Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

well after my usual search through the local classifieds i can across an add for 3 $15 fibreglass bathtubs. i had been looking out for cheap tubs for fish, for a number of months. i rang up and explained what i needed them for to make sure they werent used for chemicals ect. we got talking and it turned out that we shared an interest in fish and thats what they were used for. they wanted to know if i wanted more so i jumped at it and asked for 10. i figured i could use some for growbeds.

so i turn up at this guys house to pick up the tubs. we get talking and he mentions to me that he is also selling these ponds for a dirt cheap price. i didn't hesitate to take all 20 of them.

so i now have 10 bathtubs and 20 ponds in my backyard. the question is what to do with them. i only wanted them for marron farming but due to the size of them i'm now considering my options. i am thinking i can keep large adult marron in the same ponds as perhaps some silver perch or similar.

the next thing i need is suitable growbeds. any suggestions? i have considered using half of the ponds as growbeds but they may be best used for the fish due to the depth.

im just looking for some thoughts and suggestions on what to do with the 20 ponds. the size is roughly 1 cubed metre. space should not be a problem as im willing to convert the whole back yard. i have many ideas but would like to hear others.

all replies are much appriciated.

thanks

You can shipp half of them to ME! LOL

Man you got yourself 20 thousand litres of ponds.

You could use the three bath tubs as grow beds to start with.

If you find the ponds are too many you could cut off half and use the bottom half as grow beds.

What were their previous life?

Man you scored BIG.



you are a man after my own logic lol That quote is so what i would have done

Congrats

Freakin hell - what a score. They look like fibreglass. A new coat of flowcoat (or is it gelcoat Muzza) will probably make them like new again. Jealous man .

OMG, you have scored! I'm seeing a tidal system, linked through highways between the tanks, hire a bobcat, spend a few hundred bucks and get them half under ground- as for growbeds- sounds like it would be worth keeping on looking in the same place you found those! What about using the bath tubs as growbeds?

Best of luck!

oh lordy,lordy, lordy.
Just a quick thought, could you partfill some and line the top part to use as grow beds.
Leaving the water level in the others below the partfill height to create fall.
But then you need a heap of pumps because by the time the flood water got to the last one it would be clean as a whistle(even before).
Nup got to leave that one for the x-spurts.But I'll keep thinking.

Damn you've got it bad C1......

you could join all of the tanks by using a syphon type arrangement, still a fair amount of thought required though to make it into something good without lots of pumps of bubblers........ Ummmmmm

PM me with details if you want to off load a couple.

Regards the bathtubs... I could use a deep cast iron one!

BF has just become the most popular member LOL

I bet you were driving back in hysterics, not believeing what you had just scored

Joel makes a good point. It is a good score, but if you had the choice you'd go for 2 10,000 litre fish tanks rather than 20 1,000 litre tanks (just trying to make myself less jealous of the score ).

or wondering what the hell you had got yourself into!

Ooppps yes, my post was meant to say BF not C1....

Do you know what they were meant to be in their original life BF?

I think i asked that too, but then re-read the original post. did you say the bath tubs were for fish or the ponds too?

thanks for the replies guys,

damn that was quick. these forums move like a steamroler.

good things come to those who wait.

the guy i got them off said he had a lot of other interest so i couldnt help but grab them. i doubt i will need them all but didnt want to miss out on the chance to get them. i will keep you guys in mind if i need to offload a few. i never really planned to have so many at this point in time so have a lot of research and physical labour to do. for the mean time i am using them to collect rain water so i wont need to fill up with the tap later on.

one things for sure i'll be buisy for a long time. this feels like the beginning of a magical adventure (and a few broken backs). oh the possibilities. i love life.

following a fish instead of a rabbit, to aquaponics land. I'll be the mad hatter

they were originally used to hold palm trees for new houses 20 odd years ago. very expencive plant pots. the guy i got them off is a builder by trade so he picked them up when used cheap. they had holes in them but he did a great job of refiberglassing them over. i am going to need to restore them as the surface is splintering.

any thoughts on how to do this anyone? i was thinking of sandpapering then painting with some type of coating. not sure the best way to approach this so could do with some advice. last thing i want is the coating leeching into the water or poisoning the fish.