Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi everyone,

I'm trying figure out the best way to build my first system here in brisane.

I was wanting it to be small about 1.5m by 2.5m and costing no more than $1000-$2000 dollars.

I was thinking of buying two 585lt grow beds and a 1000lt fish tank and run it flood and drain.

I thought it would be a good idea to:
Put the grow beds on top of the tank to save space and to give some shade?
Sink the tank at least partly in the ground to help get a stedy temparture?
Please comment.

Also any ideas as to what i should use as fill for the grow beds, Preferable sold localy.

Tom

What are the tank and growbeds made from Aquatom.... and what dimensions?

Obviously it would have to be strong enough to support not only the weight of the two growbeds, but also the weight of the growbed media....

I'd be suggesting hydroton (expanded clay) as the lightest most manageable media for your application....

But with 1000ltr+ of growbed, that's about 20 50ltr bags @ $30 each => $600

Unless you can get a bulk discount price.... then again I'd suspect the tank and growbeds will probably cost you in the region of $1200-$1500

Wont get much change from $2000 by the time you factor in a pump, plumbing, fish etc....

Tom- it might pay to reflect on the previously mentioned grow media posts.
though where in brissy are you?

the grow beds demanimations are : 2260mm x 1050mm x 300mm
and are made form Fiber Glass
the tank is also fiber glass

Could I use Coco Peat for my flood and drain?

I live in Indooroopilly

Mmm.. interesting, know anyone else that uses Coco peat?

How thick are the tank walls Aquatom..... not sure that they would bear the combined weight of two growbeds, plus media, plus water...

Cocopeat retains moisture very readily and hasn't proved to be applicable to flood and drain.

Those that have used it (semi)successfully have utilised "drip feed" drippers ala hydroponics where it is utilised quite extensively....

Cocopeat also has a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5.... this in tiself influences the type of plants which can be successfully grown in it..... mainly tomatoes....

And as an Aquaponics system matures and tends to drift pH toward acidicy anyway.... cocopeat would exacerbate the pH drift and require constant input of buffering agents....

When wet it would also be reasonably heavy...... probably not the best media for your application

Oh.... and if you do go that way.... check the label for two things....

Salt and any added "fertiliser"

Murray Hallam sells it so i should be proable ask him

Good points Rup!

As for the grow beds, was planing to put bricks under them to raise above the tank rather than resting them on the tank

those 585 ltr tubs of fibreglass where are they made?
or Who makes them prolly a better question?
and what resin do yo know is used the manufacture them?
I would wonder if bricks would place uneven weight distribution...
Just a thought.

If you mean the cocopeat, yeah he's probably trying to offload it.

Murray was one of the first and principle advocates of cocopeat, as was Gary in a different fashion.....

Both have subsequently abandoned the use of cocopeat I believe for the reasons outlined above....

Still.... if he doesn't want it anymore, you might be able to get a good price

Was he trying hard to steer you in that direction?

Murray Hallam makes the grow bed i think. the water tanks i don't know about.

Mmm...think my suspious scorpio kicked in early!

There's been a flurry of mention of that site on this forum recently.... (almost as though it's an attempt to lift the google ratings )

Perhaps questions related to the commercial activity of the owners of the site mentioned and their products would be better raised with them on their site....

The forum here is for discussion and advancement of aquaponics and as such everyone will be glad to answer your questions about system design etc....

But, in terms of the commercial side of products and businesses it would be better if you were to pursue those matters with the principles or perhaps on one of their "commercial" sites or sponsered forums.

I wouldn't like to advocate or speak for the owners of the business and/or their products for fear of possible litigation... and I'm sure the owners/operators of the forum itself would have a similar attitude.

There has already been one instant and threat of legal action raised... resolved I might point out.....

Some people have thinner and touchier sensitivities than others Aquatom

sorry, not quiet sure what i did

but i did not mean to be adovcating any particaler person, compoin or brand just trying to get an idea of weather the design i was thinking of would work