Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, been there and done that, Check out Paulsaquaponics on youtube, there you can see variations of IBC toteponics systems I have trialed with the pro's and con's of each style. Happy for you to use them as you wish, just atribute them accordingly. Regards, Paul.

Sounds great Paul, can you post a link here?

http://www.youtube.com/user/Paulsaquaponics

Here you go Faye

Thanks Zman

I would be Interested ,In the middle of building I B C Tote system

Sorry JP, Already completed. Check it out here www.ibcofaquaponics.com

Good Idea ,create a very good learning curve .

I started my system about six months ago buying a small system ,then decided to create a C H O P system ,buying three totes building a polycarbonate greenhouse .Well the first thing was to consider safety ,building hard core properly tampered foundation then laying paving slabs on bed of cement. next to have made metal stands for grow beds ,Syphon's bought on E bay easier than making buy the time looking for parts etc. .Now in process of making sump tank .

very good idea

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these are pics showing foundations of greenhouse for reference .Started the project about June ,cut down lleylandii trees thirty in all ,the garden used to part of a sunken garden ,so meant filling up with sub soil about eight ton .had a path laid ,created small veg patch thirty feet by five feet wide ,grow rhubarb blackcurrant's cabbage etc. area with out path let soil settle ,then added top soil other pics finished path ,installed Rion greenhouse ,now building C H O P system.

Removing star screws from totes .If removing the base ,take out tank there you will find a star screw in the centre ,remove ,this screw holds every thing taught .in other words I found outside star screws unable to move ,once middle star screw was removed no problem taking the rest out .any difficulty use WD 40 spray leave .If you are going to use wood or ply to furnish topes ,please try using saddle clips ,I use 15mill . Drilling topes I think are made from galvanized steel ,not sure ?.I bought a metal drill found it hard going friend of mine engineer will advise me tomorrow ,will give up more information on this subject .

Looking at Topes I found black Topes ,worth getting ,saves time painting and cost, keeps algae at bay ,attracts heat to sump and fish tanks helps to maintain heat .I live in the U K ,found Totes on E BAY ,probably they sell the world over ,hope information is useful to you

reference picture taken before greenhouse installation ,concerning heating G H I have a gas propane heater, plan to extend small workshop to house fish tank also heater in workshop hopefully to control water temperature against frost also safety reasons ,idea of keeping heater in greenhouse ,I plan to well insulate work shop to retain heat then pipe to greenhouse via small fan, .reason being ,if you create large volume of heat in well insulated area, retaining heat saves on gas and expense ,needs citation I know the thermostat is fixed on gas heater ,I don't know weather I can extend thermostat to greenhouse ,heat in greenhouse needs to be about 15 degrees, idea I saw on You Tube idea to export heat from workshop relying on large bank of hot air ,I don't know weather it will work or not a least I will give it a try ,any information on this subject would be useful ,I insulated the sub tank ,to retain water temperature .

reference pictures showing progress of C H O P system building sub tank next is to build grow beds.