Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been spending hours on this site every day and absorbing everything like a sponge.

Many thanks to VLT and Milne (Fish&Food) for their advice!

Thought I'd finally post something...

I've been busy latelycutting IBCs after returning home from work. Thought I was nearly done and took a day's leave to finish the cutting and cleaning today, but hit a road block - I can't seem to be able to fully clean the IBCs! The one I started around 2pm still has a layer of oil I can't get rid of easily and my hands are sore from scrubbing! Starting to wonder if I shouldn't have paid extra to get cleaned ones...

I bought 7 uncleaned IBCs that used to contain fish oil...

The System - facts and figures
- CHIFT PIST
- Constant Flood (encouraged by the results of the BYAP trials)... trying to keep it simple
- Scoria as media, with a thin layer of Canna on top
- 2000L fish tank (2 full IBCs)
- 1650L sump resting on ground (3 interconnected half-IBCs using 90mm + uniseals)
- 2750L GB - 3 halves and 4 thirds, all resting on top of sump + besser blocks, in an extension of the triple layout as seen on Murray Hallam's Toteponics layout


Plumbing
- FT > GBs: 90mm SLO reduced to 40mm 'main line'... Tap at each GB
- GB drain to Sump: 40mm with uniseal or through IBC cap (hope that is large enough?)
- Sump interconnects: 90mm + uniseal + shroud to prevent inter-tank travel
- Sump pump > GB: 40mm + tap at each FT. Returns to be angled to splash and cause water movement similarly to swirl filter
- Sump pump: still deciding on sizing, as I initially wanted 3 full IBCs but had to downsize due to the budget. Laguna 3500/6000 vs Jebao Eco Tech 4500/6000. Jebaos are very attractive with good specs on paper, but depends on outcome of this discussion on pumps

IBC Usage
- Total of 7 IBCs
- 2 Full IBCs as FTs
- 3 IBCs cut down into
--o 3x half-IBCs as 550L+ Sumps for a total of about 1650L
--o 3x half-IBCs as 450L deep grow-beds
-2 IBCs cut down vertically, Tristrin-style
--o 4x 350L growbeds

Pictures!!

+1 for Picture

Good to meet you.. hop you got all your stuff..

Juergen..

Im designing almost the same as we speak however, Im burying 2 x IBC's and having it CF so pumped from FT up to GB where the CF returns back into the FT

Simple, efficient, less work, less cost, less plumbing, no ST required (as its CF) and redundant with 2 separate systems (aiming for Silvers and Rainbow Trout) so I will have 1 x IBC buried and 4 IBC halves (1200 litres) x 2 systems

Sounding good there Erich, but wouldnt 4 ibc halves be closer to 2000L
Got my big system all on constant flood now and so far so good on that front

there about 350 - 400 mm deep, centre bit cut out

Ok

Why not leave them as full halves though. Gives you more filtration

1 bank i will, the others are already done

how have you gone with the fish oil in the ibc's? ..... pic's yet?

Good one. Can't wait the pics!

As its CF, I question why you need such large ST capacity? A few 100 litres is plenty, it will only drop height for leaks or evap. Just saying

Less top ups, greater volume of water equals more stability.

Thread is overdue for some pics too!