Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

GG, I just looked at your profile...engineering, automation...maybe we could get together?? (geography notwithstanding)

Got a pic but no details, he vent hiking over the long weekend (Melb. Cup)
when we saw our daughter.

What are they worth Steve S? Are they made by Reln?

Thanks Steve, ag troughs are not cheap, but are made with the understanding that stock will inevitably kick, chew, and stand on/in them. They are usually banged in the back of a ute, thrown out onto the ground in the field with no thought for level foundation, then filled with feed, molassas or water. Therefore they will cope very well with having several hundred kilo of gravel and water in them. And possibly, an ap nut standing on them to reach higher...(Les )

Unlike many other receptacles that have been pressed into service, troughs are plumbed as well, which makes for a simpler, more watertight and robust connection. You pays your money and you makes your choice...I will probably go for something like the trough your SIL has. Looks to be about 1.8 x 0.90, would you say?
Still waiting for a few $$ to begin, but I am using the time to design, plan, dream...sigh
Shouldn't be long now

Also, will have to check out the plastic...but that will probably be a hard one. I don't think the local ag depot would have spec sheets...

Will ring him for details, but not at this hour.

gee Steve, isn't everyone awake at this hour

No probs. Thanks

Faye stood on hers tooo (must admit, she has a better figure for it tho )

I think Steve would be suprised at when exactly I'm awake :-)

Anyhow for those of you who are interested in the trough featured in the photo posted by Steve earlier (don't know when he took that, sneaking round my yard when I'm not home!) I have the following information:



http://www.teampoly.com.au/Pages/cat/TP ... l.indd.pdf
Page 18 shows the 2 box troughs I thought would be useful.

The 340L trough retails at $350 inc GST the small one I haven't priced.
It's bigger than Snag thought, measuring 1.95x0.96x0.35 with 19mm inlet.
But only just bigger :-) nice estimation considering you didn't have much to reference the size from Snag!

Also, looking further to the font of the catalogue on page 9 is an Abalone Tray



The Abalone tray retails at $450 but is bigger 2.5x1.51x0.46
I thought the box trough would be better, (hence why we bought it)

the Box trough is designed to be filled half way up (or to the ridge in the plastic, hence it's quoted 340L, it will in fact hold twice that volume if filled.

The Cons with it are, it comes with a float valve (hang on, that's a pro!) but the valve is set to only half fill the trough (this is designed to prevent stock spilling water) so (if you look at the photo Steve posted, you'll need to extend and bend the float arm, including cutting the float box,and boarding it up so the gravel can't interfere with the float.

I'll post some photos of the mods when I'm finished.

Anyhow, I'm prattling a bit, so if anybody has any questions, shoot. Also I'm working on some low end control devices to give PLC like control of pumps, switches and temp probes, but that's another post.

Hamish.
The pale horse rides again.

It helps to know how big an IBC is...

It seems that the agricultural ponds, tubs and troughs are about $1 per litre capacity. Some consideration needs to be given to longevity and serviceability. I like what I see, Hamish. Thanks for the info...don't be too hard on the FIL, he only means well...

An IBC is a 1000ltr SNAG

Yep, I'm talking linear dimensions...as I understand it, an IBC is about 100x100x100cm=1000L. I was guessing the length and width of the trough by the IBC behind it.

Hi SNAG

as per the Tilkey brochure in my hot little handthey are 1.2 x 1.2 x 1 and 70kg

Hi Beardy...you are hasty folk, I must say. Barraghmmm! (Clears throat, looks down long twiggy nose at little hobbits...) Hoom, Ha, I think (only think, mind) that that is including the cage...but it wasn't a bad guesstimation anyway.
BTW, I read LOTR in two days when I was 13. Couldn't stop, was transported to another world. Try to read it again each year...best fiction ever written.