Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey jm. I'm from Hawaii too so I know a little about finding some of these things.
I know you can get 55 gallon barrels for $20 on craigslist. They used to contain car wash soap so they're fine. You can buy stock tanks (similar to rubbermaid) at Waimanalao Feed for cheap. Cheapest one ($/gallon) was the one I bought; a 110 gallon oval tank for $75. They're from Tuff Stuff, also known as Tuff Tubs, and Nalo Feed has almost everything that's on Tuff Tubs site. If you go to Nalo Feed you can buy your fish feed there. I buy mine in Campbell Industrial by Kapolei for $30 for 50 lb. I can give you directions if you need it. Also, if you do buy feed in bulk go buy some 5 gallon bucket lids (forgot the name) from Ace Hardware (I get mine in Kapolei) that screw on and off with ease. They have an o-ring on the inside so they're water tight and they go for about $10 without the bucket. Seems expensive but similar size dog food containers can be up to four times as much. I found out I needed this after I had a visit from the neighborhood ant colony that got into all my regular bucket lids. Anyway, welcome to AP.

Jim, It might be worth it to you to chat with Tropic Bird, a member here who lives in HI also and has a commercial Aquaponics business. They might be able to help you source materials at better prices there.
http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3677
http://www.friendlyaquaponics.com/

And if you do go with the rubbermade or tuff tub for the fish tank. I would recommend the 300 gallon size. The smaller ones might be ok for fry and fingerlings but I have never been comfortable putting many large fish into much smaller tanks for very long. If you really don't have the space for the 300 gallon tank, then 150 gallons could work but you won't comfortably keep many fish in one I fear.

Sleepe, re the chloramine in perth water.
I have a mate that works for the water corp and they do actually put chloramine in the water, but they only put chloramine in the pipes that have a long journey ie. Kalgoorlie.
So i think in the perth metro area your pretty safe, bu the further away from the perth and still using the perth dams the more chloramine you will find.

Cheers
Jono