Budget Greenhouse Project

[Treeman]

I have Klerks K-50 on the top, two layers. On the end I put one layer of Koollite-380 and one layer of K-50. I was hoping it would cool the GH some late in the day and also block some of the heat later in the day.

I decided on that film because the film I used before was comparable and this film was supposed to be a longer lived product. All films have some UV blocking in them due to the fact that if they didn't they would not last a year (kinda like visqueen). It may be UV inhibiters if there is a difference. This film has only been up about 2 months. The other film (I can't remember the brand) was up over a year before Hurricane Wilma removed it. I had good growth with the other one and it seems like I will have better growth with this.

But, I did change the shade cloth, last time I had 40% and I thought it was to much so I went with 30% this time. Right now I have another layer of 30% below it because during the rebuilding process the tanks had almost 90% due to carport covers to keep the rain out.

Anthony may not see that other thread as he is not around here much anymore.

 

[raaden]

Hamburblar, didn't mean to detour your awesome thread, thanx for the space for the mini discussion. I noticed you were in NC we should talk offline. I have alot of plans and Ideas in my business plan that we might be able to work together at and maybe with Coastal (from R.O), Treeman and Rick you guys as well.

Treeman,

Thanx for the info. I too was looking at the K50 IR/AC until I saw the KL380. Not sure what route I will go. I would like to hear something from Anthony before I make the decision. BTW do you know if the email in his book is still good. I would really like to get him to review my business plan.

First off my condolences on your losses. I was originally looking to do this in VA Beach which is where I started out, but after reading your thread I decided to move to Raleigh NC to get away from the 'Canes. I am glad that you have such great resolve. I am not sure what my reaction would have been had I been in your situation.

 

[Treeman]

Thanks for your thoughts, You just do what you have to do. I may not have if I had lost all the stock. But I didn't and here I am.

I do think that Anthony's email is the same. I will try him and see if he will look. I think he is at marine depot.

 

[rick rottet]

WE NEED A GREENHOUSE FORUM!!!

 

[raaden]

I second the greenhouse forum...

 

[redox]

back to the subject

back to the subject

green house temp parameters and how to maintain them? well... it aint easy but it seems to work. there is a fine line between humidity and temp control and when that balance is reached every thing else seems to fall into place

 

[RRodrigues]

GH forum too for me

 

[redox]

hey hamburglar

hey hamburglar

you arent related to micky d's are you ?

 

[hamburglar]

Dag on, I don't check the tread for a week and you guys run amuck with it

Actually thanks! This is great information. I will be looking into the mentioned film options Raaden. Also big thanks to Rick and Treeman for chiming in. I can't help but get a kick out of you guys joining in, after I spent so much time reading over the threads you started. Heck, those threads along with Scubadudesââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s got me really interested in trying this years ago.

Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m still waiting on one last shipment before setting up the metal halide. I ordered the 14k bulb from EBay and got a 10K delivered after 2 weeks. Hopefully the seller will get me the 14K bulb before Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m old and grey.

I think after reading the above comments I will put my shade cloth back on around late April. I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t want to burn the corals up with wasted light spectrum.

Something else I am trying to do is tighten up my temperature swing. Basically, I just adjust my heaters and chiller to keep the swing tighter. Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s just money right? Got to grow some corals some time. I will have to live with the heaters and chiller running more often.

I also want to do just a little bit of geothermal to save cooling costs. I gave up on the well idea because it will cost around $800 per hole. I may look into renting a little digger and do a small horizontal loop. Sounds like one of those summertime projects. Hopefully I can get one for around $100-$200 and just put some hard labor into it.

So what other information do you have to share Redox? After finding out who you are, I bet you have some good greenhouse wisdom to pass on.

 

[redox]

imfo

imfo

i will try to pass some on ,hopfully without upseting anyone or getting booted in the process

 

[Treeman]

Lets go for it

 

[panic]

oh, a GH forum would be soooo great!

 

[redox]

hey hamburglar

hey hamburglar

hey you need to get up with me this weekend have some new developments in the gh . Ive got a cap that is purple with red polyps that i would like to send a frag home with you to try

 

[RedSonja]

Hi hamburglar!

I just read through your thread as I'm thinking of doing something similar, eventually, here in Durham. We may even have met at the MASC meeting last summer, I recall turning down someone that had a lot of xenia to trade. :rollface: And I see you're the lucky person that got that chiller in the end.

And I'm all for the GH forum as well. I'm still working my way through Anthony Calfo's coral prop book but it certainly sounds like GH is the way to go. He's going to be speaking at SaltwaterU in Atlanta the first weekend of May, Cloudancer and I are hoping to make it down there for that.


-Sonja

 

[hamburglar]

Hey RedSonja,

Yep that was me with a cooler full of Xenia. I might have to rent a truck this year to bring some of the stuff I have banked up.
I will be there for sure!

My #1 piece of advice would be to go a little bigger than I did. I was a little overly interested in saving cash in the beginning, and I got the 8x6 for about $300. Harbor Freight now has a 12x10 for $600 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93358).

Overall, I am quite pleased with the Harbor Freight Greenhouse. It is VERY nice for that low price. I expect it to last several years after this project has moved on to something bigger. I look forward to growing veggies and stuff in it when my kids get old enough to enjoy it.

I'm still waiting on that 14K Metal Halide bulb to show up. I am really paying the price for shopping with marine-madness on EBay. They sent me the incorrect bulb after 2 weeks of waiting. Then, they insisted that I send that bulb back before they exchange it. I am going to file both ebay and Paypal claims if I have not seen a bulb by next Wednesday.

I promise promise promise that I will only do business with Premium Aquatics from now on

I will devote a day to taking pics and updating this thread properly after I get it set up.

 

[RedSonja]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7079195#post7079195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hamburglar


My #1 piece of advice would be to go a little bigger than I did. I was a little overly interested in saving cash in the beginning, and I got the 8x6 for about $300. Harbor Freight now has a 12x10 for $600 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93358).

Yeah I've looked at the 12x10 on that page a few times now. Our problem is a small backyard with crappy sun and living in a subdivision with an HOA. We'd have to buy a piece of land somewhere to put it on, which would be a pain in several ways (buying the land and all that entails, travel to site every day, etc.) Ideally we'd find a piece of land large enough to live on someday and put the GH first and a house on it later.

-Sonja

 

[raaden]

Red,

I am working on something like this in North Raleigh, and I can definitely appreciate what you are saying. It has taken me about a year to get to the point where I am ready to start construction. I can give you some of the info I have if you would like pm me.

Raa

 

[hamburglar]

Raaden,

I'm a die-hard Hurricanes Hockey fan, so I am up there at least every other weekend it seems. Give me a shout sometime if you ever want to do some swaping or something. I'm also interested in your project when you get it running. We need that greenhouse forum so that we can launch lots of threads like this one, and have them easy to find.


Redox, have you got any new pictures of your project?

 

[raaden]

hamburglar,

Very nice, I am hoping they can get back to their winning ways soon. We are in the process of closing on the property so when we get in and get our permits finalized I would love to have some people up. I am looking to come down your way in the near future as well. Redox/Coastal is going to put me in touch with his vatbuilder so I can get the custome jobbies that he is using.

Raa

 

[redox]

pics?

pics?

ham yes I have pics but my picture taking lacks a few things like visability . I even made a new veiwing box to take pics but the glare is to high , any advice?