Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

After building my Duckponix, i got the AP bug, s now i am building a fish system.

Here goes:
I have an area that i was using as a nursery and plant storage area for my landscaping business. It measures 3m x 4.8m. That allows a path around the outside. In the photo it is the gravel area.





I am using IBC's as the fish tanks, and Joel's super grow beds as, well, growbeds.

I intend to cut th tops out of the 4 IBC's and sink them into the ground where the gravel is leaving 250mm - 300mm above ground. I wil install the grow beds above the fish tanks, and leave the existing path down the middle.

I plan to use 3 tanks for fish, and one for the sump. THe tanks will be joined using 80mm poly tank couplings. The pipe between the last fish tank and the sump will use a standpipe to maintain the water height.

I will clad the outside of the IBC cages with tin sheeting so that the weight of the sand does not cave in the IBC skins.

THe growbeds will be suported by limestone pillars, and steel frames.

I also want this to look good, so i will get creative with the finish.

I have cut the tops out of the IBC's and dismantled the pallets from underneath. I relocated the top retaining bars to the underside to support the skins.



I also bought the 80mm couplings. there the biggest singlenut couplings available. The next size up is an 8 bolt flange. I chose the couplings because i only have one hole to cut in the skin, therefore only one place to leak





Now i need a 110mm spanner and socket to tighten them up.

80mm! wow, they'd have set you back... mind telling us how much.
I admire the size, gravity drains are so low volume. You should never have a flow issue with those babies.

Gunna look gooood.

I got them for $60 each. I will use 80mm pvc retic pipe to join the tanks as it is WAY cheaper than 80mm poly pipe. Like PVC is $7 per meter and poly is $35. Poly is expensive as it is high pressure for submersible bore pump riser pipe.

Hey duckie the Ibc`s stopped stinking yet?

That is going to look great Duckpond. I bet Jana can't wai tto plant up those grow beds.

hey Lungy,
yes they have. I put 1/4 bag of pool salt in them, and some water. Let them sit for a week or so.

Then cut the tops out, and scrubbed the inside with a broom.

THen pressure cleaned them inside and out with a karcher.

The smell went quite fast once the top was cut out.

How r yours going? r u cutting the tops out? I have spare valves and stuff if you need

I have a problem!!!

I just drilled a 4mm holein my IBC skin. THe drill slipped and missed the steel.
Does anyone know if it can be fixed?

I was thinking of using a soldering iron, and a sliver of IBC skin and trying to weld it. I will practice on the old top that is cut out, but i am open to ideas.

Pic of the damage? Patch from the inside using a piece of the old top should work fine. Think I'd try roughing it up with sand paper then sealing it with a glue or silicone though. I'd be scared to burn thru the plastic.

If the hole aint to bad maybe you can get a rubber pull thru plug from an auto parts store that would fit. They are used to hold trim on and such. Forget what they are called.

I did pretty good with a large patch siliconed on the inside of a big hole in the bottom of a blue barrel. Just make sure the patch is plenty larger than the hole so that you have some good surface to seal with but a 4mm hole should be relatively easy to patch so long as silicone sticks to the IBC well.

GF - do you mean a "scrivet"?

I'd use a toilet bolt, one of the ones that connects the tank to the bowl. Alternative: bolt-washer-neoprene washer-tank-washer-nut. Lots of thread sealant. Should never leak. Very easy.

Just use a ss bolt and a bit if silicone