Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm completely new at this, and am just starting to get my materials together for a system.

My plan is to have a simple system that is as low cost to set up as possible. I have picked up two IBCs for $80 the pair, and am looking at scoria as the grow bed medium. The reason for going with scoria is because I can get it free from people re-doing their gardens. I'm tossing up whether I should use bath tubs for the grow beds, or chop the IBCs. Once again, I'd be looking to pick up the baths free. See a theme developing? Yep - for this to work as a hobby for me it has to be cheap to set up. I'll even be trying to find second hand piping if possible!

What I especially need help with is deciding on a basic design. Are there any intrinsic advantages in going with a chopped IBC top as a grow bed with the remainder as the fish tank versus using a bath tub as a grow bed and the IBC as a fish tank?

Appreciate all assistance!

..
Top right hand corner of the home page "IBC of Aquaponics"
Start there..
But two IBCs should likely go as one fish tank and two grow beds and keep an eye open for another drum or??? To use as a sump..
..

Simplest set up would be using one IBC as a fish tank and making two growbeds from the other IBC. Place the fish tank under the growbeds and pump from fish tank to growbeds and let gravity drain back to tank. No need for sump.

But as Buidoi has already mentioned check out the IBC of Aquaponics.

Thanks to both of you. I can't believe I had forgotten about The IBC of Aquaponics! I had downloaded it a few months ago and looked through it, but hadn't had the opportunity of moving further. I've now given it another read and it is an excellent resource.

I'm now tossing up weather I should keep things ultra simple and small, and trial a single IBC system with the top cut off as the grow bed and the lower section as the fish tank, or whether I should be a little bolder...

The suggestion of one as a fish tank and the other cut into two grow beds does make a lot of sense, too.

Plenty of time to mull, as there's little time to do anything until the New Year in any case!

Hi Slorider

these threads deal with that exact question.... (and some good examples and discussion)

Two IBC's what Now? viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24235

and one to aspire to.... viewtopic.php?f=18&t=13291
(with good pictures of it being set up)



On IBC Aquaponics need to watch the video or download the PDF (both are via the link BuiDoi points to)

For a newbie with 2 IBC's the choices are basically:

2x IBC Aquaponics - simple and relatively safe to learn with but needs 2 pumps.

or a CHIFT PIST with basically Fish tank, sump tank and 2x grow beds.

or (as per the suggestion above) one full size fish tank and the other cut into two grow beds.

or something else , but above are most common and all can be expanded after a while into a more complex system.

[edit] you can find acronyms here.... http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/information/ under glossary.

Check the Scoria hasn't been sprayed with RESIDUAL chemical (paths are often sprayed for weeds) really I cant stress this enough recycling is great but you could find yourself chasing your tail.

Position your system to make use of light particularly through our winter period

Allow room for expansion cos it will happen

House demolitions will get you cheap PVC

Have fun with your new hobby

Darren, thanks for those links - I'm about to have a read through them! I'm doing an awful lot of reading at the moment (and going to sleep in the evenings with some very strange aquaponic dreams... need to vary my evening activity a little, I think!).

Terra, thanks for the tip about the residual spray on the scoria - hadn't given that risk a thought. That would be incredibly frustrating. I'll need to be careful about where I source it.

I'm looking to position the system on the north side of our house, so it will get plenty of light throughout the year. The biggest issue will be shading the fish tank, though I'm thinking about whether I may be able to tuck it under our deck which has plenty of height clearance - eight feet or so. My wife and I were joking that we could cut a hatch in the deck for fishing.

Thanks also for the tip on the PVC source - I was wondering how I could get that cheaply as I could see that eating a fair amount of cash. I saw a section of rural irrigation piping on gumtree for free (unused), but decided that the driving distance, plus the possible difficulty in getting fittings for my purposes meant I might end up spending a lot of money for some free pipe!

Thanks everyone for the advice! Much appreciated!

ha ha - thats been done too.... though it is a bit permanent, and has some significant access issues unless you live in a Queenslander./pole house... viewtopic.php?f=18&t=22930

you could simply use a small colorbond or shadecloth structure, though many simply rely on cladding and the growbeds to shade.

Ive sourced all my pipe (20, 25, 50, 90, 150) from the new houses being built in my estate. Just ask the tradies and they will let you dive through there skip bins not graceful and glorious but cheap as a walk along the beach.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Every time I'm driving around now I'm looking for a house that's being either knocked down or built! No finds yet, but with the busy-ness at work until after Christmas, that doesn't really matter.

Where abouts do you call home mate?

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

I'm in Adelaide, up near Blackwood to be specific.

Damn bit far for me to bring materiala from the south west of WA.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

I don't know - sounds like a lack of commitment really!

(Kidding!)

Yep, I've done the drive across the top of the Bight - it is a bit of a way.

Hows things going mate? Had any progress at all with your conundrum?