Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

For sealing the pvc fittings to the IBC screwcap I tried using a cut up CV boot from a Corolla I no longer have. The rubber was a bit too thick though..so I cut a seal out of some thin adhesive rubber foam stuff I obtained a while back and refused to throw out. (see! told you I would need it!)


I filled the GB up with water for a test and the screw cap leaked. That sucker is hard to tighten..

Custom made IBC cap wrench.


No more leaking !

Random post:
Purple carrots ! (heirloom I think)
These came from the dirt garden, looking forward to comparing them to AP grown ones.

Didn't mean to pull the little fella out

Looking good SV

Nice tool use, I wondered how to tighten those suckers...

So your system is part IBC, part corolla...

Are the carrots dark on the inside or normal orange colour?

The F clamp will only work if the PVC fitting is there, actually a larger size clamp should work better. If I had some steel lying around I would have made a proper tool.

If it's part Corolla it will never break

The carrots are a normal carrot colour on the inside... shame really

Errrrr, what's up doc ?

Woot! Steel shop open today. So I ran out to get some 30mm box pipe and came back with 40mm box pipe. It just LOOKED better Plus it adds another 10mm for the water to fall for aeration.

It supports the GB really well, along with the builders straps i have underneath. For the recess through the center I will just put some 30-40mm timber between the RHS and the grow bed, otherwise the recess flattens out under the weight of the water and distorts the liner. This also makes the top edge of the liner distort and reduce overall water level.

Filled the GB up with water and it seems the base isn't quite level.. Dammit !! I had the ground pretty level to start with, must be just settling with the weight.
The pedanticness in me is telling me to empty all the water out and fix the ground up under the FT...
Its 15mm out of level across the GB..what do I do !?

Nearly there SV!!!!

Hi SV. Those carrots are called "Purple Dragon" they taste great dont they!!! Kids love them!

Thanks rrjl6572,
I had forgotten the name of them from the online store I got them from.
Yeah they do taste great! Looking forward to having some AP carrots soon..

So is 15mm "out of level" worth dumping my water and leveling the ground ?

Are you able to jack up the bottom of the IBC or lever it somehow and slide something under? I would try to get it level somehow mate. If you are planing on using an auto-syphon the water coming in on an angle doesnt start the syphon very well and its a pain.

I was going to start with CF since I keep hearing it works so well. But I would still like to try the siphons as well. Thanks for that, that reason is definitely worth emptying it all and leveling it properly

Yea, I just looked again and I see you havnt filled the FT yet so yep, empty it out and level up mate. Maybe you can bucket it onto your garden..

just noticed your avatar...I grew up watching monkey magic