"Green" reef planning

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10996662#post10996662 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by treedesign
I also have to say that I as well would NEVER advocate releasing anything from our aquariums. Just posing the question for discussion :)
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Even just dumping the water would be a bad idea. The danger of releasing animals that displace native species is plenty well documented (such as the lionfish on the Atlantic US coast). This is easily avoided by simply not releasing the animals.

The potentially bigger danger is releasing infectious organisms in the water against which native species may not have resistance. This could happen even with just dumping tank water back into the ocean.

Dave
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10996715#post10996715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scarletknight06
well, when the time comes, perhaps I will try to make my own stand.

Thanks for all the comments everyone.
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Remember to use FSC certified timber.

Good luck on your project. I'm sure it will be great and an inspiration. :cool:
 
OH BOY.. Those posts were to long for my attention span.

Simple.

Lighting LED 12volt DC
pumps vortechs 12 volts DC

solar panel- already 12 volts DC

done.

LOL go 12 volt and use solar very green all free electricity. Even if you need an inverter to convert to 110v AC for those things you can not purchase in 12 volt DC

Makes a green project much easier.
 
Here's one thing I wanted to ask about: what about all that "waste" water from RODI units? I used to try and save some to water plants, etc, but I know must just direct it right into the drain. Are there any RODI units out there that produce no "waste" water or substantially less?
 
Do not use RODI. Go with a Kati Ani system, no waste and water is just as good if not better coming out of the other end. Plus the unit is rechargable and no refill cartridges to buy EVER!
 
I love the idea of using natural sunlight for coral / reef system, if it could be applied, amplified, adjusted etc....

There is a coral 'farm' here, smack dab in central Ohio, the guy uses the free sunlight to grow his aquacultured corals, clams, etc..... They are in a small greenhouse, next to his house, on his property. He grows out coral under the sun, literally. I don't know the specifics of his system, I've only been out there a couple of times, but it is just awesome, and it sure can be done.
 
Correct but on a large scale so you get much more water before a recharge is neccessary. It also employs higher grade resins than that of other aquarium and home DI units therefore giving you cleaner water. The gentleman who is involved with Kati Ani is actually a member in the club I belong to which is why I know a little about it. If not I probably wouldn't know what one is.

I plan on switching over to a kati ani shortly. I am just waiting for my RO cartridges to need replacement.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11084242#post11084242 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nrstype
I love the idea of using natural sunlight for coral / reef system, if it could be applied, amplified, adjusted etc....

There is a coral 'farm' here, smack dab in central Ohio, the guy uses the free sunlight to grow his aquacultured corals, clams, etc..... They are in a small greenhouse, next to his house, on his property. He grows out coral under the sun, literally. I don't know the specifics of his system, I've only been out there a couple of times, but it is just awesome, and it sure can be done.
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That place isn't far from me, but since I don't have a tank right now I haven't been out to see it. I certainly want to check it out when I get closer to building my house (and preparing for my big tank).
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11084242#post11084242 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nrstype
There is a coral 'farm' here, smack dab in central Ohio, the guy uses the free sunlight to grow his aquacultured corals, clams, etc..... They are in a small greenhouse, next to his house, on his property. He grows out coral under the sun, literally. I don't know the specifics of his system, I've only been out there a couple of times, but it is just awesome, and it sure can be done.
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Are you talking about the one in Akron, or a different one?

While it's true that you can recharge the Kati-Ani systems, unless they've changed the system, you have to use relatively harsh chemicals to do so, and end up putting much more waste into the system than you would if you're using the RO in the washing machine as mentioned above.

Dave
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11092850#post11092850 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scarletknight06
Wolverine,
I dont understand. can you elaborate?
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The kati-ani system is just a larger DI system with the cation and anion chambers separated; most DI cartridges just deal with both together, which is more space efficient, and fine after RO, but you have to have them separate to be able to recharge them. Basically you chemically treat them to wash out whatever they've removed from the water, and you're able to reuse the resins. I don't remember the details off the top of my head, because it's been 5 or 6 years since I was looking into these systems (that's why I made the qualifier about whether or not it's changed). The recharging and washing process used some fairly hazardous chemicals that you had to be sure to handle properly to avoid little things like injury to yourself, and it was also a relatively labor intensive process.

Dave
 
I've been watching this thread and reading due to a project for research paper for my comp. class, on reefkeepers impact on coral reefs, and what we can do to lessen that impact, etc. etc, and figured I'd throw this your way, a section of an article written by Randy Holmes-Farley:

Recharging DI Resins

When DI resins are present as mixed bed filters, they are essentially one-time use devices that must be thrown away when depleted. These are the types supplied with many commercial RO/DI systems, and are what I use. Separate bed DI resins have certain advantages, however. In particular, if they are kept in different cartridges, they can be recharged.

The recharging process is essentially the reverse of the deionizing process (Figures 6-8). A strong acid (usually hydrochloric acid, HCl) is used to swap H+ for all of the positively charged ions on the cation-binding resin (Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg++, etc.). Likewise, a strong base (usually sodium hydroxide, NaOH) is used to swap OH- for all of the negatively charged ions on the anion binding resin. Both hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide are readily available and inexpensive. They are, however, potentially dangerous to work with. The detailed procedures and safety precautions are beyond the scope of this article, but can be found elsewhere online.
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Here's the link to his whole article on RO/DI systems. ;)

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rhf/index.php

HTH.
 
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