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.

[Bob Vento]

OK ... after sleeping on the problem, and chatting it over with some friends this morning, I think the best solution is to build a 2x6 (an edge) frame around my FT. This way the plastic can stay intact and the GB will have a solid base to rest on. What do you  all think about that?