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Comment by Anthony Payne on December 10, 2013 at 8:18am

OK now I'm a new-bee to this and I don't have an AP set up and running. I just have to see read and chat with people on the whole thing before I dive in. My family and friends are fed up with the talking about it. I have blue prints drawn up layout a design. The trigger is in motion found tanks have a bio-filter design from chatting with people. Understand the heat of the tanks. Lights will be something needing attention too. I like the DWC and thought I would go to that right off the bat, but I will go with both. I will want to grow taller plant (like tomatoes) and feel they would be better in the media. The thing I'm trying to ask on the long question IS about brands of pumps and lights that are dependable. These are the back bone of the system I don't want to have burn out on pumps. I will need a fish person soon but right now it's gh, build system set up. I'm looking at the size of the gh and think it will be to small very soon. I have a plan on expansion already and I have not planted one thing. Well I guess that I have been bitten, now all the family can do is take meds or wait for the end. Like in the little red hen they will all want to have some

Comment by Linda Logan on December 8, 2013 at 3:54pm

Hi Anthony

I'm in Portland OR and don't do any supplemental light, though in the winter months it would probably help.  I wish I had insulated my fish tank so that is my suggestion. If you can double pane your GH I would do that or set up a heating source that will heat the ground under your GH.  There are plans around for doing that.

Comment by Anthony Payne on December 8, 2013 at 3:40pm

Hi, I'm in the process of building a system I have two 330 IBC coming and drawn out plans for a 10'x16' GH the beds will run the length 36”x10' in the back 6' I will have a tank in each corner with a recessed sump I'm thinking 275IBC in the center with the bio-filter elevated to ft level dumping into the sump I'm a builder by trade, I think got the set up plumbing thing building is not going to be a hang up. I live in Western Washington state and the winter months have short days. How much lighting will I need to supplement the plants?   

Comment by Robert Rowe on November 23, 2013 at 4:07pm

@Thomas Bean

Most people would use 24 to 36" depth and then take precautions to avoid flying fish. My main FT is a 8 ft dia. stock tank 26" deep. I would prefer it be deeper.

Looking at it from a purely functional standpoint, the IBC tote is much more practical.  

Comment by Thomas Bean on November 23, 2013 at 3:35pm

I found a fun pool on the side of the road it is 6 foot round and 12 inches deep. Would it be a suitable fish tank?

Comment by Frank Cates on November 19, 2013 at 2:05pm

I have looked at the bunk feeders but was thinking of using them in a raft system.  Are they too shallow for that?

Comment by Bob Campbell on November 19, 2013 at 2:00pm

TC I've been using a Bunk Feeder for over a year.  I plugged the holes with a bolt and nut through a grommet normally used for wire though a metal box.  I think I had to make the hole a little bigger.  They are shallow but I've even grown tomatoes in the raft.

$109 is a good price.  I paid $154. 

Comment by TCLynx on November 19, 2013 at 6:20am

Oh, the mortar mixing tubs.  They are great and cheap but they are shallow too AND if you want to keep them from cracking, you really need to build a frame around them to keep them from bowing out too much and provide good complete support under them.

Comment by TCLynx on November 19, 2013 at 6:18am

I'm actually thinking about trying some of the feed troughs.  They are a bit shallow but I run timed flood and drain so it really shouldn't be a bit problem.  For heavy production of larger plants, the narrow beds are actually a good thing so you can reach everything in the bed without damaging the plants along the edges.

Biggest drawback I see with the feed troughs is that they have holes already in them in the bottom to allow moisture to drain out.  This means that you have to deal with putting plumbing in where ever they have holes already.  I think the 10' troughs have 3 holes.  I would put one drain it, perhaps one over flow and then other I would simply have to put in a fitting to cap it off.  (the plastic is polyethylene so you can't expect any glue or sealant to hold long term.)  The fact that they come with a stand already is really a great point.  The 5' stand is actually tall while the 10' stand puts the top of the bed at about knee high (which would be good for a low or in ground sump and growing tall vines.)

Comment by Tom OBrien on November 18, 2013 at 10:11pm

Brigitte - I've actually had pretty good luck with the cement mixing trays. That was the first thing I tried and they are still working fine. I use Hydroton for media and run flood and drain systems using Bell syphons. In my 2nd setup, I tried Rubbermaid 50 gallon totes inside a wooden support frame. Those are also working pretty well. I am using stock tanks as my fish tanks, but I was limited to the 150 gallon size because that was the biggest one I could get down the stairs. I'm thinking about trying to build a bigger tank because I think the small tank size causes problems when raising fish other than goldfish.

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