Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I recently was given a IBC container to use as a fish tank. I've been playing around with build ideas and would like some advice. I have two 40 gallon or so grow beds and 4 blue barrels. I would like to go with sumps under the grow beds that pump into the fish tank and overflow into the beds. I saw a post that connected blue barrels together to form a sump and would like advice regarding that idea. I have 4 blue barrels and one IBC to work with. Any input on my system would be appreciated. I would like to stock bluegill in the IBC since we cannot have tilapia in Louisiana.

Thanks!

My uniseals came in today, so I will be cleaning my drums and maybe the IBC if time permits tomorrow. A question I as thinking about is what size pipe will I need for the SLO. I have a 3" and 2" uni to use on it. I'll be using a couple 3" to connect the drums together.

Also, anyone have experience with making a lid and staining the wood? I don't want to stain and seal the lid if it will cause problems for the fish.

Put some pictures up for us, we're all visual creatures. Well I am anyway.

With the lid. Its a matter of it getting into the system. I tried to use a oil that's used on chopping boards, but it's a little useless, in the parts that are getting wet from the waterfall.

If the oil/stain can get into the system when it rains, it could lead to trouble. I due time, I'll be painting the whole lid with the same stuff I used to seal the pond. I figured that'd make it more than waterproof/safe.

With the system layout, I'd use one of the drums as a sump (I'm hoping it's big enough, check the sums first, you want it big enough to handle the flood & drain cycle), dig the IBC & sump into the ground, make the IBC overflow into the sump, then pump from the sump to the beds, and make the beds drain directly into the FT. Simple and easy, just annoying to dig in the FT & sump.

Here is a picture of the IBC fish tank that I have so far. The 55gal drums have been sealed and attached with a uni seal to attach both sumps together under the grow beds. The plan right now is to have the beds draining into the sumps and the water being pumped from the sump to fish tank then using the SLO to fill the beds. I'll put up some more pictures tomorrow when I have more done and remember to take some pictures.

Short video of how I ended up setting the system up. I apologize for filming vertically. I need to remember to turn the phone next time.

I'm trying to see if this will work as a spray bar and the return from the sump. My pump is 500 gph and pumps about 4 ft up. I'll try it out regardless and see if there is enough pressure.

What size SLO did you go with?

The SLO is 3 inch

Seems I was wrong to be worried about the pump not being big enough. I fixed up the spray bar and it was pushing more water than I needed for one growbed. I'm going to put a ball valve on the spray bar as well to regulate the flow of water. Once I get the 2nd bed up and running I'll just have to adjust the ball valves to have enough water for both grow beds. Any tips on what to watch for to adjust the flow? I'm guessing its mostly trial and error though.

How did you get pressure pipe tapa to fit 90mm (3") pipe?

tapa? I'm sorry, I don't understand what you are asking? If its about ball valve taps, I used a 'Y' that had one as 2" instead of 3"

I wouldn't valve down the pump. Add a T where the water comes out of the sump and return some of the water to the sump. Put a valve on the T returning water to the sump to regulate flow.

Ah good Idea, I should be able to make that work. I was thinking of an idea similar to that one.

Taps I meant here in Aus we have 2 types of pipe - DWV which doesn't fit pressure pipe

Ah gotcha, I'll put a picture of the taps I have