Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

hi everyone,
I'm looking for a second hand grow bed with a capacity of about 1000 litres.
live in the melbourne metro and I'm looking at starting my first system.
any grow bed I will consider.

Regards
Matt

Bathtubs are usually around $10.00
What area are you in it may help if we know

FF,
thanks for the quick reply,
live Northern suburbs,
bath tubs would work well, but I haven't been able to pick up any for less then $80.
then plumbing and grow media puts me up around the figure if I was to buy a fiber glass bed from a (unnamed) company.
where do you get them for $10 ??

Regards
Matt

Recycling centers i just got 4 for a member recentley $10 each and they are easy to plumb 50 mm return probley the cheapest
I havent been there for a few days when there is some there i will pm you if you want
How many are you thinking off

FF,
Hate to be picky, but fiberglass ones would be perfered. (Much easier to handle)
Considering that the average bath tub is around 250 litres(I think), I will need 4.
I apreciate you going to this effort.
I'll have to visit some recycling stations my self!

Regards
Matt

just an idea here in the photo the center stand pipe is just a pipe celasticed in to a bath plug

Bunnings often have overruns of baths and charge as little as $30 for brand new baths.
You prefer fibreglass... be aware that you'll need to brace this nicely so you don't bust it with the weight of media and water. Metal baths are much less trouble.

My plastic 600L GBs were not expensive, around $120 I think.
Have a look at user: kennour's thread. They're mentioned there, along with contact details.

What about IBC's? You can get them out of the Trading Post.

Thanks for the Photos guys and the great info,
unfortunately I don't have room for IBC tanks in my greenhouse as grow beds, but in saying that I'm using one for my first fish tank.

Tanks:)
regards
Matt

Last time I went to school, 1000 litres of volume = 1000 litres of space...? An IBC cut in half would use less floor space than the equavalent amount of bathtubs (4 or 5)?

Yeah, but be very deep... I reckon Joel's beds or the equivalents like I use would be better. but they take up double the footprint of an IBC cut in half.

What about using 10 half blue barrels (vertically cut) - each with a foot print of 3ft x2ft. and 100 litres each? ( a la barrelponics)

I use blue barrels, and to be honest I would not again.

They take up too much room for the amount of media they contain.

8 x blue barrel 1/2's = 800 litres of media and take up twice as much room as an IBC / Joel style bed.



The capacity of those three rows of beds, using an 8 metre x 6 metre square = less than 3 IBC's worth of media. Ibc's would be using 3 x 2 metres at the most. Not to mention the amout of fittings etc to supply 24 blue barrels, compared to 3 IBC's.

Mattyry... you could consider the Tilkey budget troughs... not sure of price now... they were around $130... can source them from Landmark at Ballerat..

"Kenour" used them, as did "Aussieponics" and "Elkaybee"... the do need to be braced though.... here's a link to Kenours system... and Landmark info...

viewtopic.php?p=95579#p95579

Reading the comments above [OBO i would not use blue barrels again ] i also say if i was doing it again i would do it different i think its time someone revived the old thread
If you was doing it again what would you do different