What are you using for grow beds??

[msr316]

I've been looking around for something to use for my grow bed but can't find anything that I'm really looking for. I would loike to have something about 3 feet wide and maybe 4 feet long or so. What are you all using and where did you buy them? Please feel free to post pictures of yours.

Thanks
Sean

[Rew]

The top of an IBC is almost the dimensions you are looking for.

[msr316]

That looks great!! Where would I find those?

[Rew]

They come from recyclers, I found mine on Craig's list here in the denver area. 80$ each. You could get two beds from one container, or use the bottom half for the tanks and tops for growbeds. There are alot of systems similar to this around. I cut at the 175 gallon mark to get 100 gallon grow beds and 175g (150g usable ) tanks.

[SanJuanCap]

Saw the same ones here in Orange County, CA (southern CA) They run between 100 - 150 U$S.
2 Questions:
1:How many Tilapia can you grow out of the tanks? If you apply the basic one of 1 tilapia per 10 liters that would be about 40 tilapia right? How many and what do you have in your fish tank REW?
2. How many grow beds would be needed for that amount of fish?
Reason why I am asking is because I WILL be setting an Aquaponic system and I am 98% sure that I will use these tanks. Any help would be appreciated.

[Rew]

I am currently cycling my tank with a few goldfish, have only had water in them for a couple weeks.
40 fish is what I was considering Max for my current sytem, FT pretty close to 500 liters, (it fluctuates about an inch max from the 150g line up or down) but only 200g of growbeds.
Using the two IBC's for tanks and growbeds leaves me a little short of growbed to be able to max out the sytem. The sump does have capacity for another growbed of about equal size that would put me at 2:1 growbed to FT ratio. I hope to add that sometime this summer.

[kellenw]

We use IBC's quite a bit for various things. They are extremely handy, especially if you have a pallet jack. You can move a fish tank full of water and fish with ease with a pallet jack.

[SanJuanCap]

Thanks for the answers and good information folks. Slowly but surely I will have a system set up and send in some pics to share.

[msr316]

Rew,
Thanks for the pictuers and info. I'm going to go with this as my grow bed and tank. Now off the craigs list!!

[hellbent]

IBC's are great. i also use the mortar mixing trays from home depot (18 gal, $11), make my own with wood+liner, and some others buy these large 90 gallon tubs that run about $103.