Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Finally picked up my IBC's yesterday to start my new system. $200 for the 4. Will prob only use 2 to start with, 1 for a fish tank, one for grow beds and 2 to expand (2nd FT and more GB's)
I also got to see a working system for the first time which was great. Thanks Journeyman for the invite.

another pic

I am placing the beds against the brick shed wall and was going to bolt beds directly to wall. I was also going to place a support board horizontal against shed wall for GB or supports to rest on.

As far as sumps I was thinking 2 x 200L drums similar to your setup piped together.

From watching movies, I notice that many people read the bible, when behind bars.


First thing you need to do is to remove the excess dirt that is against the building. The level of the dirt needs to be 10 mm min. lower than the top of the concrete foundations.
Needs to also be sloping away from wall. Both these issues are very important.


You will need bracing across the front legs. It would pay to use bracing, front to back, on each ends (not sure how strong your wall is). 20 mm min. tube/pipe is enough. Needs to be secured where they cross. Just screw the side ones with self tappers, for easy removal for servicing sumps. I have a photo of the bracing I have used, on the front legs, on my post.

There needs to be a space between the brick wall and the growbed - 25 mm min.

You could dynabolt a plate against the wall, horizontally. May be better to fit three vertical plates, bottom resting on concrete foundation. One at each end and one supporting the middle. I used metal tubing. Be careful about getting a good purchase into the brick. You don't want the dynabolt to end up in a cavity. The grow beds will weigh approx 650 kg each.

If your dirt is easy to dig or you have something that will dig, sinking a full ibc in the ground gives you a crazy good sump, believe me. I did it here at Horsham in out grey clay crap and it nearly killed me but I am glad now that I did. Took a few weeks
This allows for a big pump and really good flow through the whole system

Is this to put the sumps in place or am i missing something?




This is sort of what I was trying to explain.

Horizontal boards (brace and on wall) prob 6x2" redgum. Not sure what they are called but I normally use "Brick bolts" instead of dynabolts. Posts 1.5' in ground so dont think they will move once rammed home.

I was more concerned with the welds on ibc coming apart from weight if only supported on front and back. Thats why i was thinking tank like slats for extra support as per pic.


What is the reason for this?




Unfortunately i have limited space to do this and only place I could prob dig is along side shed but there is a covenent that runs down side for pipes underground.

Plan is to get this system running in space I have and hopefully get wife on board so I can get permission to remove some of the "cottage gardened" area which I see as wasted space.

This has nothing to do with your AP. I just noticed, from your photo, that there is excess soil against the wall. In time, it will do damage.
Here is some info. Read 'site drainage' -
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/docs/maintenance2-1_risingdamp.pdf



Extra support is always good, if done properly.
Its better to place the posts on wide concrete pavers, instead of burying them. You need a wide 'pad' to stop them sinking down. Also, if they are in the ground, they will end up roting.


You need an air space to allow the bricks to 'breathe'. If not, a condition called 'falling damp' will develop. This can damage the masonry and the interior wall lining.

Paint the IBC tanks before you put the system together. You might already know this, but I forgot while in a rush and now am fighting to do it with the tanks back in the cages, because algae is growing all inside the translucent tanks walls. Ugh.

So went to PU my IBC's from Cranky's contact in Shepparton - all good. Got 4 (only 2 for me and 2 for mate) that are VERY clean, I'd think brand new from condition. No smell in them, not even milk products.

I asked Gerry (the supplier) how many he had and he asked, "How many do you want?" Apparently he has a good supply of them.

I think they are bigger than normal - my understanding is the avg IBC is 1000 litre? These have a 1200kg Net on the side and a max transport of 1650kg. If I recall my High School physics, 1200kg means 1200 litres? They are (approx) 95cm x 113 x 100 high which suggests around 1100l so I am confuzzled.

The width fits exactly into a 6x4 trailer - I mean exactly, like with about a mm spare on either side. @ of them are about 15cm longer than the 6ft length of the trailer so you need to drop the front or back of your trailer.

Good value though - $50 and clean as a whistle. Ask Cranky or me for contact details...

Finally got my system up and running so thought I would post a few pics.
Been cycling it for about 2-3 months and had some goldfish in there for about 1-2 months.
Ammonia has been off the chart (think I overdosed with Charlie carp during cycling)
This was followed by off the chart ammonia and also nitrites.
Ammonia and Nitrites are now zero and Nitrates sitting around 40-80.

Have also now added second grow Bed and added a full IBC as the fish tank.

Wishing I had have spent a bit more on piping and went bigger with it. This will probably be updated next.

pics one month later

PH 6.8, Ammonia:0, Nitrites:0, Nitrates:40

Growth seams to be going ok however I seam to have some plants with yellow spots leaves. Do I need to add something extra to system?

seams to be apple cucumbers, squash and a lettuce.

is this what iron deficiency looks like?
few more close up pics

spots pic

spots seam to not be appearing on new growth.

I have had a bit of trouble getting corn to grow from seed. Do you normally germinate corn outside of aquaponic setup or in it?

I had some swede in but the biggest ones went to flower and not much root on them. Also 3 main cos lettuces died off as well. Not sure it they just ran their course or something else effected them.
Trying to work out what to put in the few spaces I have free now.

Also looking at upgrading and adding another 2 grow beds but due to going so small with my piping to start with not sure whether I should try just to add to it or upgrade all pipes as would like to have 6 extra grow beds eventually and probably another IBC fish tank linked in. (Wife is impressed so far and has given approval to use a bit more of limited space we have to expand system )

Posting a few more pics of growth