Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

hehe, i didn`t ignore them Dave, i have committed it to the ever growing list of possible options, no doubt Charlie will soon have the same dilemma

I think you may be right about building two domes, the 12ft prototype with its low height might be ideal for the tank, build a 20ft for the plants.

Couldn`t wait for the pond freezing over Charlie, I got 13/15th`s of the foundation done and then ran out of conny...two steps forward and one back.

Just make sure to build the domes around your free huge water tanks.

An interesting effect I've seen and other people have reported about building domes. There is a strange scale shifting that seems to happen through the design and construction process.

Like the size and layout on paper seems one way then you draw it to scale on the ground and it seems another way again. Apparently it goes back and forth through the process until you are complete and everything is in it's place. If you are a good designer, it will all be perfect then but until that point, it will always seem way too big or way too small, flip flopping each step of the way. This is the experience of many people building the thinshell concrete homes but I'm sure it applies to some extent in any type of dome.

Keep up the good work!
I kinda like my cattle panel tunnel but my space availability seems to lend it's self to long and narrow.

Edited by CL

Maybe put it together upside down then flip it when they're all in? I mean, put them all in the top hub and sticking up in the air, then flip it to put the pipes into the base mounts.

Like Rupe's idea of the risers.

Been trying to bend curves out of 2" pipe with my normal pipe bender, without sucess (former and frame ain't big enough, straight bend straight bend). Be interesting to see pics of yours in action.

Edited by CL

Edited by CL

No worries with the close ups Charlie, watched the vids.
If I decide to go with the curved trusses will see if the local scrapyards have some already 'bent' pipes I can take off their hands.
Only reason I'm going 2" is I have sh#tloads of them.
BTW will your design have curved horizontals part way down or just braced top and bottom? Just a little concerned about the twist on a big one.

Hi CL,
51 inches spacing seems a bit wide for 16 legs on a 12ft circle..i make it 28.25" center to center

is it 12' radius ??? ..but that would make it around 60" spacing

think Hex maybe right CL

Still just about wide enough for a navvy barrow

Edited by CL

A wheelbarrow that navvies use

I thought it might have been an armed forces homosexual thing - Les having been in the navy