hot tube for aquponices system

i was thinking of using a hot but for a kind of fish pond for my aquponices system. i plan to put it in the ground and put plastic over it. does this sound safe for the fish i plan on eating them later. im trying to be more self-reliance and this will help me with growing the lettuce for my rabbits year round and product a little amout of food for us to consume also. thanks for all the information

the cheap guy

So far the only container I've found out is not good for fish is a galvanized stock tank, which will poison the fish with zinc.    I almost made the mistake of using one!

http://www.aquaponics.net.au/aqua1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84:can-i-use-old-galvanised-tanks-or-grow-beds-&catid=50:operating-a-system&Itemid=58

Also avoid copper, as it will poison fish.  Sadly copper is one of the best metals for wheat exchange.

Ludi Ludi wrote:
So far the only container I've found out is not good for fish is a galvanized stock tank, which will poison the fish with zinc.     I almost made the mistake of using one!

http://www.aquaponics.net.au/aqua1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84:can-i-use-old-galvanised-tanks-or-grow-beds-&catid=50:operating-a-system&Itemid=58

You don't want any sort of metal in a recirculating system. 

Hot tub should be fine.

thanks for the information the reason i ask is because i can get the hot tubes for free and think that it would be a good use for them im also thinking i might be able to make a under ground food cellar with 2 of them

the cheap guy

I can't add much about the hot tub aspect, but regarding the lettuce for the rabbits... if your climate allows for it, many types of weeds are very cold hardy and tend to have a better nutrient profile than lettuce.

Chickweed and wild strawberry leaves are a couple of easy ones.  In USDA zone 7 they come on strong in Oct/Nov and last the whole cold season.  Our rabbits couldn't get enough of them.

SouthEastFarmer wrote:
I can't add much about the hot tub aspect, but regarding the lettuce for the rabbits... if your climate allows for it, many types of weeds are very cold hardy and tend to have a better nutrient profile than lettuce.

Chickweed and wild strawberry leaves are a couple of easy ones.  In USDA zone 7 they come on strong in Oct/Nov and last the whole cold season.  Our rabbits couldn't get enough of them.

oh no doubt.  i didn't even consider that.  lots of 'weeds' do really well in aquaponics as well.

to SouthEastFarmer

            thanks for the information about weeds for the rabbit. I have not started to research what all i will need to grow for my rabbits. I dont have rabbits yet i want to make sure i can feed them with what i grow first.

            right know what i have is a hot tube and im gessing it will hold 1300-1500 gallans so i can have a grow space of 1200-1400 square feet. im hoping to grow all my food for my rabbits with this system year round and people food all so.

thecheapguy