plants. Almost everything I've build is from scrap/salvage.

I hear the Eaglehawk Recycle Shop often has cheap bathtubs that can be use for growbeds.
http://www.feo.net.au/recycle-shop

God bless, froggo.

Hi Rod, and m3tal.


This links to the thread.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7450&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=d&hilit=diy+ibc
Have updated to-day with some more pics on progress. Starting to look good, to me anyhow!

Cheers IanK

Ok Guys its now on the go!

I am going to Make a 1150 x 1150 x 840 (1110litre) Tank from 2mm Gal Sheet, Reinfoced with external bracing, bolted down to a 1200x1200 Pallet. i am going to Insulate it with 1" thick Polystyrine then Clad the outside with 8mm Concrete Sheeting. I will then line the inside with plastic lining sheet and make a Insulated lid that sits over the whole system with a hinged 1/3 secton for inspection and looking

i am then going to source some Fiberglass Bathtubs as grow-beds, i seen some the other day for $15 Ea i will start with 2 Install Bell Siphons, and fill With 14mm Drainage Gravel ($44 Cu/Mt)

The System will Run CHIFT PIST Configuration and will include a 300L Insulated Sump Tank same design as my FT (Hope this will be enough)

As for Pump/s Not too sure yet if someone wants to give me some advice on LPH and what kind of pump i should use this will be awesome

Will get some photos cracking when i start folding up the tank, scored an old trampoline for free on the weekend will use this to frame up and hold my baths. and to build my Hothouse over. i have also been considering making a small potbelly with a SS pipe running some water through to heat my tank in those cold winter months and try keep the temps up a bit, i have a large bushland behind me and an abundance of small firewood available to burn when ever i want. with the insulation i am guessing i would only need to run this heating every few days over winter as long as i am here to keep an eye on the temp i should be able to regulate it without cooking fish.... even to keep it above 10-12 C over winter would be awesome i can play with this over the cycling period to work out how much running a heater will heat my water.

My missus is getting a little more interested as i have shown her some systems on here and she has done some reading i think she is finally working out this isnt just some harebrained idea of mine its serious stuff and benefits are to be had.

Will Keep Photos Updated as stuff happens!!!!

Good stuff Jamie, when I started my missus thought I was a clown (she still thinks I'm a clown but not for AP reasons ) she has all but taken over the system and has made me install her own grow bed so she can grow the crap I refuse to and I rarely get to feed the trout, she evens guts and cleans the fish, in fact I almost need another hobby
Look forward to seeing your progress