Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello! I am sorry for my ignorance in some of the questions that I have. I did my best to scour the forum and scrape together info., but cant seem to consolidate into a "what would be best for me," statement. (Please note that this is my first system, but I have been researching for 8 months now...haha)

I am building an AP system in a greenhouse using a large Hot Tub that is slightly elevated as a FT. The ST is going to be a hole that I will dig in the ground on the opposite end of the system. In the middle, I want to build a long growbed that is 12' x 3' x 14". Eventually, I will build another of the same size when I want to expand to a 2:1 GB:FT ratio. So.........

After all of the reading I have done I cant decide how to build the GB. I live on a farm and there is not much money available, but we do have a lot of materials that can be reused. Is a properly built/stabilized WOODEN growbed okay?? I think that would be easiest for me to build. ALSO, should I line it with a POND LINER, or should I cover it with something like STUCCO and a WATERPROOF SEALER instead? I would greatly appreciate the time of anyone who would be willing to talk it through with me!!!

**In hindsight this post probably should have gone into the 'general system discussion' section....sorry....but I will be posting pictures and more info as the system progresses!

You can take a look at the thread about howling moose gardens (use forum search). This commercial system built a very long DWC channel out of an inexpensive wooden frame and pond liner. A similar process could be used for a growbed provided you put some type of backing board along the inside of the frame before placing the liner.

They are a number of members with wooden growbeds lined with pond liner. So I would be inclined to go that route. Check out DecalsbyJT's thread for some good examples.

If you are leaning more towards stucco/fero concert though, I'm not sure if you should build this around a wooden frame, though I think Stucco has done it before (yes, this is members name), check out his thread. He might not frequent the forum as much as he used to, so I would leave any questions for him there, pointing him back to this thread.

Sorry, I don't have experience building the type of growbed you've discussed, but hopefully I can't point you to the right threads.

Thanks for your help, DrLuke. I will keep updates on how the construction is going!