Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So i picked up 5 blue olive barrels on the weekend. I got them home thinking i can cut them in half for grow beds till i realised that they have a screw top.

Are there glues or something that i can make the lid stay especially when i dump a whole lot of gravel in there

I was thinking if i cant figure it out i will just cut it half ways till where the end is with the screw and end the cut about 5cm from it but that would mean i have to pick up more barrels

you get just as much gravel in those barrels if you cut them in half the other way.. would be easier to support too

But the problem is the grow space on the barrels i guess. I dont have much room (misses would kill me if i make it bigger) so having them cut normal way would be best. If its impratical then i will go the way you mentioned and the misses can

Once you start bringing in fresh fruit, veggies and fish in for dinner - she probably wont mind the 2nd larger system. I would go for them cut the other way also. If you choose the hard way, then you could silicon the lid on real well before cutting. It would probably hold long enough to get it cut and then goop up the inside corner real well to help it stay put.

Im going to sound stupid but what is goop?

I was refering to slathering a thick line of silicon around the inside edge of the top. Sorry - should have been more specific...

Thanks mate, i think its all too hard, i will just go ahead and cut them half ways

i cut mine longways and joined them, if i had the time again i would have just cut the top off them and filled with gravel to give best filtration, iv got troubles with leaking beds etc. they are good to plant a few tomatoes in etc. could plant one out as a herb bed and things like Zuchini or cucumbers you can plant them and train them down the sides onto the ground, climbers IE Peas & beans can be planted right on an edge and trained up some lattice or similar.

small amounts of growing room can be utilised very efficently in AP.

iv got 10 roma tomato plants in a 65l black tub, then have them strung upto the roof in my shadehouse, takes up no more than a sq mt and height is free


my missus was also very skeptical about AP now she is right into it and has gone from me only allowed to have a few barrels to a 1000L ft and sumps, and a 4 x 2.8m shadehouse. full of GB's and the second system and indoor system are all being planned

just takes time

PVC cement will work on them as well. unscrew the tops, put a large amount of cement on both sets of threads, screw it back on "quickly" as tight as you can get it. Let it set for a little while and you done. Cut the barrel any way you like. And the PVC cement is for potable water.

Scott

There is a sticky residue in the barrels. Even after spraying it with water its still a little bit slimy, should i clean them with sugar soup or should it be ok?

i'd use a detergent to wash them out,, then rinse with some (diluted) vinegar to neutralize the soaps.. rinse again with bleach (diluted) and let dry

yup - the sticky stuff probably needs to come out.

Is there a dilute amount for the vinegar/bleach?

i didn't use a set amount,, as long as you can smell it when rinsing, you should be ok..
just make sure you rinse well

the first time you add water, you might want to let it sit for a couple days, and test..
if tests look ok, maybe throw in some goldfish?