Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Had a day off work today to do some stuff unrelated to AP - but found myself starting a new grow-bed stand. This time I used the 40mm 3mm RHS that I have in the shed. So far I've only made the top (less 2 of the 3 cross supports I intend to have), but I've gotta say that it was a rather painless exercise compared to making the angle iron ones. Just being able to cut the RHS with the drop saw and not stuff aroung with making mitred corners is the difference. I used RHS for the cross support in the middle of the top (only cos I didn't think to use my angle), but will use angle for the other 2 cross supports I am putting on the top, given that it is easy to use in this application and I have some here. This way I maight be able to make my RHS stretch far enough for another stand - particularly if I make the legs out of angle also.

There is probably only another hours work in this stand and I'll be ready to paint it. I would have finished the top today - except it started raining

I think I understand what you've done VB.... just couldn't quite make it out in the pictures

Tim and Jeffrey have posted the pics of their stands . Am just doing the same thing as normal but using RHS instead of the angle iron, like they did. Am making the top first (the part that the bed sits on. When this is finished I will attach the legs :-)

Normally has almost immediate effect. I expect that I have some serious nitrification going on and this is pulling the pH down pretty rapidly. I'll add some shell grit to one of the sumps when I get a chance to wash out the stuff that I have here - but the straight CaCO3 should have most effect.

So how long before we see a pic of the new stands VB???

Only making one at the moment JJ. Nothing exciting about it I can assure :-). Will post a pic when finished.

but dont you have the end holes open? I like to cut a wedge out, groove the remaining face and bend. then touch up the faces with a grinder to make them butt up nicely and weld. Looks great.

KP i think you should go with the bolted feet u had in mind way earlier. I just read the whole thread for the first time and that foot assembly was the idea i had too, then saw your sketchup of it and went "yeah one of them" If you use telescopic shs with the ID of the larger square the same as the OD of the smaller. Then build the foot onto the larger shs and slip the fot over the leg of smaller shs. at the correct height weld the foot to the leg. this gives great adjustment to compensate for the dodgy ground.

Here are some pics:

Look pretty smick VB.... kewl

Those look great. I took the cheap route, using what I had. I should probably spend some time playing around with the welder and scrap iron that I have laying around.

hey vb are they painted? did u spray or brush? they look pretty sturdy

Noticed your previous bed had some lateral cross pieces of rod.... do you think you'll need to do the same on the new beds?

what media are u using? im interested as i am designing my gb stands, and am using gravel, so am not sure of the strengt required to support the weight.

I have painted my stands using roller/brush. The reason I have not put cross supports on this one is that I would have been ubable to put the stand over the top of that existing sump that I have under where the bed now is. Also - I'll be putting another sump under the bed. While I'd prefer to have these cross pieces, I think it would only realy be an issue if the bed got a bump. When I eventually rearrange everything into a greenhouse and have a single big sump, then I will probably weld the cross supports in then and give the paitn jobs a touch up.

I have gravel in my perch bed, but hydroton in the 1st of the barra beds. I intend to put gravel into this new bed. Originally I'd intended transferring the hydroton to this second bed and putting the gravel in the bed that has the cross supports. I've changed my mind on this because I don't want to go to the extra effort and disrupt the system as much as would be required to do this. I expect that the stand will hold up fine - though I will monitor the height of the centres to see if it is bending at all.

sounds like you've done well VB, and the GB look great too