Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So my systems up and running , but with only one growbed

Im looking for any suggestions of what I could use ( food grade obviously ) as a container to mount above the main tank as my second growbed

Needs to be square sided as Im going to be partitioning it to incorporate a flout mechanism . This way once the top bed is full it will rapidly drain into the tank , thus that rapidly overflows into the main growbed , quicker than the small holes in the main growbeds standpipe can handle , ensuring a good flood

the main growbed is 350 litres , from someones calculations that I read , gravel takes up 60% volume , thus I need 140 litres to flood it .
So the top growbed containerr that I need would have to be between 200 & 300 litres ( the partition for the flout will be 100% water volume , so it doesnt need to be as big a growbed as the main one )

Im tempted to try to make a container myself , either with wood & pond liner , or acrylic / glass cut & glued , but if anyones got a suggestion as to where Id get a nice rectangle , flat sided , food grade container then I'd go for that rather than mess around building something . Minimum lenth of the longest base size needs to be 90 cm aswell , so it can sit on top of the tank

half an IBC?

Boris, Bunnings sell a 220ltr black tub .... 820(L)x580(H)x360(D) (internal).... about $45....

Been some discussion as to their "food gradeness" .... I was told "yes", but another post somewhere said "maybe not"

Simmo and others have been using them for a while ....

Actually ... that works out at 160ltr..... I'm sure they were ticketed as 220ltr....

Think the recent thread was titled "160ltr Bins" or something.

Here you go Boris.... Omni Bins.... http://www.omnimanufacturing.com/website.aspx?id=11



Dont know if they do a lower height bin.... maybe give them a call

The omni might be a bit high.... and pricey.... don't know if you can get "Dolav" bins over your way....

Definitely food grade...... they have a 240ltr "lo-box" ....

http://www.nayla.com/product/101/dolav- ... obox.html#

IBCs are for sale in Kelmscott, Boris.

Out of curiousity, why do AP'ers not use EPDM or PVC pond liners for growbeds? Are they not food grade?

Some do rponda... a lot use whatever they can get there hands on, or afford.... often because it saves time and effort .... or because it's available

They come in 160L for about $35, and 220L for about $48.

They have the same footprint, but the 220L tub is deeper. I can post pics of the ones I just bought if you want.

Available only in Bunnings Nunnawadding (If you're in Melb) I couldn't find them anywhere else... they're permanently sold out in the northern suburbs...

LOL dolphins bunnies and rainbows

thanks for the links Rupe , I'll keep a look out at bunnings . That Dolav bin would be perfect though , gotta ring around on monday and see if I can get em over here

oh - ibc's are no good for what I want here- too big a footprint , I still need acces to the tank underneath so I can catch all those tasty fish . Got a spare ibc here anyway

Boris, if you find a supplier in perth let me know. They would make sweet growbeds