Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

May have put this in twice so mod please remove one if so. Had trouble working out how to post. Anyways........
Have a friend who's interested in turning her old concrete septic tanks (1.7m deep x 1.5m wide) into the tanks for a new system.
Would they be ok to use once painted with membrane or with a pond liner. Can't seem to find accurate info on the web.
Cheers
R

I suppose if it was lined there shouldn't be any issues. Will it be used as a fish tank or sump tank, what's the overall system plan

Ricaino, I have converted a septic tank into a very useful sump for my system. I lined it with a double layer of builders black polyethylene.

Here is a picture of it taken on the day it was commissioned:

Personally i dont see alot of point in lining it, especially if it is old and has sat empty/ unused for many years.
However, there is a slight concern over the dimensions, people tend to try to keep tanks wider than deep for aeration purposes.
It probably wouldnt cause so much of a problem as a sump as it would as a FT.

Yavimaya, there is no bottom in my 'septic tank', so I suppose it is more like a concrete well liner. With no base, lining it with plastic was more than a little bit necessary.

Thats a good point and i suppose realistically if its an old one they would all be like that???

Not old. They've got bottoms. Council has implemented sewage and decommissioned everyone's septic. The tank will be emptied and given a clean which the council is saying will make it suitable for grey water. Couldn't find anything on the web regarding reuse but one site said grey water will be turned septic by the tank within 24hrs which I found a bit over the top. I'm thinking there'd be some bacteria absorbed in the concrete but low levels. Really quite surprised there isnt more information available.
How durable would the builders plastic be AD? And any info on membrane v pond liner?
Thanks everyone.

Check the pool & paint companies and you might find there's a suitable paint or sealer that could be used.

Wish they did this in my area. Not really because septic is difficult but more so that the septic tank is right in the way of my decking project.

maybe you could spend some of your huge tax return and get a composting toilet, then turn the septic into another fish tank too?

Can we stop picking on Charlie?

Ehh...Ok.

We're all just jealous.

I usually figure the more you get paid, the more work/stress/responsibilities involved with it. Probably why all we've seen of the new system is the just ordered bio rod thingis.

Naa he's probably swanning around on his new $10k lawn mower, with built in bar fridge and tv.

So where do I get a lawn mower with a built in bar fridge? Can I get one with bikini models to push it?