Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

HI all
could you guys give me an idea of what you use as your grow beds base that is IE tin fibreglass plastic and so on the system I would like to put in seems to be running away with the $$$$ as always looking for the best but the cheapest way out of this I will not be ready until the new year then I hope to post photos of the system so you guys can look it over even that seems a long way away Q

It needs to be 300mm deep (grow Bed).
I was at the tip the other day and there was a number of bath tubs there. They would make ideal grow beds, a bit ugly on the front patio, but they would be ideal, and the right price.

Hi Muzza
Yep I can get stuff like that but the system I would love to put in is to one side of my sheering shed going out to a Polly tunnel the tunnel is 22 mtrs long and 6.1 mtrs wide so I will need 10x4mtr long grow beds to cope with the two tanks I have they are 12 mters round and 2/12 mtrs high so the cheapest way to get the grow beds that long
Q

Q, Make the grow beds on the ground out of concrete block or timber and line them with pond liner. Have a pump at one end of the grow bed, or auto syphon into a sump.
You could make the grow beds as long as you like using that method.

Somewhere on the internet in one of those links that has been on the forum there is a project in the USA somewhere that has the grow beds on the ground.
Someone may remember where that link is.

I would strongly advise starting with a small pilot system first, to learn the ropes, via the school of hard experience. "bisnes blong u"

Muzza

I remember that system, but my comp has issues and I lost my favourites list...

They grew lettuce outdoors with these beds and used bug zappers at night to keep pests down.

It was floating raft culture in a system where they removed solids. This was lettuce growing in polystyrene rafts. I do not recall the bed depth.

Many of the folks here attended lectures on floating raft culture so you're in luck!

This is a very easy option.

I'm working on a system of deep water culture without removing solids. This with poly rafts and buckets. As I fine tune this stuff over the coming 6 months you can watch and see how these go.

Perhaps a portion of your system in raised gravel beds (say 1/4 - 1/3rd of the greenhouse space), that then flow onto your lower floating culture beds (2/3rds), this would effectively remove your solids and allow you much cheaper bed options simultaneously. The gravel 'filter' beds themselves to support more substantial planting like peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.

HI Muzza
Thanks for that I have to scale it down for a start maybe a model or get to have a look at one in action I have bean told that there is a system in Northam only 150 ks away from us that's huge and working all I have to do is to track it down
Q

Hi Aquaddict
that could be on the cards and a good idea I will keep on watching and see what your is like
we eat a load of fresh foods I hate purchasing from the shops unless I have to we do not get the stuff fresh
everyone complains about it but that what you get for living in the bush I should start up shop and see what happens

Q