How would you set up these beds?

[Hank Paloci]

So I'm pretty happy with the progress of my first system -- 3 GBs and a 55 gallon tank with a few dozed tilapia fingerlings -- pic attached in next frame -- and now I'm ready to move on to something new. More importantly, the fish are outgrowing their space and I acquired several hundred gallons of tank space over the last couple of weeks.

I'm going to build a tiered constant flow system on the south side of my house. The fish tank will stay in the garage and I'll pump out to the GBs, which will drain back down and into the tank. If I'm going to grow more veg, I want to do it by sunlight where possible.

My question concerns setting up the GBs. No one ever posts pics of how they set up their beds. I have two proposed configurations, but my concern is keeping the pots in place. I have some net pots and some Solo cups I'm going to drill holes in (to see what works better).

But there's no way these pots are going to stay in place. I was thinking about putting styrofoam or even wood in between the pots running parallel the length of the beds.

Does anyone know if ordinary styrofoam (like what they pack things with) is safe for AP? How about lumber?

Also, my thought is to put rock (perlite with river stones on top) in the pots but not put anything in the length of the bed. Does anyone see a benefit with filling the beds? This seems like extra and unnecessary rock to me but I'm not sure.

If I don't get answers I guess I'll experiment. Any feedback is appreciated.

[Hank Paloci]

Here's what's going on with my first set of GBs FWIW. Cukes flowering and shooting right up the trellis ...