A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Grow Beds

Originally I was planning to use a plastic goat / sheep tank housed in a metal frame for a grow bed, but with a little more research I am now leaning toward something like this polyethylene tank. The price is much higher, but overall I think it's better quality.

I'm not a plastics expert, but polyethylene appears to be a kind of plastic that leaches less in the long run versus some other types. It's used a lot for livestock watering tanks and in aquaculture.

I'm not familar with how polyethylene compares to fiberglass, but fiberglass tanks appears to be about 100% more expensive on average.

If I am calculating correctly, a 55 inch x 31 inch x 18 inch deep tank is 17 cubic feet (30,690 inches / 1,728 inches), but please don't make fun of me if my math is a little rusty.

What do you think? Am I on the right track?

I've tried to find out what the 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tanks are made from, but so far I've only been able to find "structural foam" as the description. Anyone have any idea what type of material comprises "structural foam"?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by B. Pearcy on March 8, 2011 at 7:17pm

Well, I guess I should have taken the time to calculate the volume comparison. I just saw the system CropKing.com sells for $2,695 and started looking for something comparable.

I've tried for 2 weeks to find something to take less total foot print and it seems like a one piece trough should be more attainable that it is. At this point, I guess I'm convinced that it's not.

I'll stick with the 100 gallon stock tanks and the Zip Grow aeration idea with the backup battery you suggested.

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on March 8, 2011 at 7:23pm

Should give you a wide range of growing and stability.

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on March 8, 2011 at 7:40pm

Good Point about the fiberglass and reinforcement. Seeing as you have the experience there.

Jon, would you be willing to do any ferrocement teaching? Got any projects you are planning that you might turn into a workshop? To give a chance for hands on experience or at least eye whitness experience?

Permalink Reply by B. Pearcy on March 8, 2011 at 8:04pm

Jon,

Like most anyone, I am seeking the most bang for my buck first and something that I can make look presentable second. Any kind of stock tank is not going to "look presentable" by my wife's definition, but I have convinced her that we can use a bamboo screen to help disguise it a little. It's still not "exactly" what I'm happy with, but it's a compromise. I could use the stone composite, but at $3 each I'd sink a lot of money into it fast.

With the stock tanks it seems like 4 fifty gallons offers more growing area than 2 hundred gallon tanks, but you've got the footprint problem and the need to build stands of some sort. I've flip flopped on these at least 10 times in 2 weeks. It's not surprising aquaponics presents such an obstacle for beginners. There is so much to learn and so many decisions to make and large amounts of money to spend for something turn-key. I'm definitely a turn-key person for the most part, but my wife disagrees with spending 4 times the money compared to the do-it-yourself option.

I am sure you are right about the ferrocement being best. Unfortunately, I'm not very handy with equipment to build something like that myself. If you ever host training on ferrocement, I'd likely attend.

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on March 8, 2011 at 8:38pm

Well we have plenty of ducks. One batch are about a month old now and I expect I'll be able to figure gender in a few more weeks. Then we have the new little ones and anther duck has started sitting on a nest so there will be new ducklings again in about a month.