This thread is to keep folks informed regarding the progress of the zoo project as well as to solicit input and ideas. Sofar a few of us have met with zoo officials and scoped out the site which so far appears to be able to meet the needs of a 180 gallon mixed reef aquarium as well as a smaller tank which the zoo would like to house sea horses and pipefish. There has been a huge oupouring of enthusiasm and stated interest and pledges to provide time, knowledge and other resources (including monetary and livestock) to this project. The next step is to more precisely decide on needed equipment and materials and to begin to solicit donated or reduced priced products from $RC aqnd other vendors. I will bring official zoo letterheads to the frag meet and folks can decide who they would like to correspond to. All written requests in the name of the zoo need to be passed through Michael Janis, Binghamton Zoo Executive Director for his counter signature. We'll meet this weekend to decide where letters could be directed. See y'all saturday.
Binghamton Zoo Project
- Thread starter drbronx
- Start date
Thanks a lot Mark for your excellent recent advice. I am sure that we will need to continue to "go to the well" from time to time and tap your knowledge and experience. Thanx in advance for indulging us. Please feel free to follow our zoo project threads and put in your "two cents" whenever you'd like. For those here who may not be aware, Mark has spearheaded the Seneca Zoo (Rochester) tank project which has helped pave the way for our humble venture.
I just composed a letter to Ice cap requesting sufficient equipment to run up to eight 36" t-5 bulbs. I will also write to ASM for a skimmer and possibly Motionocean (suggested by Blugobi) for a four way closed loop system. I first have to pass correspondences by Mike Janis (Executive Director) for his counter signature. We'll see what happens. Any other ideas of who to write to for donated or reduced price equipment are welcome. If anybody would like Zoo letterhead let me know but then either send the letter to me or directly to Mike Janice before sending it to the vendor.
Thanx George. Sounds like an interesting prospect. Perhaps folks can check out the 4 way closed loop system and Sequence Dart at
http://www.oceansmotions.com/store/...657bf&osCsid=a5b0f1c7f0f11157bc1492d9281657bf
We can discuss this further at Johns house
http://www.oceansmotions.com/store/...657bf&osCsid=a5b0f1c7f0f11157bc1492d9281657bf
We can discuss this further at Johns house
I am deliberating who to contact for a protein skimmer for the zoo tank. ASM appears to be out of the skimmer business and operations are switched over to Octopus Skimmers. I am not familiar with their products but heard that they are very good. They are distributed by Marine Solutions whom are not RC sponsors. Thus I was thinking of trying Euro Reef since they are an RC sponsor and may be thus more likely to donate. My other thought is to see if there is any desire to build a DIY skimmer thyat we could tailor for our system. We would have the room for a large Becket type or other design. Any DIYers out there ready to take that on or should we first try to obtain a nice commercial unit.
fatrip
Yup That Stuff
well jerry since no one else is chimming in, i do not have much experiance with recerc skimmers or any skimmers really for that matter, but i have been looking at the 2 you are talking about and i think the best one to go with would be the Euro Reef...in the pictures i have seen it looks like it is made a little better and the flow design of it seems more practical thatn the octopus.... and as you had said they are an RC sponcer which to me seems more logical to go after a company that know what we are about rather than one who does not participate in RC and might not see any benifit in donating things...those are just my thoughts...as i said earlyer in the post i dont know much about skimmers so take it for what it is worth...thanks
OK, Nate. Your the equipment guru. If you say Euro, then Euro it is. Which one do you think. My guess is the RS 180 or RS 250, both are in-sump models.
http://www.euro-reef.com/products.shtml.
Of course beggars can't be choosers. I'll call them today. We'll see what happens.
http://www.euro-reef.com/products.shtml.
Of course beggars can't be choosers. I'll call them today. We'll see what happens.
frankandmaura
New member
Hi all...I know I missed the meeting and haven't said much, do you mind if I chime in?
On the skimmer and in general...do we know who is going to be maintaining this stuff? If it is going to be someone that doesn't have much experience with the equipment can I suggest one thing...simple and effective. I have no experience with the euro-reef, but I know the ASM's are simple to use...just take the top off and empty...or set it up to automatically drain. I think a good G3 or G4 with a gate valve mod would be perfect. Just my 2cents and it the euro-reef is equally simple to use then that is fine too...
I guess I just wanted to throw out there, the need to know who is maintaining the equipment.
On the skimmer and in general...do we know who is going to be maintaining this stuff? If it is going to be someone that doesn't have much experience with the equipment can I suggest one thing...simple and effective. I have no experience with the euro-reef, but I know the ASM's are simple to use...just take the top off and empty...or set it up to automatically drain. I think a good G3 or G4 with a gate valve mod would be perfect. Just my 2cents and it the euro-reef is equally simple to use then that is fine too...
I guess I just wanted to throw out there, the need to know who is maintaining the equipment.
Indeed, the Euro-reef is a very simple skimmer of much more solid construction than ASM. It is the industry standard for high end skimmers, thus it commands a higher price. I just spoke to the wonderful people at Euroreef and they are eager to help with community projects as well as aquaculture of endangered species. They are directly involved in a similar project (of a much larger scope) at the Scripps Institute in California that will involve demonstrations of healthy and bleached reef systems, Leafy Sea Dragons (you'll like that RyanM!) among other things. They are also working on other products including integrated Nano and full reef systems, calcium reactors etc. Anyway, they are e-mailing me a form to complete and they will meet to make a determination on Monday so we should know something soon. They appear to be a company that is truly invested not only in making good products, but in helping to educate the public about the nature/status of marine ecosystems. Very cool. Lets keep our collective fingers crossed.
To answer your other question Frank, we will be teaching the chief curator and others about routine tank maintyenance and we will also help with special troubleshooting and other periodic special needs of the tank.
To answer your other question Frank, we will be teaching the chief curator and others about routine tank maintyenance and we will also help with special troubleshooting and other periodic special needs of the tank.
frankandmaura
New member
Thanks Dr. Sounds good...I wonder if Tunze would be equally as eager to help...or are you going totally closed loop/no PH's?
