Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi there folks.

I have finally gotten myself a decently large plot, and have set off down the path of growing fish and veggies.

Gonna be lurking for a bit, absorbing the knowledge, but hoping to be here for the long haul.

It's getting well into winter here on the West Coast of Scotland now, down below freezing most nights, so plans for now are mostly around getting the system cycling and running before spring comes.

And just for double the fun/challenge, I'm building inside a polytunnel that's getting constructed in a few weekends.

First thing for me - I am struggling to find decently large fish tanks and media trays - I was planning for 2.4m x 1.2m trays and see plenty pictured, just not for sale! but struggling to find anything larger than 1m x 0.45m

I would be really grateful for some pointers to a supplier servicing the UK.

Cheers!

Welcome to the forum Theo

Hi and welcome.


Cut down IBC totes would give you either 2.4m x 0.9m or 1.8m x 1.2m. One presumes they would be fairly common in most places in the UK - try for example most Scandanavian brands of truck that use Urea for exhaust gas suppression. Larger compnaies often purchase by the tote and it is urea based so OK for AP. IBC totes are widely used around here (eg. the IBC of Aquaponics at top right is based upon these). 1 tote cut vertically will give you two 1.2m x 0.9m trays with flat bottoms.

In cold weather you may be better off cycling using a standard fish tank which would be easier to keep heated over winter. That would give you a volume of cycled water at the beginning of the growing season.

Thanks Darren

I used to live in Perth, WA - was out there for a few years working a contract.

I hadn't come across larger IBCs... that's a start, right away

Ian.

Hi Theo
Welcome. E bay would be my first place to look. New/second hand Koi tanks etc. I use, Multi Tubs for grow beds. various sizes up to 1 M
For bigger grow beds consider constructing them and using liners. See Column thread for help in construction. IMHO he sets the standard to aim for.
Three words, “Round fish tanks”
Bite the bullet and get it right from the start.

Hi Welcome TheoJones, friendly bunch on here and full of idea's and advice. I too am planning to start in my Polly but a few problems because it is very hot here in the summer and very cold in the winter so will need either a cooling method or go fro fish that need heat, but that means constant expense. So you being up the top would have problems with weather, if you sorted it out let me know.