Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Thanks mate, and everyone else for their positive comments. We put a hell of a lot of work into these sytems and sometime I wonder if it is worth it. Then you get to eat your own produce and fish and think how can I make it BIGGER AND BETTER!!!!!

To infinity and beyond!

Hey Quachy,

Couple of questions if I may...
1. What dimensions are the Tilkey tubs?
2. Would you use them again given they warp with the materials?
3. What size sleepers did you use?
4. How did you lay the sleepers to support the tubs?
5. Do the sleepers sag?

Sorry to seem like an interrogation.

I'm looking at doing a similar thing to you but my tubs are 2m x 1m so may not work out if supported like your without thicker sleepers.

1. What dimensions are the Tilkey tubs?
1800x1000x300

2. Would you use them again given they warp with the materials?
Yes because they are cheap, no if I had the money to buy fibre glass ones or the BYAP ones.

3. What size sleepers did you use?
2400x250x50
Next time I would use 75mm thick ones

4. How did you lay the sleepers to support the tubs?
Three sleepers per tub. one on each outside edge, one in the middle.

5. Do the sleepers sag?
minnor, nothing to wory about, hence maybe 75mm next time.

Hope that helps!

Thanks mate....helps heaps

Brocoli and strawberry crowns!

The strawberry crowns are starting to flower! Very, very early so I wonder how they will go?!?

I graded the trout this morning. Trying to separate the rainbows from the browns so the browns get a chance to feed and grow. Rainbows hit the feed harder than browns and they feed closer to the top. Browns are mid stream feeders so best to get the rainbows out so the browns can fill up! Anyway removed some rainbows and the largest was easily 40cm long! I'm guessing the weight at about 375grams, but the biggest may have been close to 400g. I think I'll give them another 2-3weeks and then pull out the biggest for a feed!

Sounds like a plan Quachy....

Wow, thats good going with the trout this early in the season. Still a while left to get them even bigger.

40cm! Thats some nice trout Quachy, any longer than that and we'll need to cut em in half to fit in my smoker!

Just went reading back over the start of your thread, Quachy, who was the mob you bought your IBC's from. I'm looking for either new or 100% guarenteed food safe ones. Which did you go for new or reconditioned? and what was the cost?

And also where did you get the tilkey tubs from and cost??

The mind boggles40 cm thats 16 in and only 400g are you shore its not a water snake my trout at 35 cm are close to 2 kg

Milne, they were definately the 40cm mark, at least 4" longer than a ruler (which is what I had handy). Didn't feel like 2kgs but as I said about the 400g mark (maybe more). They hadn't 'filled out' yet ie, they were pretty long, but didn't seem to have fattened up yet. I'm guessing they will fill out in the next couple of weeks if I keep the feed up. Actually need to go to ballarat and get some 6mm feed as my 4mm is just about out. I'll ty to pull out the big one next weekend and give it a proper measure and weigh.

Simon, can't remember the name of the company I got mine fom but they were from sydney. there is a mob in Daylesford that sell new and used ones. Last I checked (over a year ago) the new ones were just under $300 and were food grade.

Ring ballarat first last time i was there they only had 3 or4 mm

bugger! Will do, i'll ring tomorrow. do you need any? I could pick-up 2 bags if they have them?

You could grab me a bag, Quachy, does the food last more than 12 months because doubt I will need too much for the 8 trout I've got this year but will be getting more next year!
Do you have any contact details for the IBC place in Daylsford?? $300 for new 1000lt FT is still cheaper than BYAP FT's.