Reef Tank on a Sail Boat

[twilmot]

This is an awesome idea. I don't know how it will work, but I am sure it will. I know really large ships have tanks on them all the time, if your out on the sea who dosn't want to see what is in the sea? Agian, I am excited to see how this plays out! Good luck, keep us updated, and remember lots of pics or it never happened!!!

 

[Tornader]

I hope this thread is a joke! Horrible idea and total bad luck... The only fish on board should be in my taco

 

[crazzyreefer]

Most people that know me, know I am no Joke, It's about engendering and a lot fore thought. Coupled with financial resources to get it done right. While there is a lot of stress on a tank, most can be resolved with proper engineering. Nothing is flexing, I don't build flexible stands, as far as pressures, my boat has much more pressure on it and its still in one piece. This is not 10,000 gal sloshing around.... It is less than 100, and with the Live Rock poured in place, it will be less than 40 or 50 gal finished...

The water over board.. I was waiting for that, yes, it will, and I do not intend to home Culerpa and other live sea plants. I have more sea creatures on the hull that will be transported to new areas, so this isn't a real concern or shall I say more than a concern of any boat leaving one area and traveling to another.

The water in the tank will seek its level, to that end it will go out the over flow and over board, when on upright it will again start to fill slowly with NSW.

 

[benjc]

While I haven't thought about this nearly as long as you have, it sounds like it would be a lot more feasible if you are planning continuous or near-continuous water changes using the surrounding sea water. Not having a sump/skimmer would certainly make it easier to design the system; especially if the system is FOWLR. Two other potential concerns that have popped into my head are: a) oxygenation of the water may be an issue if you intend to cover the top of the tank to prevent splashing - something that could likely be addressed in how you design any top bracing of the tank, and b) the energy required to heat the water - solar heating could help lower electrical demands, particularly if you could seal-off the connection to the outside sea water at night. While this system would be much more of an "open" system that a typical aquarium, designing a connection for the use of a UV sterilizer (if needed) may prove some benefit.

 

[billsreef]

The water over board.. I was waiting for that, yes, it will, and I do not intend to home Culerpa and other live sea plants. I have more sea creatures on the hull that will be transported to new areas, so this isn't a real concern or shall I say more than a concern of any boat leaving one area and traveling to another.

[chimp]

Are you really going to allow that much fouling on the bottom of your sailboat?

BTW, be sure and look into the flexibility of boat hulls...they all flex to a degree, even steel and ferocement hulls. They would break otherwise.

 

[power boat jim]

Most people that know me, know I am no Joke, It's about engendering and a lot fore thought. Coupled with financial resources to get it done right. While there is a lot of stress on a tank, most can be resolved with proper engineering. Nothing is flexing, I don't build flexible stands, as far as pressures, my boat has much more pressure on it and its still in one piece. This is not 10,000 gal sloshing around.... It is less than 100, and with the Live Rock poured in place, it will be less than 40 or 50 gal finished...

The water over board.. I was waiting for that, yes, it will, and I do not intend to home Culerpa and other live sea plants. I have more sea creatures on the hull that will be transported to new areas, so this isn't a real concern or shall I say more than a concern of any boat leaving one area and traveling to another.

The water in the tank will seek its level, to that end it will go out the over flow and over board, when on upright it will again start to fill slowly with NSW.

I was refering to the flexing of the hull and bulkheads that happens to all boats and ships in rough seas. I dont know about your boat in particular but I have seen hulls flex enough to knock port holes out of the hull and have bulkheads crack gel coat. This repeated flexing of the boats structure and the vibration and energy that passes through those structures and into the tank with each impact is what concerns me.

 

[Ptyochromis]

Most people that know me, know I am no Joke, It's about engendering and a lot fore thought. Coupled with financial resources to get it done right. While there is a lot of stress on a tank, most can be resolved with proper engineering. Nothing is flexing, I don't build flexible stands, as far as pressures, my boat has much more pressure on it and its still in one piece. This is not 10,000 gal sloshing around.... It is less than 100, and with the Live Rock poured in place, it will be less than 40 or 50 gal finished...

The water over board.. I was waiting for that, yes, it will, and I do not intend to home Culerpa and other live sea plants. I have more sea creatures on the hull that will be transported to new areas, so this isn't a real concern or shall I say more than a concern of any boat leaving one area and traveling to another.

The water in the tank will seek its level, to that end it will go out the over flow and over board, when on upright it will again start to fill slowly with NSW.

Many organisms that occur in our tanks were never intended or even wanted. Caulerpa was just an example, but there are many other organisms that cause issues when they are introduced to non-native areas. The list of planktonic organisms that may occur in your tank are wide and varied from gametes/larvae of various inverts and fish. Invasive algaes can have devastating impacts on environments outside their native range.

 

[crazzyreefer]

I fully understood the ramifications of transporting invasive species into other areas, Large ships take on hundreds of tons of water for ballast and then dump that water at another port, We all have seawater systems in our boats for engine cooling, this also transports organics to other areas, so it wouldn't be any worse than that, and certainty not millions of gallons like a cruise or freighter.

Ports popping out? That boat should be scraped..... Yea all hulls flex a bit, even along bulk heads, but its minimal, and the acrylic also flexes a bit, look at the bow in your tank. Over time the flex does create stress cracks, just like they are on our tanks, yet when we see them we don't run out and buy another tank, they still maintain their hold if built right from the start.

I might try to install port lights in the deck to run the ATS , This will utilize natural light to warm the water, provide filtration and reduce electrical consumption.

A stand pipe higher than the tank will allow gas excange and allow the water to drain back into the sea, For this I will use a Concentric Vent, the inside will act like a overflow while the outside will allow for gas excange of the tank.

 

[SGT_York]

If you placed the tank near the galley section I doubt you'll have many engineering issues that couldn't be fixed with good stand. There wouldn't be any flex if it is a stand alone if you attach the tank to the hull that would be an issue.

What are your ideas for the tank lid. a gravity drain would be a bit tricky as the level will depend on your tact.

 

[atreis]

I've no useful advice, just want to follow along to see how it goes. Fascinating discussion so far.

 

[TampaSnooker]

Many organisms that occur in our tanks were never intended or even wanted. Caulerpa was just an example, but there are many other organisms that cause issues when they are introduced to non-native areas. The list of planktonic organisms that may occur in your tank are wide and varied from gametes/larvae of various inverts and fish. Invasive algaes can have devastating impacts on environments outside their native range.

I agree wholeheartedly here. We get red tide blooms here in Tampa Bay most summers and offshore. It kills most everything in the area that swims through it and is a bloom of a single cell Dinoflaggelate. It only takes one to start a plague.

I see the point about ballast water being pumped in and out and the volume being trivial in comparison, but the big variable in this scenario is that the tank will be concentrating a lot of tiny organisms in its small volume and it only takes one opportunistic specimen to cause a potential issue. Infectious or invasive contamination is an issue that should be better addressed, IMO.

 

[Da Maui life]

:hmm5:

I would go with the big window at the bottom of the boat option.

Brilliant. :beer:

I'd skip the window and just dive over the side

 

[billsreef]

I fully understood the ramifications of transporting invasive species into other areas, Large ships take on hundreds of tons of water for ballast and then dump that water at another port, We all have seawater systems in our boats for engine cooling, this also transports organics to other areas, so it wouldn't be any worse than that, and certainty not millions of gallons like a cruise or freighter.

While certainly ballast water of large ships is responsible for a load of invasives, modern regulations require filtering and other means of trying hard to minimize such problems. Seems silly not to take steps to prevent introductions of possible invasives, even if just micron filtering and UV sterilization of the effluent.

As for seawater cooling systems of boat engines, that is only going to transport things a few feet from one spot to the next while the engines running. Under sail with the engines off, no further than the currents would move things naturally. More than day with the engines off, expect DO levels to drop low enough to prevent anything from living. Otherwise your engine cooling systems would be clogged with fouling in a matter of weeks.

 

[crazzyreefer]

Almost all sailboats have Sea Water strainers, They are for large sea grasses, not micro, engines are left off and the water 10-30 gal is in the system, The boat sets sail until it comes into the next port, and the engines are turned on briefly to motor into the next harbor, That said, a UV system is diffidently going to be looked at both for intake water and exhaust. I may have firm ground on the amount of pollution I expel, but I do agree that none would be the best for the environment as a whole, as for tankers, I owned a Dry dock facility, and I can assure you that most foreign vessels have no straining for sea water above 1", most military vessels have none of the regulations that even the commercial vessels should follow.

I was going to essentially make a acrylic box, seal the top with another sheet of acrylic, (after rock work is built), and then cut out for a large port in the top that would extend through the cabin top, and a smaller one inside for feeding, the large one would provide sunlight and cleaning access and the smaller one could be open in calm seas and Starboard tack for feeding.

But this means I would have 316 Stainless port in direct contact with the tank water, This is still an unknown, although they do make vinyl ports, they would be weak and would not hold the binding of the tank to the the cabin top. I will still have to get some large pieces on 316 and submerse them into my 26gal nano and see if the corals react to it.

 

[power boat jim]

Almost all sailboats have Sea Water strainers, They are for large sea grasses, not micro, engines are left off and the water 10-30 gal is in the system, The boat sets sail until it comes into the next port, and the engines are turned on briefly to motor into the next harbor, That said, a UV system is diffidently going to be looked at both for intake water and exhaust. I may have firm ground on the amount of pollution I expel, but I do agree that none would be the best for the environment as a whole, as for tankers, I owned a Dry dock facility, and I can assure you that most foreign vessels have no straining for sea water above 1", most military vessels have none of the regulations that even the commercial vessels should follow.

I was going to essentially make a acrylic box, seal the top with another sheet of acrylic, (after rock work is built), and then cut out for a large port in the top that would extend through the cabin top, and a smaller one inside for feeding, the large one would provide sunlight and cleaning access and the smaller one could be open in calm seas and Starboard tack for feeding.

But this means I would have 316 Stainless port in direct contact with the tank water, This is still an unknown, although they do make vinyl ports, they would be weak and would not hold the binding of the tank to the the cabin top. I will still have to get some large pieces on 316 and submerse them into my 26gal nano and see if the corals react to it.

Pics are a requirement for this thread:wave:

 

[billsreef]

Glad to hear your going consider treating your tanks effluent.

With the stainless, epoxy coat it It's what the public aquariums do.

 

[gt1009]

Is there a schedule 80 PVC port available? That would give you about the same strength as stainless without the corrosion issue.

 

[Reeferhead]

Do you foresee any issues with Customs / Agricultural Departments transporting these animals between various nations?

 

[crazzyreefer]

No custom problems, Only if I take something off the boat, The cats are QT until the are cleared, that is with a vet check, but in most places it isn't worth the vet check so they will have to stay on the boat.

With the new servers, I believe I can save pics to a album on RC... Correct?

 

[crazzyreefer]

Wouldn't the epoxy just pop off? The surface of stainless is vary smooth, do they just use epoxy paint? OR West Systems Epoxy? But is that is the case then most of this is figured out and I can start to design and order the tank front panel.