Backyard Aquaponics
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I've been trying to figure out what would make the best growbed container for a setup I'm planning. I'm looking for something that has at least some remote possibility of being aesthetically pleasing to keep the wife happy, is cheap, can handle the weight involved, is very durable, is safe (no leaching of any sort if possible), and is cheap (did I mention cheap?).

I am hoping to have 12" of media or at least somewhere close.

One of the items I've spotted is the rubbermaid 1732 Palletote Box:

http://www.rcpworksmarter.com/rcp/produ ... iners_1732

I am concerned a bit about the weight here as it indicates it's only built to handle 100lbs. Once it's filled with media (gravel most likely), water, and plant, I'm guessing the weight in this would be closer to 450lbs (gravel is suppose to be about 100lbs per cubic foot, right?). Has anyone used this container before? Any idea whether or not it can take the weight? Will it hold up long term (5-10 years)?

Does anyone have a better container suggestion?

Thanks

Hi Gblack... welcome to the forum...

I'll let your fellow countrymen... and women... come online and respond...

But I do know that a lot of US members use Rubbermaid products of one sort or another...

Take a look at Janet's thread for instance ... http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... .php?t=735

The link will take to you to Jant's thread.. from the start... well worth a read...

But here's the link to her system summary... http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... 920#p56920

Different unit, but a good thought. I should probably ask her what the part # is on that unit. I've seen a lot of rubbermaid units floating around that I can't seem to identify anywhere on rubbermaid's site - I suspect they have a different site (like the home use vs the commercial sites they have) but I haven't figured out what it is yet. I know I've seen pictures of other members systems here with some nice growbeds too.

The rubbermaid unit I posted above was more of a possibility than a "I'm-sold-on-this-now-tell-me-it's-good". I'm kind of hoping to hear others pipe up about products they like that I might be able to get my hands on.

Thanks!

Gene

Still scratching my head on this. Had hoped to hear more from others as to what they're using (and like).

Here's my current thinking as I continue to research:

1. I still don't know if there's some way the above mentioned food-safe rubbermaid container might handle the weight.
2. Others seem to have been using the 50 Gallon black rubbermaid container (4243-00-BLA) container successfully. At $74 US a pop for 8 sq ft of growing space, it seems a bit expensive though.
3. I've wondered about the possibility of the 300 Gallon black rubbermaid container (4247-00-BLA) - it's deeper than needed, but more cost effective sq foot wise as I've seen it at $210 a pop for what is effectively around 25 sq ft of growing space - it's a bit wide though at 5ft. I really didn't want to go wider than 4ft. It's still more than I'd like to pay.
4. Behlen/farmaster appears to have a 50 Gallon container very similar to the 50 gallon rubbermaid for around $68, but that's still a bit high.
5. Due to some posts from others, I'm rethinking my aversion to pond liner and some sort of home made growbed. I think the pricing there is probably more to my liking, but the delima is how to build the bed. I'm leary of wood as some of you are reporting bowing after a year or so, and wood and water aren't exactly a natural mix in my mind. Some sort of concrete or masonry block setup comes to mind, but then it sounds more like I'm building a very heavy immovable structure, which I'm not sure is a plus...

Anyone build growbeds they've had in operation for more than a year and are happy with (no warping, leaking, leaching, etc.)?

Anyone have any other containers to suggest?

I`m not sure if you have them over there,but plasterers baths would work well for a modular setup. 1280mm Long x 640mm Wide x 325mm Deep, 130L and £20 each which equates to about $31.85US

Now I'm confused. Never heard of it before, but a quick google search turns it up. I'd think those working with plaster would have to have something of that nature in the states though I can't find anything. Does it perhaps go by another name? Any clue what they might call it over here?

Considerations;

a. how much is your time worth?
b. will you ever move the bed?
c. how many more fittings do you need if you use small beds?
d. can you get the small tubs locally?
e. are the small tubs UV stabilized and built for professional agriculture?

Here's my dos centavos on those issues

a. once you have a simple stand (i used cinder blocks) you can install and plumb one in a ridiculously short time - ignoring your auto siphon or timers, or..., you can have a stock plumbed for drainage in like under 5 minutes
b. try and move a masonry or big wood BG, or a lot of small tubs - one person can easily move one - even full of Hydroton one person cam muscle one around to adjust it.
c. more small GBs means more fittings and small cost savings vanish in a tweet
d. almost every feed store can get the RM stock tanks w/ no extra shipping - i live at the beach in San Diego, CA and found them very easily
f. stock tanks are some kinda tough

If my math is correct, when i compare the price of about 2.5 +/- of the tubs you originally mentioned + 2.5x the fittings + 2.5x the labor, to the price of one 50g stock tank + fittings + labor the stock tanks start looking better. that said, i am not certain RM is the best stcok tank. They have an odd profile.

disclaimer: i just built a portable system based on all RubberMaid tanks and will probably go w/ RM + IBCs in my next permanent system. Scope my signature if you wanna see pics of my most humble, most definitely green behind the ears, setup.

Possibilities:
Rubbermaid (or other brand) stock tanks
Dig + pond liner
1/2 barrels
ferrocement.

That said, I just made mine with landscaping timbers and heavy builder's plastic (double-thick) I may be adding beds and/or expanding my setup, and will likely do so with ferrocement.

I'm having a hard time following you here:

a. I get the stand bit - not sure if the "one" you're referring to here is a RM tank though. In terms of stands, I saw a real nice weld job posted here by someone recently - simple stand made out of some pipe that looked like it would take some weight. Has me thinking about checking with some of the local high schools to see if I can find someone to put a few together for me.

b. This sounds like an argument for making your own growbeds - not for using stock tanks - you can obviously make some pretty big growbeds using pond liner. They wouldn't be very movable though.

c. Yep. I follow this too.

d. I can find them, but they're still expensive - keep in mind I need 200 sq ft of grow space.

e. ?

f. Good. Someone telling me they hold up. That's always good to hear.

Now as for the previous RM tub I mentioned, I hadn't found the RM stock tanks when I found that. RM stock tanks make more sense simply by dividing the surface area by the price. They're cheaper. Since the tank is larger, plumbing is also cheaper. That tank is good for about 8 sq ft of surface area though, which means I'm going to need 25 of them. That's a lot of tanks. Smaller tanks are easier to move, but I suspect a tank that size is still very difficult to pick up (not slide) when it's loaded with gravel - it's probably easily 500lbs if not more according to my calculations. So I'm not sure tanks or a DIY pond-liner growbed either one would be easy to move.

I'm also not certain RM is the best stock tank to use for a growbed - I haven't been able to find a better stock tank so far though (very open to suggestions if someone has one).

Would be interested in seeing pictures of your setup.


Gene

Check out Tuff Stuff products. I can pick them up here in Hawaii at the local feed store. They have a 90 gallon mortar tub dimensions are 1'h x 3'w x 5'l. Think they retail for $100. Planning on using them if I can't get some hydroponics beds from Chemtainer. These beds are- full size 72"x43"x 16"h and half size 72"x 43" x 8"high. Not too sure about the price but almost all their products are food grade plastics. Both companies are on the internet.

You want 200 square feet of grow bed surface area?
Really then...Don't go with small tubs. Would cost you a fortune. I don't even have 200 sf of grow bed surface area though I'm close.

Here is an example of the kind of grow bed you might want if you want to save money while doing this (you will likely want to improve the construction method say with landscape timbers as sides or something but mine is still working a year later as it is my construction is simply 2x6 frame around the top and stakes pounded into the sand for a quick and dirty huge grow bed)
I do recommend using good pond liner and there is some cost there but if you build in shapes appropriate to standard width rolls of liner, you can keep costs reasonable.
That grow bed is probably just a little less than 80 sf of growing space. About 28 foot long by just under 3 foot wide. It goes from 12 inches deep to about 14 inches deep and then there is a sort of sump pit in one corner for the sump pump.




The link will take you in my thread to where I start building the monster grow bed.
http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=126379#p126379
The construction of that grow bed is rather drawn out since there were lots of other things going on in my thread at the same time.

If I were re-building (which hopefully I'll be re-building it all in a few year after we build the new house 3 blocks away) I would probably have one bed like this and call it a sump tank (might be a little deeper and narrower with an even deeper "sump pit") and then have my "standard" grow bed drain into it and have the fish tank high enough to drain into the standard grow beds CHIFT PIST fashion.

i've been documenting my quickie system @ a dodgy website

gblack have you been able to find any plasterers baths here in the states? I've been looking for a few minutes and they're everywhere in the UK but not seeing anything here. They look to be the perfect grow bed (if such a thing exists), 4ft x 2ft x 1ft, perfect.

Pretty old thread here.

I can assure you all that I have nearly gotten rid of all my lumber/liner beds due to leaking from termites.

I've been using 100 gallon stock tanks as deep beds (don't need much under them for support since they are already almost a nice height.) Tractor supply is the best price I've ever found on them. The 100 and 300 gallon tanks are the best price per gallon if you don't mind having extra filtration. A banana beast is the only thin I've had hurt a Rubbermaid stock tank.

I would not use the lighter weight stock tanks for gravel as they will bow.

I've used some mortar mixing tubs for shallow water plant bins, even only filled half way with gravel they bow some.