It's officially a Build!

[TMorgan]

The build is in progress and yes I have pictures.

The cut down tote.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_1996B_zpsa56ec197.jpg

The cut down frame
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_1997B_zps41fae373.jpg

The insulated bottom, a $12 foam floor mat from the discount store, cut to size.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_1998B_zps719a5873.jpg

Mostly roughed out bottom section.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2000B_zps05d0a5f6.jpg

More pics tomorrow night if I can. Thoughts? Suggestions? All welcome.

[urbanfarmer]

FIRST!

Nice, very nice. I can't wait to see the rest! :-)

[TMorgan]

The pics where fine last night when I uploaded them to the site, but I can't see them now either. Maybe the site admin can look into it, the picture links do point to diyaquaponics.com.

[urbanfarmer]

Hm... JCO will have to look at this one. The forum doesn't seem to know where the file is, but it might be lost on the server somewhere. Weird.

[davidstcldfl]

Bummer, I can't see them either. But congrats any way T... :)

I use photbucket and use 'their link' in my posts. It seems to work well here.

[TMorgan]

Ok, I got a Photobucket account (Thanks! davidstcldfl) and tried to link there, maybe everyone can see them now.
Here's tonight's update pic.

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2001b_zpsbee602f3.jpg

[davidstcldfl]

Cool....looks nice. Glad you got the pictures figured out. You even have a nice avatar too.. :)

[Bob Vento]

Ok, I got a Photobucket account (Thanks! davidstcldfl) and tried to link there, maybe everyone can see them now.
Here's tonight's update pic.

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2001b_zpsbee602f3.jpg

I think your grow bed is a little short in height? How deep is it?

Regards,
Bob

[TMorgan]

It's 8", I plan on using this one for lettuce and smaller plants. I plan on building some other deeper beds for the larger stuff. My thought was to keep the tote as large as possible, so when I add the other beds, I could support a little larger fish population. I have some barrels I plan on using for tomatoes this spring.

[dead_sled]

Looking good. The pictures look much better now!

What kind of media are you planning on using?

[TMorgan]

ViaStone Hydeoponic grow rock medium. Suppose to be clay pebbles like Hydroton, which they say is hard to find and expensive. But alot lighter than pea gravel, which I estimated would weight close to 560 lbs. The ViaStone should be around 156 lb in my grow bed, my back likes that idea much better. :mrgreen:

[TMorgan]

After some time off, a friend and neighbor of mine passed away suddenly, and my wife insisting I make some headway on her honey-do list, I'm finally back on the build. Got the top painted and put a rim around the bottom.

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2012A_zps1f706511.jpg

Now I'm ready to start adding the insulating panels. Then cover it in some left over Masonite siding board I have. Will try to get more done this next week.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2015A_zpsc6e911d3.jpg

More photo's and updates later.

[davidstcldfl]

:)

[dead_sled]

Looking good!

[dsrtlzrd32]

Loving your framework, that is going to look awesome.

[TMorgan]

Sorry for the update delay, my son has a senior project we are building which is eating up my spare time. But I did make some more progress.

Sides on.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2017B_zpsa281f646.jpg
Bottom Completed!
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2065B_zps78a72ca5.jpg
Insulating Top underside.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2050B_zpsc66a6d57.jpg
Top sides insulated and filled.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2069B_zpsca0c9854.jpg
More soon, Have to frame the top and plumb.

[TMorgan]

Sorry I haven't got anything new posted lately, been busy. It's complete and fully operational. These pictures are a couple of weeks old, we have had salad out of it since then.


Self contained and heated.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2085A_zpsb532c621.jpg (http://s1296.photobucket.com/user/tmorgan28/media/IMG_2085A_zpsb532c621.jpg.html)

Clay media.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2084A_zps5c714024.jpg (http://s1296.photobucket.com/user/tmorgan28/media/IMG_2084A_zps5c714024.jpg.html)

I got some nice size Tilapia from a fellow Aquaponics enthusiast who was having to move and had no where to put them. All survived the move.
http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/IMG_2090A_zpsaa2976c7.jpg (http://s1296.photobucket.com/user/tmorgan28/media/IMG_2090A_zpsaa2976c7.jpg.html)

Plants started browning a little on the edges, so I had to add some seaweed extract to make up for the missing minerals. Used Maxicrop with iron, mixed it with water and sprayed it on the plants a couple of times. The browning on the edges stopped and they took off growing. I know iron is a concern with fish, but this usage seems to work well, have not seen any adverse reactions in the Tilapia.

[eddiemigue]

Beautifully done. That's probably the best looking ibc setup that I've seen. Continued success!

[TMorgan]

Thanks,
I tried to take my time and make it good looking as well as functional as a stand alone tank. Got rushed a little at the end after finding the fifteen 6"+ Tilapia for free. I'm planning a small greenhouse and want to add another tank, then move this into the greenhouse and expand some.

[JCO]

OK, last post was in April...how's the system doing now? More photos please. :mrgreen:

[tmcmaster]

Looks awesome!

[TMorgan]

Sorry for being so quite, system has done well, a few ups and downs. I'm working on a small greenhouse now to move everything into, I'll post some pic's soon.

[Ford Prefect]

What are you using to heat it?

[TMorgan]

Still thinking on it, I have 4"-6" of gravel in a foam board insulated floor for solar absorbtion during the day and I plan on adding some black water tanks to that as well. Right now I'm leaning toward a rocket mass heater with some water heating addition, so I can capture the heat and it can be released later on at night in one methoed or the other. I'm also looking at designs that will allow me to use an auto feeder to feed wood pellets when I'm not around to feed it myself or on cold nights. I probably will need a backup also like a small propane or kerosene heater just in case. And I'm open to suggestions if anybody has any additional info to add. I guess I really should start another topic for this.