A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

kiddy pools for tanks

Hi, I've been wondering why I havent seen anyone using snap set or softside pools. I've heard a mention of PVC outgassing? Wouldn't they be fine for holding an EMBD liner if PVC is problematic? Intex has quite a variety of sizes of pools. I've seen snapsets at Stickfins with Red Claw. Thought I'd try a snapset for redclaws and a softsided 8'x 30" for koi. The softsides are three layered with a mesh infrastructure.If PVC is ok for water plumbing pipes wouldn't it would be for a tank? Would love your feedback.Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Dave Lindstedt on January 31, 2012 at 9:57pm

I have been told you need a minimum depth of 2 foot of water for tilapia. I do have a 528 gallon 18 inch x 8 ft kiddy pool unopened. Pan is to use it for fingerlings if my 6 month old tilapia start becoming romantic. How ever, experience has taught me at 3 or 4 months old these tilapia will want to and can jump the tank. So some type of cover becomes mandatory. But my feeling is kiddy pools should be limitted to temporary tankage.

Now on moving the water. I have 4 70GPH "fountain pumps" with built in sponge filters. I lower these 1/2 way into my tanks (so as not to accidently) suck the tank dry. I run them 24/7. They do a great job for about $20 (at Lowes) of keeping the tank water clear. Note that means this pump is moving over 1,600 gallons daily. If you elevate grow beds for the kiddy pool gravity can handle your return water.

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on February 1, 2012 at 7:34am

The big issue is the flexible vinyl. See drinking water pipe is rigid pipe. The plasticizers used to keep PVC flexible are what tend to be of questionable safety. However in the USA there are still flexible vinyl products that get a potable water safe stamp but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't leach anything, just the regulators here haven't decided that what it does leach isn't safe.

As to using kiddie pools for Aquaponics. Some kiddie pools obviously are safe since I've seen people use them successfully. However, other flexible vinyl pool liners have been treated with chemicals to keep algae and fungus from growing and it seems some of these will leach into the water enough to kill fish or cause strange unexplained disease outbreaks. I don't know how to tell which liners will be which unless you get something specifically made for aquaculture you may be taking a risk and you will have to decide how much the risk is worth taking. Also the pools can sometimes be prone to leaks or failure (imagine neighborhood big dog jumping onto a soft side pool in some excited exuberance.)

Permalink Reply by Constance Bone on February 1, 2012 at 8:21am

ewww! Thank you Lynx! Maybe I'll just stick to my original idea of cob/padobe/strawbale and a good fishpond liner. Dont want the weird stuff. It just takes more time. I see your input alot here. A big heartfelt thanks from a newbie! =)

TCLynx said:

The big issue is the flexible vinyl. See drinking water pipe is rigid pipe. The plasticizers used to keep PVC flexible are what tend to be of questionable safety. However in the USA there are still flexible vinyl products that get a potable water safe stamp but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't leach anything, just the regulators here haven't decided that what it does leach isn't safe.

As to using kiddie pools for Aquaponics. Some kiddie pools obviously are safe since I've seen people use them successfully. However, other flexible vinyl pool liners have been treated with chemicals to keep algae and fungus from growing and it seems some of these will leach into the water enough to kill fish or cause strange unexplained disease outbreaks. I don't know how to tell which liners will be which unless you get something specifically made for aquaculture you may be taking a risk and you will have to decide how much the risk is worth taking. Also the pools can sometimes be prone to leaks or failure (imagine neighborhood big dog jumping onto a soft side pool in some excited exuberance.)

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on February 1, 2012 at 9:35am

Very welcome. I've been addicted to aquaponics for a few years and I've read about many people's mistakes and I've made my own too. It is so often helpful to learn from others mistakes.

that said I have occasionally used cheap kiddie pools for some things and done ok (duckweed, pond plants), other things (grow beds), not so good.

Permalink Reply by Jon Parr on February 1, 2012 at 10:14am

I use wading pools, 6' and 8' diameter, 18" deep, identical to stickfin. Work great, yes tilapia do fine, yes they breed, yes redclaws, catfish, blackfish, perch all do fine. My first tilapia bred in a 20 gallon aquarium. I breed tilapia commercially, and I don't own any tanks deeper than 2', so that myth is BS. Tilapia will jump out of any tank depth, so screen or high sides is a good idea anyway.

Pros: cheap, durable enough (2 years no leaks) available local (kmart), carry one under your arm, carry 6 in a bag, bring home 100 in a Prius, easy to move, easy to store in when not in use, large surface area promotes gas exchange, sides are decorated with colorful fish

Cons: not as durable as more permanent tanks, not dog-proof, must have smooth and strong and dead level support under tank, no structural sides to attach pumps pipes or gauges.

Permalink Reply by Dave Lindstedt on February 1, 2012 at 11:52am

Having built my own wood frame 330 gallon tank, keep in mind water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon. Being a fluid this weight creates a hydrolic preasure at the bottom of your structure. My tank meassured 4ft x 4 ft and 3 ft deep. Until I used 1/2" steel banding straps every 6 inches the sides kept blowing out. Your kiddy pool has been proffesionally enginered to prevent such problems.

Constance Bone said:

ewww! Thank you Lynx! Maybe I'll just stick to my original idea of cob/padobe/strawbale and a good fishpond liner. Dont want the weird stuff. It just takes more time. I see your input alot here. A big heartfelt thanks from a newbie!

TCLynx said:

The big issue is the flexible vinyl. See drinking water pipe is rigid pipe. The plasticizers used to keep PVC flexible are what tend to be of questionable safety. However in the USA there are still flexible vinyl products that get a potable water safe stamp but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't leach anything, just the regulators here haven't decided that what it does leach isn't safe.

As to using kiddie pools for Aquaponics. Some kiddie pools obviously are safe since I've seen people use them successfully. However, other flexible vinyl pool liners have been treated with chemicals to keep algae and fungus from growing and it seems some of these will leach into the water enough to kill fish or cause strange unexplained disease outbreaks. I don't know how to tell which liners will be which unless you get something specifically made for aquaculture you may be taking a risk and you will have to decide how much the risk is worth taking. Also the pools can sometimes be prone to leaks or failure (imagine neighborhood big dog jumping onto a soft side pool in some excited exuberance.)