Greenhouse corals

[mattjfishman]

Soo long story short, i've got one greenhouse and have a lead on two more. I always thought it would be cool to have a greenhouse system to grow corals and such. I was wondering if anybody had anything to add. I know Matt has done it... Anybody else have any experience?

 

[TriMax]

I wanted to several years ago. I did not have access to a greenhouse. So, I did not get very far with the plan. Water and power at the greenhouse will be a must. I would think. Being able to seal it up in the winter and open it up in the summer, also.

Kind of obvious, huh?

Eddie

 

[goreefer]

I think that the utility cost for both heating and cooling would be too high at a small scale. Even with a small 10X12 glass green house you could easily expect to pay $200 a month. If we lived farther south in a different climate zone it would make a tremendous difference.

 

[macclellan]

Yeah, I bet this would only be profitable in tropical and subtropical latitudes.
It could work here seasonally though - keep 'seeds' indoors through the winter and farm outdoors through the growing season, and we'd be talking large ponds, not glass aquariums, to help with temperature stability.

 

[mattjfishman]

I'd think the biggest thing would be heat in the winter. Also maybe some supplemental light in the winter as well.

 

[Sir Knight]

depending on the size of the greenhouse heating is the least of your worries. A gas space heater will handle that. Cooling will be your big problem, in both winter and summer. The sun will heat your tanks very fast during the day, even if you have 240 or 300 gallon tanks. Greenhouse fans will help but not solve all of your problems, you may have to incorporate geo-thermel cooling. In best case you will need electric(for water pumps, fans, and if needed supplemental lighting) and if possible water in the greenhouse to make water for water changes, adding when you sell and evaporation (which you will have and need a lot) I would add about 300 gallons of evaporated water every two or three days (11 - 240 gallon tanks). The last thing you will have to remember is this is a lot of work. Set yourself up to be working in the greenhouse for at least 4 to 8 hours a day seven days a week. This is not like have a couple of tanks inside the house. If you are not working or a student it isn't that bad but if you have a full time job and a family it will get old very fast. Also you will need to think about a generator just in case the power goes out. Just some thing to think about.

Joe

I am telling you like it is from doing it myself in Maryville.

 

[EvilMel]

Though I missed that meeting, a bunch of us ETRCers went to see Joe's greenhouse when he set it up. It was supposed to be outstanding!

 

[Pandarian]

It was outstanding! Good to see you're still around Joe.