DIY System Ideas

[Adam Shivers]

 I challenge all of you to come with your best foot forward towards our purpose.  I see so many nice systems out there and yet they are so very expensive. Lets make it possible to come up with a fully functional system that can be put together from the hardware store common Items and or recycled items. Don't let my Ideas limit the discussion. I just love unconventional solutions to problems when they work just as well as the expensive alternative! If anyone knows about other "already cooked up" ideas such as: list of common items and fully comprehensive instructions... list these as well. The side benifit to this is that new people (such as I) will learn more about why things are put together the way they are (ratios, shapes, etc.) Really I think it is the spirit of what we all do here. Right? Bring it on!

[TCLynx]

Comprehensive instructions for an inexpensive starter system from readily available materials.

The Barrel-Ponics Manual by Travis W. Hughey

 

Ratios and system design numbers.  There is the rules of thumb on this site

or for another re-iteration of mostly the same info

 

Now there are kit systems out there that cost a fair bit.  This is largely because it costs quite a bit to have grow beds molded.  So before you dismiss them as being too $$$ do a bit of math to make sure you are not creating a false economy by trying not to pay a lot for something up front.  Plastic bins can work but many of them will bulge and deform possibly to the point of failure.  Some may also tend to become brittle and crack with exposure to UV light.

 

I did lumber and liner grow beds to begin with because I could make them the size I wanted and avoid spending a bit extra on plumbing and stands compared to using blue barrels cut the long way.  (I had totally dismissed the rubbermaid stock tanks because I was fixed on the idea of grow beds needing to be 12 inches deep and a 50 gallon stock tank costs almost $70 and I would still need to build a stand.)  Now days I know that the 100 gallon stock tanks cost only a few $ more than the 50 gallon ones and I avoid needing to build a stand cause they can just sit on one layer of concrete blocks and be at a comfortable working height.  The extra depth is actually a benefit in filtration and solids handling capacity rather than a drawback.

 

Not all kit systems are created equal though.  Do plenty of reading here and elsewhere to get an idea of good filtration ratios before buying some system that claims to work but only has 50 gallon of media bed to support 200 gallons of fish tank.  A simple system design should have as much media bed volume as fish tank volume.  A design for heavy fish load with be a bit more complex but should have more like twice as much grow bed volume as fish tank volume.

[Adam Shivers]

Cool thanks! Yes I've seen your videos I am definately thinking of some of those methods for if I go big (when) Mine will have to be greenhouse around here though. so thats more improvisation ideas welcome!
TCLynx said:

Comprehensive instructions for an inexpensive starter system from readily available materials.

The Barrel-Ponics Manual by Travis W. Hughey

 

Ratios and system design numbers.  There is the rules of thumb on this site

or for another re-iteration of mostly the same info

 

Now there are kit systems out there that cost a fair bit.  This is largely because it costs quite a bit to have grow beds molded.  So before you dismiss them as being too $$$ do a bit of math to make sure you are not creating a false economy by trying not to pay a lot for something up front.  Plastic bins can work but many of them will bulge and deform possibly to the point of failure.  Some may also tend to become brittle and crack with exposure to UV light.

 

I did lumber and liner grow beds to begin with because I could make them the size I wanted and avoid spending a bit extra on plumbing and stands compared to using blue barrels cut the long way.  (I had totally dismissed the rubbermaid stock tanks because I was fixed on the idea of grow beds needing to be 12 inches deep and a 50 gallon stock tank costs almost $70 and I would still need to build a stand.)  Now days I know that the 100 gallon stock tanks cost only a few $ more than the 50 gallon ones and I avoid needing to build a stand cause they can just sit on one layer of concrete blocks and be at a comfortable working height.  The extra depth is actually a benefit in filtration and solids handling capacity rather than a drawback.

 

Not all kit systems are created equal though.  Do plenty of reading here and elsewhere to get an idea of good filtration ratios before buying some system that claims to work but only has 50 gallon of media bed to support 200 gallons of fish tank.  A simple system design should have as much media bed volume as fish tank volume.  A design for heavy fish load with be a bit more complex but should have more like twice as much grow bed volume as fish tank volume.