Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Looking good Mel. Framing looks nice and sturdy


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Thanks! It is surprisingly sturdy, I leaned on it hard and gave it a couple of good shoves - it wobbled a bit lengthwise, but didn't move at all side-to-side. Which is good, since we get fairly high winds occasionally!

I'm still kind of boggled that I built something that big and substantial, 90% by myself.

you probably did it just for the pic, but just in case.....

you will need couple more lengths under your grow bed - particularly if you use scoria instead of clay balls. else [better still] add a second stack of blocks in the centre where the two grow beds meet and you wont get any wood sag at all.

if those are bits you are going to use then also consider turning on side as they are stronger then.

The sump tank is going to extend under there - I measured and put the blocks where they're going to have to be to straddle it. There's going to be a lot more wood crosspieces, and yup, either thicker pieces or multiples on their sides fastened together.

I'm planning to use scoria in the bottom 20cm with clay balls on top, same as in my teeny test system, so it's gonna get heavy!

Amazing progress and it looks fantastic too. I love the comment about the little access door too

Thanks, Brian. I'm still grinning to myself whenever I look at it!

I put up some more of the film today, including one of the roll-up openings... and now we have a high wind warning, so it's time to find out if this really is sturdy enough. Fingers crossed and wish me luck?

Mel, you could put 1 or 2 X cross braces on each side to increase the rigidity length-wise. They don't have to be huge- even fencing wire under tension would have a significant effect.

Yeah, I'm thinking of doing something along those lines up in the top arch. The bottom section where the star pickets are is nicely rigid, it's just the arch that wobbles a bit, and while it doesn't wobble enough to threaten the basic structure it can't be good for the film.

Don't know how Ive missed catching up on this thread!!

Great build Mel and co.

Very simple, cheap and easy design. (cheap in comparison to a bought hoop house of course). I love it, looks great and I can see the beginnings of a very cool system.

Where did you get the green house plastic from cause I got some the other day for a small project and it cost me a fortune and it was only 5m x 2m.

Thank you Charlie!

I got the plastic from South Pacific Hydroponics here in Canberra - it's 4m wide and $15/m. I could have got it cheaper ordering online, buuuuut nowhere else was going to hand me a roll, charge me for less than I estimated I was going to use, and tell me "Bring the leftovers back and tell us how much you used, we'll adjust the price accordingly. We trust you." (I cannot say enough nice things about that shop!)

Nice build. I have enjoyed watching your build come together.

Looking really good.

Thanks guys!

Yesterday's high wind warning was a bit of an anticlimax - we got a few hard blustery gusts and then it all literally blew over. Probably for the best, seeing as how the aerodynamics of my hoop house are more like a kite than a building right now!

Still waiting to find out whether I get my tanks today or there's been another delay...

Incredible! We're so far remote, that store personnel seem to act like they are doing us a favor just for being in hick country.
It is a far cry from the old days here when stores would occasionally put up a gone fishing sign.

That's a bummer, Brian. Somebody should tell your local store personnel that being nice to customers makes them less likely to look for other suppliers!