Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Part of that is also that rotten wood holds more moisture like a sponge so it can accelerate the process. In a fence that is rotting from the ground up cutting the bottom off it to remove the rotten wood will delay the need to replace it.

Moisture and oxygen are what cause rot. If you don't use a rot resistant timber then it is just a matter of time before you have a problem.

Also while we are on the subject. There is no such thing as dry rot. Dry rot is just rot that has dried out.

When I was initially planning my setup I was going to use 80-100 year old hardwood studs salvaged from a house demolition. I never ended up using it but how do you think it would go?

Probably would be fine around our area because it would most likely be messmate which will last quite a while (Durability class AG 2 (Redwood and Cypress pine are better at AG1, radiata pine is AG5))but... wood will last for a very long time in the right conditions. Inside a well maintained house is a great place for wood to last without any sign of degradation.

Putting it to use on an AP system in a GH is another matter altogether.

I think it's Redgum, we mostly have Redgum or Grey Box around here but the former seems to be used the most.

I was thinking of using it for support under the GB additions when I do them, they'd be fairly sheltered from the weather and no splashing water.

Ummm where are you again?

I'd be surprised if it was redgum but it could be.

All good points

With the pallets on their side idea I posted on page one, I forgot to mention I first dug a trench and lined it with gravel about 100mm thick to aid with drainage and termites (they like damp wood). The pallets sit on top of the gravel trench and therefore stay dry mostly.

Obviously it's not perfect and probably won't last forever but hey

Hardwood pallets would be ideal but they're harder to get as they're mostly reused or returned to CHEP

Great pickup.

Looking at the trailer load, the large sections, I'm Guessing 100x100 or 125x125 and the garden sleepers are treated, the rest looks untreated.

Personally, I would not use any of the untreated to support the GB as it will rot.

If CCA, I use it in my system as I don't believe the system sees much water running off the boards. Others choose not to use. You can give them a wash and a scrub and then a paint if you are worried about the treatment chemical running off.

If LOSP or other treatments, I am not so confident about leaching. The garden sleeper is not a structural member, but peeps have used them to support GB's before.

Hope that helps.

Great input everyone - I'm pretty certain that its all indoor timber on that trailer. structural pine, except for the posts.
Regarding hardwood pallets - look for furniture, engineering, kitchen/bathroom places that have heavy things - usually no-name hard wood pallets.

I'm getting some hardwood from the old man today, so that settles it, but I like the idea of recycled materials and will see if I can find some ways of using strapping and pallets to somehow make sturdy safe bracing.

I also have some concrete sleepers which I'll have to grind down to size - but I want to hang onto them for the school system incase it expands.

I will only need 6 pieces as there are 3 student groups making single IBC systems.

Do you have a local tip shop? We occasionally get in plastic planks (some are recycled HDPE) the bigger ones are pretty tough.

Yeah we do have a tip - Dumpster diving is another option - I'll keep an eye out for plastic beams.

You might be right, it could also be Ironbark as it grows around here also. I didn't realise it did until I asked a friend's mum earlier. Apparently the timber is closer to 150 years old too (I got it from her).

Either way it's like concrete, lol.

"Either way it's like concrete, lol."

Could be wandoo, it is bloody hard. We used to use it as a bed plat in machinery, Very hard wearing.

You could also use Timbor, which is a borate wood treatment to further protect it. I would apply it to the pallets before putting them in place to minimize any contact with FT's, GB's, etc.

I got some hardwood that I will use - We'll see how much splash there is going to be.

Seriously unlikely to be wondoo in central vic. Iron bark is more likely.

Having said that I demolished a house in Trentham where the shingle battens appeared to be purple heart. No idea how that could have got into a 125+ year old house in Trentham but the wood was purple and ridiculously hard.