Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

mickb,
OK, back again as promised. The windows in the MegaBin are not hard, because the bin itself has flat sides which are easy to cut. The EPS panel insulation was cut as earlier described for the valve access in the IBC build.
A piece of acrylic was used as the vision panel, mounted on the inside (the pressure side!) of the tank. This ensures that the static water pressure helps 'push' the vision panel against the supporting edges, rather than trying to push it out and away from supports. This also helps with the sealant being given a chance to work properly.
Also, only use SEALED blind pop rivets, not the ordinary 'open' type. Any leaks (and there will be a couple, let me assure you) can be better remedied using a sealant from the water side. Holds in place instantly with the pressure helping it into the offending leak.
I have seen other windows etc., placed on the outside face of the tank (I think FishFood had one) but they required a good deal of perimeter support and lots of fixings.
I am readying the MegaBin system for full operation again in Summer, hence the "empty" tank for the photos.

Hope this and the photos help.

My wife has adopted the IBC build, which is down in the garden with no cover, and has been ever since I first built it, but still keeps producing without a hitch. I, sorry, . . . She wants to get some Goldfish in the tank, but won't until I get rid of the 3 year old Jade perch that is happily residing there.


Cheers IanK

G'day Ian.... Good to see you still kicking...

I enjoyed reading your build in the IBCofAquaponics.pdf

How big is a 3yo jade?

Thanks Joel,
Still rattling in the mornings with all the tablets I'm on, but they seem to be doing their job. Slowly on the mend.
In the intervening period I have been working on a prototype system that I hope to market one day. It is still being proven after 2 years of operation and development , so all looks good for a final product one day.

I have three new toys that have made this process of design and development much more satisfying and easy to produce. First is a 3D printer that I can design and "build" bespoke items to suit what I need, rather than having to piece together from odd items off the shelf. So far I have developed a small auto siphon in one piece and an agitator/distributor for spraying into the fish tank for aeration amongst a myriad of other bits and pieces. Even an icing mould of a horse for a lady who makes special cakes!
The second is a 3D scanner which can make a 3D model ready for printing, of a small object or an entire room. Similar to the Xbox camera but a little more sophisticated. The Grand kids love the 100mm high 'busts' of themselves.
The last one is an ABS filament extruder so I can make my own filament for 3D printing from scrap or new ABS pellets. Printed pieces that don't work are pulverised in an old Blender and mixed with some new pellets and colouring, to be reused. All the ABS I use is food grade and it works out about 10% of the price of buying new filament.

To your answer Jayendra, The Jade is about 1.5kg, and it is the last one of the fingerlings I purchased back in February 2011. I thought we had eaten all the fish from that batch, but when Margaret put in some small Goldies to keep the IBC system functioning, they disappeared overnight! One fat and satisfied Jade that probably hadn't been fed for about a month!

Will catch and photograph it when I transfer it into the Mega Bin system ready for summer. It's too good a show and tell fish to eat all at once!

Cheers all, IanK

Gee If I had a fish that old that made it thru a month of little or no feed (must be bugs getting in) I wouldn't be eating it at all.
I'd let it live on till it passed naturally
Thanks for the idea.
I'm going to keek one from each Bach I get just to see how they go.
Love that ibc build it is a classic.

Fantastic IBC build!Thanks for sharribg your design and build process.