Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

catching up, couldnt find what a flout was with google search, sounds liek a way to drain the beds without a siphon?

Yes - a flout is another way to allow a GB to fill up, and then quickly drain. Kind of like flusing a toilet. In fact I think the origins are in septic systems. I'm not sure if Rissy are the ones that came up with it or not, but they sell them:

http://www.flout.net/rissyplastics2/

They have some pretty cool other stuff too! Some vids on youtube show it in action.

Concrete guys did not show up again two days in a row...promised the trucks will show up at 1 today...unless they get here at the crack of dawn with a big crew, I see no way they could be ready. And the flouts have not shown up either. Pffstpp!

Sorry man. That stinks. Time to look for some new contractors?

Deja,

Sorry to hear about all of your problems with your tanks getting poured. Did the Flouts show up okay? brando if you have any questions about the Flout in an aquaponics system, I would be happy to answer them, just send me an e-mail or give me a call. All of my contact info is on my website.

http://www.flout.net

Thanks,
Jim

Yes Jim - I have the flouts...just nowhere to use them just yet. For those of you that don't know, the concrete guys did show up eventually for the pour, but took off running half way through the pour when the forms starting busting out. Quotes have been as high as $2500 to come bust up the mess and haul it all off. Obviously the new system is on hold for quite some time while we get the back yard cleaned up and come up with more funds. As far as my comment on the "Concrete Block" thread about concrete being cheaper....I eat my words! I'm now looking at having precast concrete tanks trucked in.

Deja, super bummer. Guess you missed this post.....



Don't feel bad, I learned the hardway too. In all honesty a good concrete contractor should have known better. A letter from your lawyer may convince them to cleanup. If not,
You might consider renting a jack hammer or a skidsteer with jackhammer attachment. Then haul it off yourself or put on craigslist for " free fill material, you pickup."

Really sorry to hear about that. I know that for insulated concrete form houses, blowouts are a real big deal, and their forms are styrofoam. They use all manner of plastic reinforceing ties that span between the inner and outer faces to hold the weight of the concrete.

Hopefully you hadn't paid those jackholes yet. The concrete might not be that tough to bust up if they didn't have much rebar in it. I would start tearing it up sooner, rather than later though, as the concrete gets harder with time. This is at least work that is well suited to menial, uneducated labour, which it sounds like the last guys were. I imagine that you could hire a few amigos to bust it up for you. Habla espanol ?

If you are truly set on building them from concrete, I'd build the forms yourself. Go swing by some new neighborhood and study how house foundations are formed up. I would think that some heavy duty lumber and a framing nailer could build some very beefy forms.

Unfortunately, they got thier money and after a lot of searching, I really have no leeds on where to find them. He shut his phone off and took the website down. Obviously not the first time he has done this. I thought they were good Christian guys...my bad for being so trusting.

I took a couple swings at the concrete with a hammer...I don't think I am up to the demolition myself....tough stuff! Anyway - I'll get things back on track soon and chalk everything up to experience.

On a different note, we have picked a few strawberries from the system with plenty more comming...the beans are going mad and spinach is huge!

my brother had a concrete business for a while.. "fresh" 'crete is the worst to remove..

If you are going to remove it, or have it removed, you need to rent an electric jackhammer. If its not full of rebar, it'll crack it up surprizingly fast, when you compare it to beating it with a sledge. I helped a neighbor crack up a 4" thick patio slab that was quite large. Hard work for sure, but doable. Invest in good hearing protection and glasses.

Can you salvage any of it, or is it 100% toast ? Some pics would be helpful.

Bummer how much did you loose shorley somebody knows of them

That really sucks!

All in due course. I will post photos and the whole story when the story has an end.

Dude that sucks! You might not be able to do much to the concrete mess with the sledgehammer but if you can find where the so and so lives you could have a good bit of fun introducing the sledgehammer to his walls and the like.