Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I started a thread in general discussion with some plans for a barrel system.. it clearly wasn't big enough so I've switched my plan to IBC's..the trouble is now I don't have enough growbeds for the 1000l fishtank.. I have a 1000l IBC partially buried under the FT and offset so I can put a step on top of it to access the FT. The GB is 2.5'x11' which is just over 200 gallons, and I need 300-600 gallons of GB for the system.. I'm also interested in a gutter type system and wonder how to add it to the opposite wall, and how to calculate the amount of GB that it will add to my total. My other concern is that the beds will be 5' below the ceiling in the GH, is it possible to keep tomato plants trained to be shorter than that ?

Here is the plan.. there is 5' between the horizontal GB and the opposite wall.. it's a simple Chift Pist system draining to a sump.. I just need more GB area !

200G of growbed will be fine for that Joey...

But if you really want more, you can put in some half barrels or NFT guttering on the other wall...

my thoughts exactly earthbound !!
I'm going to move the GB to the other side of the greenhouse, and put some NFT guttering on the wall where the GB is now.. I would love to learn more about plant heights, and "bending" tomato plants to keep them under 5 ' (1.75m).. what are the distances between your GBs.. what about distances between NFT ?? 2ft - 3ft ?? I'll probably just have to experiment (knock down my house, put a greenhouse there, and live in a tent.)

My 2 cents:
It looks like you should have enough height that you do not need to have the fish tank elevated. I have one up on block and do not like it, but it is a trial system for a larger system of similar design that will get burried. And I can use the IBCs later in a different configuration. Having the FT up in the air just seems unsafe and is hard to get up there and work on it. I cannot imagine how hard it will be when it comes time to catch a sick fish. If room is a concern, perhaps the sump could be under the GB and bring FT down to the ground.

If without modification, it looks good! Good luck
Mark

I got my first IBC today !! Now to dig that hole
I'm digging it in 2.5-3 feet so I can use it as a sump, and use the top of it as a step up to the fish tank !!
I was digging in the rain this afternoon and will continue in the morning !!

It's in !!
the top of the IBC is just below knee level.. what a huge hole !

It's in !!
the top of the IBC is just below knee level.. what a huge hole !

Got to have pics as proof... no?



CB

Here are the pics !
When I was standing waist deep in the hole I was beginning to wonder if I'd lost my mind.. I still have a long way to go, but one step at a time and it'll be up and running !
(the wife questioned my sanity when i was inside the IBC in my swimming trunks with assorted scrub brushes and soaps.. )

FWIW - The bar across the top is to simulate the ceiling height

Have just noticed when you backfilled the sump did you put tin or something around the cage if you dident the sump will gradually collapse and it will be useless 100% of people who buryed sumps and dident support them have run into trouble
so dig it up and start again [isent aqua fun ]

I did put 1x4's around it.. at the top there is a little deformation where I packed the dirt around it, but not too bad, maybe 1-2 " from where i really jumped on it..

Agreed with F&F... Especially due to the sandy nature of your soil and high water table... Also, would recommend filling the sump asap to reduce any further collapse while the soil around the outside settles...

CB

Ok - I've got the tank filled so she won't be jumping out of the ground !!

I even took the pump I'm planning to use for the system, and dropped it in the tank for a test run.. it shoots a 1 1/4" stream of water, up 6 feet of pipe, and then another 3-4' in the air.. this puppy could power seaworld. So any advice on toning it down a notch ?? Can you put a "dimmer" on it, reduce the pipe size or am I going to have to look for another pump ? (I'd like to keep it in case I eventually upgrade to a monster system like countryboy)

This is the pump http://www.lgpc.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=1496

Here are the pics of it shooting water in the air !

Here is another SketchUp rendering of my plan.. 200gallon growbeds to the right, 9xNFT to the left...

Does it look OK ?

I know I'm talking to myself now, but I originally imagined the NFT to run from the sump, as the water was pumped back into the fishtank..to use the pre-filtered sump water
I know I need filtration between the tank and the NFT.. what else could I use ??