Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi yall -

Just starting to design my environment and have a line on two 330gal IBC containers (think you know the dimensions) for the fish/sump tanks. My issue is a 32" gate to my back yard with a 6 foot wood fence with steel fence posts set in concrete.

I'm thinking of building a 'H' wood framework about 16 feet long (2 - 2"x3"x8') with the middle H rails (2) that will stradle each side of the fence and then add rails at each end of the 'H' to make it a square 8 configuration (hope that makes sense). Have a come-a-long that would pull the ibc to the top of the fence, tie off the ibc at the bottom side with rope, flip the 'H' framework to the other side of the fence and then lower the ibc to my back yard.

Would appreciate any suggestions and alternatives.

#1 take the bladder out of the IBC frame. If need to you could break the frame down off of the pallet.
#2 if going to cut the IBC cut them out the front.

if single storey house you can walk the bladder over your roof no problems, and avoid making the frame.

#3 use a ladder slide - basically slide the IBC and or frame up an inclined ladder.

option (if you know them and more feasible than your own) could be to come in from neighbours yard.

Hire a forklift truck or a little crane

If you plan on keeping them whole. The ladder slide also sounds like a winner to me - you could hook a rope to the IBC and lower it down the ladder slide. IBC's aren't that heavy when they are empty, just awkward . If all else fails get some friends or neighbors to lend a hand.

works real good for getting casualties in stretchers off a roof and gear onto/off a roof/balcony.
If need be can use 2 ladders side by side to cover bit more weight / size.

the ladder also works across/over a roof or a gap provided load is relatively light / 1 human.
(assumes a 150kg or 300 pound extendable ladder)

being a member of volunteer emergency services give me/us lots of practice at these

4 people should have no trouble lifting and passing an IBC over a 6' fence, and even less trouble if you pull it apart.

2 reasonably strong people should be able to walk through a gate holding it above the fence height.

I can lift them on my own pretty easily, they're just bulky not heavy.

What's the gap between the rails on your fence? Can you just pull a few feet of planks off and pass the IBC between the rails?

Simplest thing to do is cook a BBQ and invite a few strong friends around

Thats the Aussie way supply food & beer

Two people could easily tip the bladder and frame separately over the fence, no need to build anything.

Pete.

not sure if he is talking just the gate or the actual side access of the house...

broken down to bladder and cage it would be OK - clumsy all intact.

we need the video now.....

yall are pretty awesome and thanks for all the suggestions!

The ladder slide is basically what I was trying to do with the wood 'H' framework and I do have one of those extension ladders. That would work. Was trying to build a teeter-totter type device to pull up one side, over the fence and down the other side.

I didn't think about taking the bladder out of frame. Is that easy? (sorry newbie here)

I am over 6 feet, but my friends are... well ... vertically challenged (sorry if that offends anyone)

dlf_perth - I'll try to provide video

>> I didn't think about taking the bladder out of frame. Is that easy? (sorry newbie here)

yes very easy. On most IBC just unscrew the top bars and flip it onto side and it will come out easily.
the IBCof Aquaponics video (link at top right of page) shows this.

some IBC's use star heads rather than hexagon or screw heads but attachments are easy to find in most drill head sets.

else if you don't need the top bars (most setups dont) then an angle grinder will always do it.

makes handling the cage much easier and the bladder is very light (just clumsy).

brought the IBC totes home today and it was very easy to remove the bladders as I already had a star wrench to fit the screws for the crossbars. Thanks dlf_perth. The bladders were light enough, although bulky, that I could get them over the fence without much issue, but the cages were a different story. Couldn't quite lift them high enough (senior citizen and not real strong here), so i'm thinking I should remove the Aluminum pallet from the top cage. same Star screws as the crossbars and that would break it down to manageable bits.

Had a question on the contents of the ibc bladder. The company said they were food grade, but the label said Sulfochem ALS-K Surfactant. They insisted it was food grade, but I am not convinced and they agreed to replace the bladder if I could provide evidence to the contrary. Anyone have any experience with that product?

It had shampoo in it. Should wash out easily enough, depending on how much redidue there might be a bit of foam in your yard.

Wouldn't worry me too much.

An IBC can be "food grade" but then used for things that aren't "food grade"

I've got one at work that originally had olive oil in it but now has used motor oil in it. The IBC is food grade, but you'd be nuts to use it for food again.

Thanks SeanD -

I will be filling them with clean water, let them sit a couple days, empty and then start.