Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Now that my nursery AP system is up and running, I'm already thinking of my main system (addictive this AP stuff!).

I recently saw a guy using ICBs for small stand-alone systems. He cuts off about 200mm from the top for the GB, and rotates this 90 degrees and sits it on top of the rest of ICB for the FT. The GB then simply gravity feeds straight back into the FT. Seemed very easy to do.

What are the pros/cons of getting about 10 of these and setting them up the same way? The pros I can see are:

• Each tank is isolated (quarantined?)
• very modular, so good for staggering fish sizes and moving them around if need be
• fairly cheap, if you get them for the right price

On the downside, I see the following issues:

• Not sure how I would setup up the flows - this would probably require a separate pump for each IBC
• I would have to paint the FT (and maybe eve the GB) for each unit, to avoid algae growth

Has anyone done this type of setup, or can see any other pros and cons?

I've seen something similar on youtube. The main disadvantage that comes to my mind is GB depth. The 300mm depth that most of us use has 3 purposes:

1, mechanical support for larger plants
2, more surface area for bacteria
3, more trapping area for solids to decay

Without a sizable biofilter, you're probably stuck with low stocking densities.

From my recollection of IBCs, you could probably make a 1:1 GB:FT system using the same method that would get near the 300mm depth.

It would work great, but have all the IBC's connected together as well.

1 pump per IBC/Bed combo all connected = total redundency + higher stocking density safely.

200 mm would work well for only 750 liters of water.

have you seen this

Who owns this one - it looks very professional indeed!

Looking at this, I guess the best way to run multiple IBCs is using a CHIFT PIST approach, thus saving the need for mulitple pumps. I imagine the sump must be pretty big. I wonder what's in those small drums in front of each IBC?

That the American barrel ponics site heres my 3 ibc/s connected chift pist

I think they remove floaties and solids.

sump wouldn't have to be that big, just stagger which beds get filled, don't pump to them all at once and then you'll have no problems.

Its a breeding setup those 20 litre tubs catch the babys

Cool I want one.

Yeah, run one pump if you want - the time will come when you wish you had'nt.

Funny how pumps work fine for 6 months, and then just when your system reaches peak capacity, the pump dies.

so would it be silly to run multiple IBCs totally independently of each other (including separate pumps)?

Nope. Would work fine

I would connect them together with taps though, so during normal operation all the IBC's are connected, then when it quarantine time, some of them can be disconnected.

Would probably be a PITA with all the power cords, but that can be managed easily enough.

Call me scared, but after the last week of trouble, anything to limit the chance of a single pump failure crashing a whole system is worth it. Especially with ten IBC's.

You could still do it as CHIFT PIST, but use two pumps in the sump

The way I was thinking about setting them up, all of them would be totally independent, with a small pump each. Each FT would be staggered in regards to fish size etc.

Also, being modular, I can simply add them as I find them.

The way I was thinking about setting them up, all of them would be totally independent, each with their own small pump. Each FT would be staggered in regards to fish size etc. Also, being modular, I can simply add them as I find them.

The guy I saw using them had cut about 1/4 off the top, giving enough height to flip it over and use it as the GB. By turning them 90 degrees, the GB then sits on top of the other 3/4 FT. Seemed very practical. Of some concern was the ratio of FT to GB - not sure if this would be a real problem or not. Admittedly, this guy was much more into aquaculture, and only just starting out using AP.