Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Look what was delivered to my house this morning ...

a 4500L plastic rainwater tank.

I need some advice. I'm thinking about chopping the top ~30cm off. The bottom would be used as a fishtank & the top inverted & converted to a growbed somehow.

I've no idea how to cut it, nor how to seal the hole in the top (which would become the bottom of the growbed). Would the fishtank be strong enough with the top cut off? (Would the seams split? - see last photo) What are the advantages of having a growbed that is deeper than 30cm? Disadvantages? (wash more gravel!)

If it's not appropriate for AP, I'll use it as a rainwater tank & find something else.

Thoughts?

Scott.

Good question I think you might have a point about the seams.
I guess it would help if you were to put some bands of support around the tank if you were to cut it.
sealing the lid will be a challenge only and is achievable.

Yep - before cutting, make sure you have the means to seal the manhole properly

lol i would be warey of this dude...he looks too much like john safran

so how is father bob?

Who did a similar thing? It was Big Red wasn't it??

Can't remember whether he used the top for a growbed though, but he definately used the bottom for a fish tank..

I guess it's always going to be a risk by cutting it Scottie.. Unless you got it reall cheap, and there are no other materials available for an AP system, I'd be inclined to leave it whole.

it looks like there is a second horizontal join halfway up the tank too. If you really want to use it as a fish tank, don't cut the top off completely, but cut a circle out of the centre of the lid and keep more of the sidewall strength of the tank

Speaking of which ... when will you be able to sell your 3000L tanks in Sydney? I want one!

Scott.

I would be inclined to cut around the hole in the top to make a bigger hole, but keep most of the lip for structural integrity, then just get something else for grow beds.

Hi Jaymie & b2barker,





Unfortunately it's too tall for that - ~1.9m - & I've nowhere I can bury it.

Hypothetical question: supposing I did cut out, say, a third of the top ... would that provide enought light for the fishies? How much light do fishies need?

Scott.

the lid's main ribs divide it into 4? why not cut out a 1/4 segment, that would give you a big enough opening that might be easier to seal in the future and still leave you with more than enough strength.

If you need more access maybe cut the adjacent quadrant out, would also cut in about 2 inches so you have a lip so you can fix some sort of batten/ patch if you want to seal the top up again

think of some pf the water conditions the fish live in and thats your answer to how much light day and night, thats probably the requirement