Getting ready to build my system

[Derek Borden]

Getting ready to build my very first system. I'm going with an IBC system.

Than plan is to have the fish tank in the garage and 3 grow-beds outside along the wall. I'm looking for any suggestions before I begin. Do to the temperatures here the tank has to be in the garage to keep it cool in the summer and make it easier to maintain a decent temperature in the winter.  I'm looking at going with Rainbow Trout. I was thinking that 100 fingerlings would work in my 1000L (250Gallon) tank.

I'm in Calgary, Alberta so my temperature ranges from highs of 35C (95F) in the summer to -45C (-49F) in the winter.

Any input from ppl with experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[TCLynx]

How big will the grow beds be?  What type of grow beds?  Will there be a sump tank?  How much pumping and air?

No I think 100 fingerlings would be too much with trout in an IBC, especially if you don't already have major fish keeping experience.  I would probably say start with 20 for your first season.

How will you filter the water in winter if the grow beds are outdoors?  Seeing as things outdoors at -45C will freeze no matter how much aeration and flow the water has.

[Derek Borden]

3 grow beds with a sump. I am hoping to have a green house ad-on for the grow beds built by the end of the summer to keep them from freezing. The beds and the sump will be made from 2 cut IBC's the beds being about 1 foot deep.  If can't get the greenhouse built I will just put grow beds in the garage and use lights inside for the winter.

[TCLynx]

I'd make the beds deeper to get more filtration.  Remember that the number of fish you can support is totally dependent on the amount of filtration you have.  Most people starting out should only have about 1 fish per cubic foot of grow bed media and that is if you are only planning to grow the fish to about 1 lb.

If the grow beds are only going to be two IBC tops at 1 foot deep, then I would say you might be pushing it with 24 trout but in a single IBC Fish tank 20-24 trout might be appropriate.  With their high protein feed and cold weather you might be hard pressed to grow enough veggies to keep up with nutrient production.  And I expect you will need some heating and good insulation for the greenhouse to keep things from freezing solid during the extreme parts of winter in your great frozen Northland.  (I grew up in Michigan so know about Frozen and deep snow but because of the lakes we almost never got the extreme - temperatures likely where you are.)

[Derek Borden]

I don't have the lakes but I do have a mountain range with causes a lovely weather phenomenon called a Chinook that bumps our temperature up 10C quite often. This year has been very strange I have only had snow for about 2 weeks total.

I'm basing most of this design off of Murry's video's.

[markaponics]

If your looking for a IBC Tote I can sell you one for cheap. It has been thoroughly cleaned and the upper part of the top has been cut off to be used for fish tank. I ended up not using it. I am in the Calgary area as well.

[Derek Borden]

I already have my IBC's thanks