Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I was looking at BYAP video on making a IBC system and I'm a little confused.
They cut the bottom section of the IBC cage to make the GB but when they did that they would have been left with the cage having 'horizontal' bars going up with no vertical bars from where they cut it.

Later you see that they have used another IBC cage to make the cage for the FT because its got the same bottom section they used for the GB.

Do I need 2 cages and 1 container?
What did others do to make the FT cage supportive enough?
What does it sit on?

Any pics of the FT cage and how it's supported would be great.
Im going to cut mine tonight and I only know I get to cut once.

Sorry for all the questions. I am using the 'search' function.

I can see from this thread that the vertical bars are left and just rest on the ground.
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=16980

You can make an IBC system with only the one IBC. I'd think the reason for using the cut-off base of the cage for the GB is paranoia - they are worried the cage might not support the weight of the media perhaps, so they want the extra strength across the unsupported middle of the GB. If you're using clay balls I would think that's not a problem - maybe with gravel... but clay is very light.

The FT in the pic you reference would not have major issues with support - the clay is light and it is required to hold the water in as it pushes sideways, not support the weight of water. Personally I'd turn it upside down anyway just to get the rim support, but that depends on how it is going to be supported.

Something to think about for the cut - any place you have vertical struts sticking up and no rim around them, you can bet your arse someone will snag on them. Try to work out a design that leaves no sharp edges around to cut people.

Hi Hanzelz

If you use a full, IBC for your FT and cut your GB out of another IBC you will have a much more upgradeable system in the future.

one of my full IBC FT"s Started out feeding 1 GB then 2 now feeds 4 IBC GB,s and it could easily feed 5 (also added a sump tank).

Try looking at back yard aquaponics website they show using 1 with a vid they r based in jandakot wa