Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi spindog, you can do something year round it just depends on the amount of energy you need to heating. Some people build passive solar greenhouses which need minimal heating, some build walipinis which are like half buried greenhouses and some use heating. You will have to investigate what would work for you. Hope that helps.

Regards, Martin.

I used Florida Vault Services (Tampa) - The owner was super nice. He charged $150 for tank, delivery and installation. That was about 4 years ago. They weigh about 1,500 pounds each so once they're dropped off it's pretty hard to move them. He'll put holes anywhere you want them for drains.

T.L.

Thanks tleotta, that's a great deal. I've got a Bobcat, so moving is no issue. What size is the vault? By installation, does he dig them in?

That is my take on it as well. I'm in NC a bit south of you and I am planning a setup with the tank up top (buried 3 feet into the ground with a billboard tarp liner) and then growbeds dug 1 foot deep with 1 foot piled dirt channels and again billboard tarp liners. Making it look good is a matter of window dressing (bricks, rocks, cedar planks, whatever you like.) Perhaps I am naïve but I can't see how lined, dug trenches could fail if gravity is on your side.

I will let you know how it goes but I'm not on the fast track. I just ordered the billboard tarps and it will take awhile for me to put in growbed media.

Hi DragonStar, is there any reason you're using billboard tarp liners instead of pond liner? I haven't seen someone use this before, would like to know more.

Regards, Martin.

The two main reasons I'm using them are cost and reuse. Billboard tarps are approx 1/3 of the cost of pond liners. They are also reused, so less environmental impact. I have heavy clay soil, so the liner is just a way to get a bit more elevation above ground level. Without it I still have almost a meter of tank depth.

There is risk of PVC compounds and printing inks/sizing leaching into the water with billboard tarps, so I am lining the pond also with reused polyethylene sheeting to minimize leaching.

But, like spindog, I am new to this and just trying as I go.

Thanks DragonStar. I would be a bit concerned as I think it is better to have a food grade material. It will work but I don't know how safe it would be. It would definitely be worth getting an opinion from someone that understands the materials involved. If it is going to release dangerous chemicals into the food then it is not really a cost saving.

Use this forum to find out more, it's why most of these guys are here.

Regards, Martin.

Thank you, Martin! Yours is a very valid concern and I appreciate it. I have researched the potential toxins and the mechanisms of their volatility. It is a risk but not a great one IMO. The key risks are phthalates/BPA and lead. My beds include a 6" layer of charcoal which adsorbs both lead and phthalates. The PVC is also lined with inert polyethylene, with a layer of heavy clay between. I can't imagine a scenario in which the tank or growbed rupture badly enough to expose the PVC to the waterstream and saturate 4 cubic meters of charcoal. I'm also having the water tested for lead and phthalates after the system is set up and cycled. That said, if I am wrong I'd love to know, because I don't want to risk anyone's health.

I think TCLynx uses Durascrim, which is a PVC sheet used for billboards. Though, she uses new sheets, because used sheets can get pinhole leaks rather easy.

Thanks Dragon and Ron.

Regards, Martin.

Actually Dura-Skrim liner consists of virgin outer layers of white high-strength polyethylene film laminated together with a layer of molten polyethylene. The internal layer also includes a "scrim" reinforcement material, which is a polyester mesh/netting that adds incredible strength. The external layers contain UV inhibitors and thermal stabilizers to assure long outdoor life. It is also fish safe.

Well that is certainly better.

Yeah, I think they've been using it for hydroponics for quite some time . . .

Good to know, thanks guys.

Regards, Martin.