Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have made more progress this weekend. First I set up a manifold for my pump. I made the manifold removable so I could still climb into my sump if need be. Getting 1 1/2" hose onto 1 1/4" PVC is challenging, but with the grinder, I managed to shape it in such a way as to make it fit. I can adjust how much water flows into the fish tank by adjusting the ball valve on the return line. Today I picked up the IBC for the fish tank, and cut it to shape. I hit the cut edges on the frame with some instant galvanize. I also made sure to hit any spots made newly shiny by the grinder. The liner was harder to cut than I imagined it would be. I can see how some people have issues with the grinder getting away from them. I held on for dear life. Luckily, it came out pretty even. I set the pieces temporarily into their homes. I need to build the supports still, and the plumbing after that. I used the top bars from the cage to hold the grow bed piece in the cage. It might not be necessary, but I figured if there was a strong wind or something, the liner would stay put. I am also trying to figure out how big to make the space for the opening to the fish tank. Any suggestions?

As large as can be made without making the GB unstable (consider any kiddies climbing up to see inside the GB or FT), or add some bracing to the rear of the GB allowing it to pushed farther back and make the GB more stable (how strong is that fence?) You could put the GB on wheels ala Ian's system in the IBC of AP?

I'd also be adding some wood or some sort of plinth under the "spikes" of the FT frame as they will sink into the soil when the GB is full ==> unstable. You might get away simply placing a few bricks at back edge of the FT at the same level as the paving at the front?

Do you have easy access all the way around the GB? In the photo, it looks like the GB is jammed into the corner between the fence and the house which will make it hard to get to the plants in the rear corner of the GB without a stepladder!


Scott

Thank you Bunson. I have a stepladder. Space is limited. Also I plan using a raft there, so if it gets really bad, I will pull it up to get to the cabbage heads I will be growing there. I am going to set up more of a foundation under the fish tank. Right now it is UNEVEN below it. I have a lot of bricks that I can use, and I plan on picking up a bag or two of sand from the Orange Box store to level things out. It is funny, I payed good money to throw away dirt, now I buy it. Although, I buy a very different kind of dirt than I threw away.

Next time cutting the liner, use a jig saw. Heaps easier.

There seems to be two camps on bladder cutting. I enjoyed using the grinder, and perhaps embellished a tad on the difficulty for the sake of story telling. The two elements that stopped me from using the jigsaw were where to start, you just push the grinder in, and the liner getting all floppy preventing the saw from working. Plus the point of a jigsaw is to make curvy wavy cuts, the grinder cut quite strait, you just have to hold on!

Circular saw also works well. probably better than jig saw.

I used a sawzall (reciprocating saw) to cut my IBC tanks. It FLIES through the plastic a little too fast to control. Of course, I think I was in a hurry to get done what I could while both kids were napping.
The plan looks great, Ron. Very clean looking.

I think that the grinder was duller from just cutting the metal cage too. Perhaps I was expecting the cutting of the cage to be more difficult, and the cutting of the liner to be less so. Anyways the cutting of both with the grinder was easier than pulling out the jigsaw

I have gotten a bit done since my last post. The foundation for the fish tank was set. The fish tank is a tad further away from the fence than it was in the picture so the opening to the fish tank will be bigger. I have plumbed the outlet. All of the affnan siphons work as needed. I made the gravel guards out of corrugated drain pipe. I found that they too need crenelians so the water flows fast enough for the siphon to break cleanly. Tomorrow morning I will pick up The Beast to get a cubic yard of red lava rock.

Looking good Ron. Certainly the more access to the FT you have the easier life will be. Especially at harvest time

My beds are along a fence and it is a constant pain in the bum as I have to stand on a bucket to reach the back.

My plan to tackle this prob is to build a step along the length of the GB's. But I cant set this up till the rest is built.

Food for thought anyway.

My beds are mostly knee high. The only high one is the raft bed on top of the fish tank. My wife is 5'1" where as I am 6', that = a lot of stepladders in the household (what do you mean by "You put that up too high.") a step by the fish tank may be a blessing or a curse. My 3 yr old is curious about the fish tank, I just don't want her to be *too* curious. I am going to put a cover of some sort over the opening, but I have seen my daughter break out of a crib by destroying it. She must have gotten tired of climbing over like regular tots. ( slight embellishment, she did destroy the crib, but by that time we removed the rails so she could get in and out when she wanted.)

Washed a cubic yard of burgundy cinder (red scoria to the Aussies) yesterday. I don't know what everyone complains about. It was nothing.

Burgundy Cinder - It's those marketing guys again - it's still Red Scoria here in Oregon

I just called it red lava rock, they gave me burgundy cinder. It was cheap and it works. Though like most I did not get a full cubic yard. A cubic yard would fill 3.6 55 gal drums. I got just over 3, with the gravel guards and some trees in:(