Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Heck no, I'm eating them! How else am I supposed to maintain my protective padding layer in case of further sledgehammer-related bruises?

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~!!!!!

Great

You have link for this tank ?

http://gardenbeds.tankworks.com.au/

They're raised garden beds with a food-safe polymer lining, with bases added and then sealed to make them watertight. The supplier I got them through must have an excellent deal going with Tankworks, because I actually got mine slightly cheaper than if I'd ordered direct (and then I would have had to seal them myself), and they didn't charge me for delivery... which makes me MUCH less grumpy about the couple of weeks they got delayed.

Your tanks look good and the match color of your greenhouse.
How many gallons is the fish tank?

About 3,000 L / 792 gallons - it's 3m long, 1.1m wide, and just over 1m high (9'10" x 3'7" x 3.2"). I'm going to put the SLO outlet as high as I can without risking overflow. I'll end up with over 4,000 L / 1050 gal total in the system.

:-)

So cool. wonder how they attached the bases? They must have plastic welding down to a science. May we see a picture of the seam-work? Your system is taking on a professional look Mel. We salute your diligence, attention to detail and hard work. It won't be long now. Oh and thanks for the conversions for us Yanks.
Brian.

'Tisn't plastic - it looks like the base is tucked into a rolled edge on the corrugated steel, with rivets at a few strategic points, and the side seam is just overlapped and riveted. I'll take and attach a photo later. (Might be a little while... I have surgery today, minor thing but involves anaesthetic which I'm going to be sleeping off until pretty late.)

Okay, it was the other way around - the corrugated sides are tucked into a rolled edge on the base



side seam is an overlap with rivets:



and then my suppliers gooped silicone EVERYWHERE:



...well, almost everywhere. They didn't go up all the way to the top of the seam, so you can see my clear silicone at the top there. If I ever get more tanks (unlikely at this stage... but never say never, the expansion bug bites hard!) I'll probably tell them not to bother sealing them, I'll do it myself.

Tomorrow methinks I'll fill both tanks at least part way - this will let me check the seal job, and also push the tank sides out a bit before I make covers for them. If I make the covers first I run the risk of them not fitting once I fill the tanks, which would suuuuuck.

Looking good Mel. Always nice to actually start seeing some progress after the planning and waiting!

I see, the coating makes it look like plastic. I imagine they had a giant tin can sealer to do that then. Thanks for the pics. Heal well and quickly.

It was cold last night:



And also windy:



But the hoop house is fine! And once I excavated my teeny test system out from underneath the collapsed tent-greenhouse, look what I found:



That is a jalapeno pepper that is finally ripening. In the depths of winter.

I've built my SLO:


And my filters:



Got the besser blocks and timber for the left set of growbed supports, tested them out and found that it all juuuuust fits:


(Seriously, I thought I was giving myself a little wiggle room there, but if I'd built the hoop house even a centimeter shorter there would have been tears and swearing! )

And then I moved the end growbed supports and have nearly finished my sump tank cover:


Yay! Time for a cuppa and a nap, I think.