Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok, so been reading a while and finally have some spare time to have a go at aquaponics.

Found a few bits and pieces. 2000 lt fibreglass tank. and a couple of rainwater tanks.

So the adventure begins

Hi Brian. Looks like all the makings of an AP adventure

The circular tank is a good size and should do well as your FT.
Green raintank probably has the makings of a good sump.

Initially may be good to keep the grey tank spare for top-up water etc.

just need growbeds.

Yep, green tank for sump.
Thinking about cutting the grey tank in half for two long grow beds, basically big barrelponics style. Need to think about it though.

Paramount Brown have a good supply of blue barrels, Id still clean them first, they also had some others from Coca Cola factory, most likely suryp so would also need good wash.

Paramount Brown website says they are out of stock. And $35? I thought they were cheaper last time I bought one?

And I am not sure that is what I want to use. Seems a lot of effort and fittings to use them to get a reasonable size grow bed size?

personally I'd be going the IBC and cutting in half, but dont know where your'd get them in Adelaide, over here... I have about 2000 to choose from and then buy. AHH Pt Lincoln fishing capital of Australia

So the tank I am going to use for the fish has two outlets.

Thinking use the bigger one, which is right at the bottom of the tank wall for the slo.

The other which is on the opposite side of the tank, which I am going to replace for something not so rusty. Blank it? Use it for pumping water in from the sump tank and fit a distribution bar to swirl the water?

Any suggestions?

Bit of progress, a couple of sleepers in and some excavation to get the 100-150mm road base in.

Hi Brian.
You've got some great bits and pieces to start with there. Agree with using ibc's as growbeds as opposed to blue barrels, with a big fishtank you need plenty of media to be able to utilize it. I cut mine horizontally to have deeper growbeds.
Something to consider with the SLO. I have two fishtanks, one the SLO exits at the top and the other one the SLO exits from the bottom of the tank. During summer the SLO's get clogged from time to time with stringy algae, during winter they sometimes get clogged with blobs of slimy goo, bits and pieces of dead fish, leaves etc etc. Anyway to get to the point, its a hell of a lot easier to detach and clean an SLO from the top of a tank than from the bottom, especially in the middle of winter. Just one of those things that I didn't know that I didn't know until I had my head under water in June.

Thanks rendang. I hadn't considered the possibility of needing to clean the slo.

Something else to ponder. I will add it to the list of things to consider before I put water in!

Bit more progress. Last two sleepers in and rough excavation complete.

If the weather is OK tomorrow, will be off to see about some dolomite sand.

Holy Toledo batman, been in Adelaide today and Paramount Brown want $375 for their IBC's told them theyre dreaming

Brand new ones? Steep!

There is a bloke on gumtree selling second hand ones, but look basically brand new. I think $120. Out in the Barrosa some where. Nurioopta or Angaston.

So, a bit of delay in progress. Some medical issues for my parents and all the associated problems and adjustments that have flowed from that.

But now all settled down and back into construction.

The way I am going this might be a long term project!

Yep, that's pretty normal Brian, they usually are...