The Aquaponics Bed
One tote, cut horizontally, becomes a grow bed and a fish tank with the cage holding both. It is the most elegant thing you can do with a used container.
- Sheet
- 79
- Revision
- 2026-10
- Scale
- 1:1
- Drawn at
- Peoria IL
How one tote becomes two vessels
Grade & wash
Food-grade bottle only, cycle 3 washed. Fish are less forgiving than crops.
Horizontal cut
Bottle cut at roughly one third, edges flame-polished. Cage cut and re-welded into two frames.
Plumb it
Bulkhead drain from bed to sump, bell siphon option, pump return line to the bed inlet.
Finish
Opaque wrap on the sump, media guard screen in the bed, lid panel for the sump.
What we will and will not promise
- We supply the vessel, plumbing and cage work. Biology, pumps sizing and livestock are yours.
- We only build these on food-grade bottles with a documented history. No exceptions, because fish.
- A bell siphon is included as an option, not as a guarantee that it will cycle on your media depth.
- This is an outdoor or greenhouse unit. It weighs over 2,000 lb filled.
The two vessels, dimensioned
| Element | Dimension | Volume | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grow bed (upper third, cut) | 48 × 40 × 14 in | ≈ 85 gal | Media depth 10–12 in typical |
| Sump (lower two thirds) | 48 × 40 × 32 in | ≈ 190 gal | Opaque wrapped against algae |
| Bed-to-sump drain | 2 in bulkhead | — | Bell siphon optional |
| Pump return line | 3/4 in to the bed inlet | — | Pump sizing is yours to specify |
| Total footprint | 48 × 40 in | — | Cage split into two welded frames |
| Filled weight | — | ≈ 2,100 lb | Concrete or a rated stand |
- Food-grade base container only, cycle 3 washed, with a documented history. Fish are less forgiving than crops and we will not substitute a Grade B.
- The sump gets an opaque wrap. Light plus nutrients equals algae, and algae in a sump competes with everything you are trying to grow.
- A bell siphon is supplied as an option, not as a guarantee that it will cycle reliably on your media depth.
- This is an outdoor or greenhouse unit. It weighs over a ton filled and it is not something to assemble on a deck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Aquaponics Bed use a food-grade tote?
The page says fish are less forgiving than crops, so the yard builds these only on food-grade bottles with a documented history, washed to cycle 3. It will not substitute a Grade B tote.
How big are the grow bed and the sump?
The upper cut section is the grow bed at about 85 gallons, 48 by 40 by 14 inches. The lower section is the sump at about 190 gallons. Typical media depth is 10 to 12 inches.
Does the yard supply pumps and fish?
No. The yard supplies the vessel, plumbing and cage work. Biology, pump sizing and livestock are yours. A bell siphon is offered as an option but is not guaranteed to cycle on your media depth.
Where can I put it?
It is an outdoor or greenhouse unit. It weighs about 2,100 lb filled, so it needs concrete or a rated stand and should not be assembled on a deck.
How long does the build take and what does it cost?
The listed build time is 5 days and the price starts from $320. For custom cuts or changes, describe what you need through the contact form and the yard can advise.
Next in the loop
Base container: Food-grade 275 gal. Typical build time: 5 days. From $320. Every build starts from a container somebody else was finished with.