Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi, my name is Andrew and I live in Alexandra Hills, Brisbane.
I've been a long time lurker, but have really had a lifelong interest in healthy fresh food, having grown up on an Organic Market Garden and Dairy in Yarra Junction/Woori Yallock, Victoria.
I find I am really drawn to the natural symbiotic relationship that exists in an AP system.
So far I haven't dabbled myself, but I'm hoping to develop some ideas I've had floating around my noggin for some time...
You see I've worked as a self-employed Tradie and Builder all my working life.
For 20 odd years I built in-ground concrete pools, spa's, ponds and waterfall/landscape features. I've also had experience with vinyl liners and various different 'systems' of building lightweight water-containing structures.
Now here's the rub.... I just can't warm to the idea of IBC's. I get they're relatively simple, economical, readily available, proven, etc, etc, etc they are a great idea... Just not for me. Neither can I warm to the concept of a vinyl lined timber structure, although I could build it with my eyes shut and it would perform more than adequately.
I've been dabbling with wicking pots and beds for a while and developing some ideas with utilising lightweight (insulated) concrete. Concrete is a marvellous material and with the application of modern materials technology has very promising potential. Now before someone flames me down with concerns about water chemistry- let me assure you... I get that; implicitly.
Like I said with modern advancements in material technology, it's relatively straightforward to create an inert vessel.
Anyway, once I get a bit more organised I will start a thread and hopefully further expand and develop these ideas.
Looking forward to sharing ideas and catching up with you all.
Andrew

Sounds like you can build a very aesthetic system, and that's always a plus. Concretes not an issues, you just seal it. Lots of people use pools in Oz, maybe a few state side too? Looking forward to your build. IBC's are just so easy and inexpensive, that the main draw. pretty sure they never won any awards for looking nice. I've seen some really nice cladding jobs though.

There have been a few systems on here made of ferrocrete. My tank is one of them, and I'm not a fan of the IBC's either, but that's a personal choice, and I see the appeal of them.

Look at bcotton's system, his beds are concrete.

I look forward to see what you come up with.

Thanks CB-B,
Ferro cement is one very viable option, but it's more of a permanent structure- like a Besser block type structure. Boats have been built from it for years.
I'm actually thinking more a modular system- like IBC but using lightweight concrete.
Slab concrete is usually about 1.6 tonne to the m3... Which incidentally is pretty close to raw 3/4 gravel weight that is used as a grow medium anyway. It's possible to get lightweight concrete down to 300+/- kg per m3. Which is one third the weight of water.
Typically at this density it loses too much structural strength to be viable... But that's the compromise that is possible. I should probably leave the conversation for the build thread, but I do appreciate your comments and interest.
Andrew

As this is the introduction thread I just wanted to also say that like probably all of us I love my BBQ. I currently have a mid size Weber Q.
I'm on the Aussie BBQ Forum as OzRocket, because I have a great interest in Rocket Stove Technology, as well.
The desire to create a viable lightweight insulated concrete also blurs/merges across my interest in Rocket Stoves.
In third world countries, that the current drive to create/build Tier 4, cook stoves is being driven for...
Well they use a refractory/regional clay mixed with wood dust flour that becomes a lightweight insulative concrete like material.
I'm not trying to build for the third world, so I'm not constrained by Third World material restrictions, unavailability, etc
I've had great success with Perlite as a insulative casting medium for the fire boxes, which are then lined with a home made binder and refractory material for heat and abrasion resistance that, as a side benefit, creates an extremely abrasion resistant and chemically inert (glass) lining....

So, that's it as a teaser...
Reading between the lines I'm sure you can see where the lines begin to blur.

Let me also say, I don't think I've ever had an original idea in my whole life.
What I'm very good at is research. Whilst my wife is reading a novel in bed... Well I'm reading published Doctorate Thesis Papers from around the world to challenge and expand my knowledge. This is cutting edge stuff that hasn't yet filtered down to Commercial application, that's why it's so exciting.
For example I have a working recipe to create the equivalent of 'Hebel' blocks.
Strength is the concern, so then we borrow from fibrecrete technology and introduce Polypropylene fibres, etc, etc, etc.

Like I said, not one original idea from me... Just the blending of technologies and experience from different industries to tackle and resolve a particular challenge.

I should also mention that I have an entrepreneurial brain.... Which is a bit of a problem. I'm the 'ideas' man and I'm constantly churning out 'newer', 'bigger' and 'better'. That's a kind way of saying I can have the attention span of a gnat.
So whilst I'll endeavour to maintain focus... There's a good chance I'll be off with the pixies much of the time...

Cheers,

Andrew

..
My only thought is that we all change with time..
IBCs can be made aesthetically acceptable, but are easily removed, moved, sold or reconfigured..
Reinforced concrete structures are a deal more difficult to change or remove...
..
.

Yes, BD, I agree. Traditional reinforced concrete is a permanent structure.
I guess, What is obviously not clear from what I've said so far is that I am thinking/proposing is a modular system, just made from lightweight insulated concrete.
Think 'Hebel', if you've ever seen or heard of it. But stronger, because Hebel is light enough, but not tough enough.
Concrete is a bit like pastry/bread.... There are so many different recipes that influence the finished product... From soft croissants to camp oven damper....
It's finding the right recipe that is the challenge.
Hey, I could well be barking up the wrong tree, but that's ok because it's the challenge and the construction that I enjoy.
If it all comes to nought, I can always grab a few IBC's.....

My problem is that I have to move house, in the next month or so.
World's worst job, that one!
Anyway, once I move, it will be a rental property too, so that does have certain restrictions on just what I can set up.
Clearly, whatever I do will have to be 'reversible' and removable.

Once I get moved and settled and further developed with my ideas, I will start a build thread, but that may be bit premature at this stage, as realistically nothing much is likely to happen in the next couple of months.

One thing I will mention is that I am very much in the camp of sharing openly all information, ideas, concepts and details. As compared to one of the other popular AP forums that is based a little closer to home, that seems to have a $$ tag hanging off every morsel of practical information.

It's like fishing... Just because you teach people how to fish, doesn't spell doom for the corner fish and chip shop, nor the seafood restaurant industry, as a whole. There are still plenty of people who just want to go and buy a cooked fish on a plate. And could care less about the process that got it there.

Same here, I figure that most people that participate on forums like this are a predominantly DIY crowd, like me. I research some of my information, literally from doctorate thesis, and apply and expand those ideas, concepts, as applicable.
One fascinating thesis recently went into considerable detail about the use of 'Air-Lift' pumps in commercial Aquaponics.
Think about pumping/lifting 3500 lph using only 45 watts of power, and using an air blower that costs around $100- with a 20 year serviceable life. And using only $30- worth of plastic plumbing pipe/fittings. Fascinating stuff... As an added bonus, this water is highly aerated which is highly beneficial to both veggies and fish.