Things are moving fast now ...

[Bob Vento]

Picked up our IBC tote yesterday and plan to do some modification today. Also picked up a grinder and extra cutting disks and a 45 watt solar panel kit (more on that later) from my local Harbor Freight store.

Once I cut the tote, clean it very well ... then it will be time to buy and install the pipe fittings, bell siphon etc. My pump has been ordered and should arrive this week. Next will be to get the grow media, rinse it completely and fill my system for the initial test run.

DO I sound excited? YEP I AM!

OK here is an update on today's festivities ... which includes pictures ...

Cut the cage and the tote today.

Grow Bed turned out great, however the Fish Tank leave a little to be desired. 

If I cut the plastic lower I would risk the fish jumping out unless I decrease gallons in the FT which is already been diminished by about 50 gallons due to the cutting of the cage.

Here is my problem ... If I use boards to support my GB I will have to cut the excess plastic on the FT so the boards can sit on the bottom cage for support. I went out, bought  an tried using threaded rods (with nuts and washers for adjusting) to support the GB but feel this may not support the weight of the media and water once the system is up and running. Being empty it looks really shaky.

The cage structure is made from square hollow rods with crimps in them so the 5/16th treaded rods were the biggest I could slide into them. They are 24" long and have nuts and washers at 5" on either end. Which gives us about a foot for scooping fish and such.

Would it be so terrible to lower the FT capacity? Less fish and vegetables? No I don't want to do that. I really don't want to put 2x4 wood supports resting on the plastic tote for support either.

I am perplexed for a solution without compromising on my FT size. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[markaponics]

Your 5/8" ready rod is extremely capable of holding the weight of the Media Bed. The biggest concern would be it swaying in one direction or another. I know that we support 1500lb transformers 8' in the air off 4 - 5/8" ready rod. I've had to work beside them and push them a bit outta the way to get around them... never been a problem. Only difference is... the transformer is hanging not sitting on top of them. But I think if attached to a 4x4 post or something to prevent directional move it would be no problem.

[TCLynx]

It's a hobby, granted a hobby that can produce something great, like good clean food, but it's still a hobby and hobbies usually cost money.

And if you simply buy the tilapia at the grocery, you eat it and it's gone.  If you are growing your own tilapia, you eat the veggies and you eat some tilapia and you pay the power and feed bill and you keep eating the veggies and the tilapia have babies that eventually get big enough to eat and so on.  Or whatever fish you get.

[Bob Vento]

However, If I had taken the time to look at your profile, before putting my foot in my mouth,  it clearly states Female. I do really appreciate all of your help and encouragement on our new adventure. I told my wife last night that for all of the money I have spent so far (still minus the media and mating pair plus fingerlings) on all of this stuff could she imagine how much Tilapia we could have bought.
She looked at me with that "I know that dear" look, but you would not be having as much fun.

[TCLynx]

LOL, not the first time it's happened Bob, and seeing as I don't use my picture or given name but our dream house and my handle doesn't help either.

[Bob Vento]

opps Sorry TC but thanks for the great suggestions so far.

[TCLynx]

Just beware that screws through the metal could weaken it a bit so use care/caution.  2x4 across under the bed, good idea!

I have seen some horrible collapse pictures and hence my recommending caution. 

Legs are good, though I'm a Woman

[Bob Vento]

I see your point TC however, I forgot to mention that I was going to screw through the cage frame into the 2x6 from underneath, use some metal corners and also use a couple of 2x4's across the area under the grow bed.
I am sensing you are a leg man

[TCLynx]

I would probably add some legs just because wood can bow over time and I wouldn't want the wood frame to slip off the metal frame over time and collapse things.

[Bob Vento]

I noticed that some folks rest the grow bed on top of the fish tank metal cage.

Since I have about 5 inches of tote sticking above the FT metal cage I was thinking that by eliminating the rods and putting 2x6's on their edges connected together in a square frame for the top of my FT metal cage ... that the weight of the grow bed would then rest on top of the 2x6 on top of the FT cage, thus distributing the weight straight down onto the bottom metal cage and concrete pad.

Do you still think I would need the addition of legs also?

[TCLynx]

Yep, perhaps add some legs down to the ground with the 2x6 as well.  Heavy duty bracing is a good idea since you don't want the grow bed collapsing on you.