* Assume one grows crops for the given climatic conditions. No extraordinary cooling/heating applied.
* Building already available to house the fish.
* USVI I believe use a combination of hollow block and trench for their raft system. 8x8x16" block can be had at $1.34/per. $1.25 if you buy it by the pallet.
Give me a day and I'll see if I can scare up US prices for most of your list.
Lovely, thank you.Originally Posted by JohnMc
RE: the block work, here in AU generally concrete work estimates simply double the cost of material. Are we building this ourselves to save on cost?
I should go about looking up prices for AU unless someone else would like to lend a hand? Then we avoid any conflict that I might inflate costs... Any takers?
Go with AJ fibreglass for tanks and aquasonic for pumps and gear? I can provide pricing on plumbing and fittings, though we need concrete prices for AU to make the rafts and styrene prices as well....
Toga, have you got some time?
Hi,
Going by info I could quickly find & using UVI's raft measurements of 100' (30.48m) x 4' (1.22m) x 18" (.457m) and using Oz material size's - this is what I derived,
Blocks @ 390mmx190mmx190mm = 330 blocks @ $2.50ea (note - calculated @ 3 blocks deep= raft depth of 570mm as 2 blocks deep is to shallow with raft depth of only 380mm)
Blocks = $823.50 *will be cheaper as no pallet price received at this stage
Cement for blocks from online calculator @ 240kgs / 12x20kg bags @ $7.80ea
Cement = $93.60
Foam @ 2.4m x1.2m x 5cm ea = 12.7 sheets @ $16.50ea
Foam = $214.50
Liner @ 33.5m x 2.4m @.5mm = 80.4sm @ $17.50sm (1.0mm liner @ $27.50sm)
Liner = $1407.00 *.5mm liner (1.0mm liner = $2211.00)
1 Raft Total Cost = $2538.60 approx (1.0mm liner = $3369.60) (self constructed, above ground)
Hope thats what you were looking for EG.
Cheers
Toga
Last edited by Toga; 7th February 2012 at 11:17 AM.
Perfect mate thanks.
A note on our senario, the raft width is 2.44m (8foot). I doubt this is a very usable width but that is the notes on the production senario so I would like us to stick with that until we get right down to the commercial design.
Toga, does that width make a difference to the cost of the raft tanks? 2 x 2.44m wide x 22m long...
Hi,
One of the demonstrable achievements of Friendly Aquaponics has been to dramatically reduce the cost of constructing raft troughs. This innovation is reflected in various clone systems like Green Acre Organics and Coast View Aquaponics.
They use plywood and timber (rather than cement blocks or concrete......or fibreglass).
Gary
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
www.microponics.net.au - for candid dialogue on integrated backyard food production.
www.urbanaquaponics.com.au - the home of the Online Urban Aquaponics Manual.
Hi Gary
Sure we can build out of just about anything. I would like to focus primarily on the UVI system first from a cost and production point of view, then move onto other cost savings pros and cons senarios if that works for you.
352 area code is west central Florida. I would be somewhat loathe to be using timber in ground contact. Much of the Southern states are infested with the Formosa termite. Since Green Acre claims organic I doubt they would use treated lumber. Its a problem waiting to happen.
Hi,
Oops, miscalculated above in blocks & cement... none the less...
Raft @ 22m x 2.44m x .6m
Blocks = 475 x $2.50 = $1187.50
Cement = 15 x 20kg bags = $117.00
Foam = 19 sheets @ $16.50 = $315.00
Liner = 85.9sm @ 0.5mm @ $17.50sm = $1503.25 (@ 1.0mm = $2362.25)
Total = $3122.25 (liner @ 1.0mm = $3985.75)
Ill get on to costing a timber one later this arvo...
Cheers
Toga
Looking great Toga.
The area of the liner. Has that allowed for the depth and some overlap at the top?
We should also note that UVI use a low density polyethylene liner. They say 20mm thick but I expect it is 2mm. Do we have a price on that gear anywhere?
Toga,
How many rows high did you go on the block for the trough so I can match it?
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote