"Green" reef planning

[Moofia]

assuming you use Sunlight as your (free) light source..

while i won't say its impossible..
i highly doubt a very sizable reef tank is possible...
without either a HUGE investment in a Natural thermodynamic cooling process(and sometimes even this is NOT possible depending on your geographical location and/or seasonal changes IMO)
or a HUGE investment in solar/wind/hydro to compensate for serious electric consumption..

must be nice to be rich if cost is no object to this "green" reef setup..
cause it will cost ALOT.. and would hope to be as Simple as it is "green"..
cause we all know Complexity is a precursor to Mr. Murphy

 

[samtheman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11201613#post11201613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by god910
Why don't YOU respect the o/p's wishes and stay out of this thread? MKAY? KTHNX.

So, do you have to be invited to post? How does one get started then?

 

[god910]

First what you'll want to do is read the original post. Then after that... read it again. Then have someone else read it to you, because you obviously can't read. Once you've gotten the idea that he doesn't want to talk about, nor debate the impact of this hobby on the environment, feel free to talk about how to better make a setup more green.

 

[rickyfins]

Lets play nice! Our impact on the environment as reefkeeping hobbyists is essential for understanding and conversing on making a tank "GREEN". While considering going green one must also outway the impact the "green" products has on the environment i.e. chemicals used in making said "Green" equipment or the process to which it takes to melt plastics and fabricate solar panels. Which is better, going green, or just paying the electric bill?

This is something to consider. Some purchases to help to decrease our impact are great, but purchasing big items that take more from the environment than they give in the long run is not. Cutting down on water usage, getting the most energy efficient pumps, and supplimenting lighting with light tubes or windows above a tank are better than some of those "Green" purchases.

 

[samtheman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11207073#post11207073 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by god910
First what you'll want to do is read the original post. Then after that... read it again. Then have someone else read it to you, because you obviously can't read. Once you've gotten the idea that he doesn't want to talk about, nor debate the impact of this hobby on the environment, feel free to talk about how to better make a setup more green.

Lets read part of it together...
"During my hiatus, I've come to realize the measureable impact our hobby has on the oceans/reefs of the world (please let's not debate this here, its been covered in other threads), and have become increasingly uncomfortable to the point where I question whether I can participate in such a hobby in the future."

What measurable impacts? He sounds knowledgeable until you question his statement. What Measurable impact? Just BS to make him sound knowledgeable, but still BS. I really do not like BS like this, especially to justify his “higher” moral position.

 

[chrissreef]

BS or not - it's an "inconvenient truth" (haha, still haven't seen it) that removing anything from its natural environment impacts the environment in some way... just like adding something to an environment that does not belong does.

I highly respect anyone that supports aquacultured/captive bred animals - just as I do those that try to be as energy efficient as they can in this hobby. I think we impact the environment - and some of us removing ourselves might help - but I think most of the impact to reefs is from other industries

 

[drawman]

I just skimmed this article, but I didn't see anyone mention the use of timers. Obvious to many but should still be considered.

Also, does anyone have plans on setting up an RO wastewater reservoir for laundry use? I think a link would be good to add here.

Third, I think a lot of reefers are used to dumping chemicals in the trash or down the drain. Any chemists have a realistic alternative for the everyday hobbyist.

It seems to me that a lot of the green alternatives are available at a price. IMO, the biggest thing we can do is educate our fellow hobbyists and think of alternatives for the everyday hobbyist.

 

[god910]

I actually have a 55 gal. plastic drum that I'm going to lift above my softener and fill it with my second RO unit. I have one that works constantly that is plumbed into the house on a 20g pressure vessle. I've run a 100ft. 3/8 line off of it that runs through the basement and up into a closet. This line is long enough to reach all 4 of my tanks. This whole setup, regretable is plumbed into the drain for the waste water. The other unit (a coralife 48 gpd unit) will fill the 55g drum. I'm going to have a hose running off it for my washing machine, and another with a regular hose fitting for watering flower beds etc. I'll probably be running the waste line out of the drain and into the 55g drum from the other unit, as we use it alot more often than the secondary unit.

 

[Turf]

I'll throw my 2cents in on going skimmerless. It's not needed and really water changes are not really either. There is an amazing tank I've seen w/no skimmer (just algae in fuge) and hasn't done a water change in over 8 years. That being said... they do put minor additives into it from time to time because they have a few SPS. Looking at it you'd never know and assume they're one of the few that do weekly/montly changes and have a massive oversized skimmer on it.

 

[god910]

I guess I could add to that. I've got a ER 5-2 on my 75 and it's sitting on a shelf. I am running a 29g sump absolutely packed full of caulerpa, bubble, and chaeto. It's running a 6" bed, half and half CC and LS. I haven't done a water change in probably a year. I'm running an AC Jr. and monitor my ph more often than my temp. I dose with Reef Complete as needed as I have a rather large birds nest and a sizeable galaxia, along with some poc frags from a previous parent.

I slipped on it about 8 months ago and lost a huge birds nest and huge poc. Never will I let that mistake happen again. I'm the guy that won't change his water unless something shows up bad in it. I've overcome alot, and if you catch it early, you'll do yourself alot of good. HTH.

 

[Foosinho]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11217658#post11217658 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drawman
Also, does anyone have plans on setting up an RO wastewater reservoir for laundry use?

It's on my radar. I'm still working out what water management plan to enact. Rainwater collection is definitely on the map. Greywater is a possibility. I'm trying to sort out where RO wastewater would fit - should it be put into an irrigation system for the garden/greenhouse? Into the greywater system? Or into the rainwater cistern?

I don't have the answers to those questions yet. Perhaps when I get closer to construction (ha!) and I consult greywater systems designers I'll get a better feel for the ideal reuse of the wastewater.

 

[Turf]

Doesn't really matter where you use it because bottom line your USING IT. If you using that water it means your using less off the tap.

 

[Artisan Corals]

Or as Rickyfins noted, just use a high end De-Ionizer and there is no waste water (and no wasted membranes, sediment filters, carbon filters, etc.).

The regeneration of these resins do use a diluted (6 parts water to one part Muriatic Acid) acid and base (similarly diluted Sodium Hydroxide). If you capture the regenerated outflow from each side, the diluted acid neutralizes the diluted base and result is harmless to go down the drain.

 

[Turf]

very good thinking

 

[sean1]

I think it we should definitly downsize tanks. One, their is a big difference between using a 50 watt heater to heat a 29 g reef than using a 250 watt heater to heat a 180 gallon reef. It is alot more efficient to put a little powerhead and a biowheel on a 29 g than a massive sump pump, skimmer, calc. reactor, and numerous powerheads and wavemakers on a 180. Also, think about all the trace elements and supplaments you need in a large tank. On my 29 g I go through an 8 oz. bottle of kalkwasser over 2 or three monbths. This treated my old 90 g for two weeks. Also, the tank bred fish currently available are the smaller fish. Clowns, gobies, and small angels are generally considered more sustainable in the wild anyway because they tend to their eggs. Natural lighting or lighta driven by solar panels are ofcoarse the best option but if these are not available, try to downsize. If you are trying to decide between a 250w mh or a 150w mh, get the 150 and keep more lps and soft corals. You could even get a few acros or tridacnas and keep them near the surface. Also, everyone says buy captive bred but I think we should also look at fragging and giving back to a lfs free or cheeply. This will make them more willing to take them from you. I supply my LFS with all the xenias they sell. This means they don't need to buy wild caught from Indo or captive bred that needed to be shipped hundereds of miles on jets producing greenhouse gases. It increases the survival rate if they don't have to travel long distances as well. Puting water back into the ocean is probably a bad idea. Look up Caulerpa Taxifolia on google. But I also think we should try to find a better way to dispose of waste water. Cosnider where you live as weel. If you live in an area where you know the marine ecosystem is fragile, maybe you should keep a tank. For example, I live in NYC where the marine ecosystem is fairly resilient, but if you live in Key West the marine fauna is more sensitive and prone to dying from pollution.

 

[rickyfins]

Yes this is true Sean, keeping in mind of our near by ecosystem is a great idea. Simple solution that is environmentally friendly and cheap to do. Treat your water with either Chlorine or similar agent to kill all microbes in the water. Do not dump it for 2 days so they chlorine has a chance to disappear and then you are good to go.

This is a tried and true method. Most decorations in FW tanks were actually cleaned this way up until a few years ago. Weird huh? Actually until I talked to a LFS in my area, he was still telling his customers to clean equipment and decorations this way. That was about 5 years ago now, but it will work great for the waste from skimmer cups, waste water from water changes, etc.

When you remove stuff "greenery" from your fuge, FREEZE it, this will kill it and you can safely dispose of it then in your garbage can or compost pile.

 

[Mark]

The obvious one, which is already mentioned, is reducing electrical consumption. Efficient skimmers, and new technology like LED lights certainly make sense. But there is more upfront cost involved.

But what about some cheap solutions to improving your existing tank:

One thing overlooked with people's existing tanks, is reducing the photo-period on metal halides. I'm still surprised that there are people I meet who run their halides 8-12 hours! I run my 3-250's for 4 hours a day, and run my 156 watts of actinics for 10 hours(mostly for viewing pleasure). And I have sps growing quite fast. Some of my colonies are hitting the surface and forming microattols. A short time of peak intensity is all that is needed. Shorter mh photoperiod also reduces heat and evaporation. Less top off water consumed, means less RO waste water.

Next up, your sump return pump. massive turnover is not necessary. Using low wattage prop pumps, like Tunze streams, allows one to cut the sump turnover(since the return pump isn't working double duty as a source of current in the display). A smaller return pump cuts electricity and quiets your tank.

 

[samtheman]

"A short time of peak intensity is all that is needed" Thanks Doctor! I am sure you are right.

 

[reefrat]

are there any sites completely dedicated to aquaculturing?? corals and fish