Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Cut one, baby! You can have two fantastic growbeds from one IBC. I think that cutting away the vertical center band that has all the fittings makes the best grow beds.

Yeah I'm with Jo, should be straightforward. If you're worried google "MSDS + chemical" and you should get a good description of the contents.

Other than that if I had access to 2 IBC's and blue barrels they would both be fish tanks. You could make two separate systems to run two species at the same time. Although if you're going the Tilapia route then it doesn't matter. I would also like two separate systems as it should give you some level or redundancy. If the fish in one system get ill then the other system should be okay.

Or you can stock them at different times so that you have fish maturing more regularly than having to harvest in big batches.

Regards, Martin.

Another good friend, Shawn, gave me his old greenhouse frame 14 feet by 20 feet. That frame will sit on top of the basement walls. So I did some "quick 3D modeling". It looks like I can get 2 rows of growbeds in and have a comfortable center alley. I'll have to elevate the system up so the beds are closer to the "greenhouse floor". The basement is 28 feet long so I'll have to make a decision how to use the additional 8 feet of length. Then I'll have to decide how best to use the space underneath the elevated tanks and growbeds.

Hey Ron - Thanks for the suggestion. It makes good sense. I may get some more ICBs in the future.

MartinC also had a good idea with 2 tanks.

After discussing things with the CF0 we are going the 2 tank route.

Thanks joblow and MartinC for the cleaning info.

Pleasure Bob. What fish you planning in the two tanks?

Regards, Martin.

Ideally? Pie in the sky? I'd like to breed and grow out Tilapia. But that depends if I can keep the temperatures up.
I'll have to resurrect a wood burning hot water furnace.

If I can't do that in a timely manner by fall, I'll stock the tanks with pan fish that the grand kids and I will catch this summer .

The honey do list is rather long and has to take priority.

Well, I cut open the tops and washed both tanks with Dawn detergent. one tank cleaned up pretty good. It had new and clean machining oil. But the second tank was disgusting. It looked like they emptied the dregs of several machining centers. A lot of very fine metal dust and an anaerobic smell. The dust clumped together like small wads of steel wool pads. After 4 washings with Dawn it still has an odor. So now I'm thinking of dissolving swimming pool chlorine tablets and filling up the smelly tote with a high dose of that. I won't need the second tank for awhile so it could just sit for a spell.

Any ideas?

I think that will work Bob. Sometimes if something stands and airs for a while it helps but with such a closed container I don't think that will work.

Regards, Martin.

Thanks Martin, I think I will try the dissolved chlorine tablets.

This past Saturday we where up north of Grand Rapids looking at some property. on the way home we stopped at the U of Mn Experiment Station and looked at their greenhouses. Some interesting ideas I might try to incorporate. Instead of snow fence maybe use regular screen material.

More pics of their roll up systems. I like the KISS example.

A few more pics

And a nifty door latch:

I thought I would try an external stand pipe with a built in air lift assist coming right off the IBC gate valve. I'll try the Petco air pump. Can't assemble and test it for a couple of days. Family and grandkids want to celebrate the 4th of July weekend.