Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello,
I have been lurking on this site for a while and we have become very interested in Aquaponics. So after much research we are about to start building our own aquaponics system,
I have been looking for IBC's which seem to be quite expensive for second hand, cheapest I have seen have been about $175ea and looked well used. I have come across a place that has a huge number of IBC's for sale around $100 used once in excellent condition but they have had either potassium hydroxide solution, phosphoric acid in them, the fellow selling them said they have been cleaned. So my question is can these be used for fish and if so what do I do to ensure the IBC are clean.
We are really looking forward to growing our own food.
Many thanks,
Aquanator

I have been told I can wash the IBC out with citric acid..and this will neutralise any residue left in the containers. Has anyone heard of this.

dunno about the citric acid.. i used detergent, then bleach, then a vinegar rinse.. the totes have been in use for a few years since then

Not sure about citric, I used some bleach and water scrubbed well rinsed lots and left in the sun for a couple of days.

thank you, we will give that a go... has been so hard to find reasonably price IBCs here in Adelaide. Cheers!

Well I use potassium hydroxide to buffer my pH up and it is supposed to be fine for the fish.. of course you will want to make sure you wash them out well otherwise your pH will rise even more in the beginning than it already will.. being a new system and all.

I use a tablespoon of potassium hydroxide to buffer my 3000L system up by 0.1 - 0.2 so you can imagine what a cup worth would do

Welcome to the obsession.