not the most cost effective greenhouse you ever heard of

[robvdv]

We will dig out the area for the 1000gal. tanks by hand. The dirt will be held back by way of landscaping block.

My structural engineer told me a good trick for this kind of thing. He suggested filling the container with water to keep it rigid, then pouring cement sand (10-1 sand to Portland cement) in a wet slurry around the container.

I have a high water table where I live, so it was really important that my 1000L sump didn't pop out of the ground. Not sure if you face this problem?

Glad you're back in the saddle again

 

[redox]

still doing the gh thing but since its not really my operation I cant really comment on goings on. I will say that we are making some interesting break throughs in gh farming but I will never see a penny of the money:hmm5:

 

[redox]

rob we are using standard landscaping blocks in stead of filling dirt up against the 1000 gal containers. this allows air to be cuirculated around the containers to buffer temp one way or the other.

 

[robvdv]

Ah, okay. I suppose the air will also provide better insulation than dirt and make it easier/possible to remove the containers later.

 

[redox]

hey all

hey all

Dont forget... its not about retail its about the hobby and free learning...I think that the ocean might need a rest...lets kick aquaculture into over drive...Think before you purchase wild colonies...

 

[redox]

just puttn it out there for the sceptics

just puttn it out there for the sceptics

heres the pics look and sweat what I will bring back to the hobby once more...as long as I live I love the hobby..more to come

 

[redox]

I want to start my gh right now but will plan things ..The only thing I saved was the tunses....and one fibreglass vat...where will I go with this...not sure...I do know however I will be energy conservative and reef friendly....

 

[redox]

sitting hear contiplatn my new endeavor...I will ponder a while before i create...I need to get into the gh and clean up from my last trial...will take some pics and upload them..its not a pretty sight to see how the gh has stood since I dismantled it...It has stayed the same ..sad and I hate to even look at it...I will start over but it will be different and better than ever

 

[Bushpig_2]

Redox, i just got done reading through all of your thread, and i must say it was a gorgeous system. Your system is also a huge inspiration, hopefully in Feb i will be getting orders to WA where i plan to buy a house and set up a GH (i think the GH is phase 4 in the "Fish Plan", after i get my man cave/fish room set up) I especially got bummed when you decided to take it all down lol

How did your other project end up? there was only a couple pictures of the other guys Gh and that was it :/

What all do you have planned for your 3rd endeavor?

 

[redox]

Hey Bushpig2....I had all my time and money and soul in the last project....so many things and priorities have changed in my life...but I still have a deep love for the ocean and would love to see coral farming go beyond where it is today and actually sustain the hobby without actaually taking from the ocean....I want to do it off the grid...but how will I do that....unfortunately it takes money to buy the systems I need but i will start slowly and we shall see....I hope your project wrks for you and good luck with it:idea:

 

[Bushpig_2]

Well that's a bummer that it didn't work out for you, it looked pretty promising. It was supposed to be an actual aquaculture "facility" correct?

I am excited for when you do get project #3 up and running, even if it does take a while, but that's ok cause i still have 6 and 1/2 more months of deployment, so i have plenty of time to wait and see what you come up with lol

Since this is all about learning the hobby and deeper understandings of oceanic life and I've never actually had a reef tank (just read about them on the forum obsessively for almost a year) and i plan on having the GH my first actual reef endevour, I'd like to bounce a few things off you if you don't mind?

 

[redox]

Any time bro...Ill be happy to help you in any way I can....My main reason for the shut down was a nasty divorce..and a crappy economy at the time...Im bouncin back and want to do it all over...I have the knowhow just need to find the extra time...oh yea and bank..:lolspin::lolspin::lolspin: You sound like military...where are you stationed now....Im bout 20 miles from camp lejune...

 

[Bushpig_2]

Awesome, the GH is still all in planning (meaning in my head) as i dont even have a house yet!

Im thinking of making the "vats" out of wood and pond liner, or maybe getting a square 400 gallon water tank and cutting it in half. I'd like to do what you did, but i'm trying to make this project as cost effective and resourceful as i can. More out of cost than anything.

I'm also tossing around the idea of a 200 gallon water tank partially/little more than half burried in the GH for the sump/refugium instead of the traditional acrylic/glass under the "vats" style. If i were to do the water tank, i'd have PVC and eggcrate "cages" to put the LR in to keep it from turning into a detritus trap if i were to simply dump rock into it.

As far as skimmers, i'm also trying to design a DIY multi-skimmer instead of buying one outright, even though buying one would cost probably just as much. I think it would be more fun to build my own and show it off to people I'm probably going to build my own calcium reactor as well.

Thats correct, i'm Navy. I'm stationed in San Diego, hopefully by this time next year i'll be in WA though. I decided i wanted to build the GH first instead of the house tank, more for learning and then i can fund my dream tank with growing out and fragging.

 

[redox]

Bushpig....I would reconcider using a BLACK liner...Remenber in a gh the heat gain is very high...Even in a cooler climate you want to limit heat gain ...temp swings are very undesireable..Night time will cool down and the heat durring the day will not help a stable temp....Find a local boat builder...Fiberglass might be in your budget if you find a boat guy that has the spray rig to make you some vats from a mold. One thing I would do tho is to also spray foam insulation on the outside of the vats...Then paint them..on the foam so uv does not destroy it..the foam as well as the unprotected fiberglass....White gell coat will save the water side of the vat. I paid about 200 for each vat I had...The more you have the better it will sweeten the deal for the boat builder guy because the most exspensive thing for him is the original mold he has to make...He then simply has to blow the gel coat the fiber and pop it out and there you have it...I do think the insulation is a very inportant part...I never did that but will do it this time..A simple plywood form that is a little bit larger than the vat will contain the foam as you spray it in...can later be removed so you can paint it for uv protection or use marine plywood and leave it in place so get busy:wave::wave::wave:

 

[Bushpig_2]

I'd like to do the same thing you did with the fiberglass vats, and i know some fiberglass guys....but they're located in southern MI and the shipping cost for the vats to WA would be astronomical. But i'm hopefully going to be located around Puget Sound so i'm sure i'll be able to find a fiber guy around there somewhere, or maybe i'll try my hand at building some myself, i'm always down to learn new things. Although 200 for a vat isn't bad as a water tank online is about $250 plus about $175 in shipping.

Whatever i end up doing though, insulation on EVERYTHING that will hold water or has water going through it(probably not the PVC piping) will be a requirement.

I wish i could get busy on building this monster, i cant wait lol

One thing goal i'm going to strive for in this project is the only corals i want to place in this system is ones that are fragged from other peoples tanks or positively aquacultured corals. Even though there are some amazing looking corals on the web, i will have to refrain myself from loading this thing with them.