Starting my propogation business...

[TellyFish]

Great space, this is very exciting!

 

[chewitback]

No, all tanks will be mono-specific and each will be a stand alone system, i acquired a nice air blower which will supply the current (via lifts), filtration (sponge filters), and of course, airation. The blower will cost around $1 per day in energy, but it should be able to support 25+ of the 275 gallon tanks I'm using.

 

[reeftanknewbie]

No, all tanks will be mono-specific and each will be a stand alone system, i acquired a nice air blower which will supply the current (via lifts), filtration (sponge filters), and of course, airation. The blower will cost around $1 per day in energy, but it should be able to support 25+ of the 275 gallon tanks I'm using.

sounds like you have it all planned out...not familiar with a air blower though; could you explain?

 

[dahenley]

i am guessing that the blower that he is talking about is an industrial "air pump"
if you google. or youtube air lifts, you will see some amazing stuff. (i found 1 where rock quarries were playing with air lifts and like some 24" tubing.... and wow look at all the water flow!)

 

[Sula]

The garage door you see is not actually wood, but rather termites holding hands to keep the bits together.

:lmao::lmao:

 

[reeftanknewbie]

i am guessing that the blower that he is talking about is an industrial "air pump"
if you google. or youtube air lifts, you will see some amazing stuff. (i found 1 where rock quarries were playing with air lifts and like some 24" tubing.... and wow look at all the water flow!)

Thanks....I remember seeing things like this when I was in the freshwater side of the fence. good old 80's and the air lift tubes connected to the underground filter. any suggestions as to where I could find this being used for propagation tanks?

 

[dahenley]

the method is used by lots of larger tank growers. (prop tanks)
this is because the air pump is cheap, and can service many tanks.

the fresh water underground filter uses the same process.

the air pump and plumbing is about the same price as 1 good vortech/tunze pump....
but when you have huge troughs, it would take a doz of those pumps.. so the air lifts are far cheaper.

(if your working on your home frag tank setup, the air lift system wont be as economical/controllable and it does create more evap due to bubbles popping,and can be a little more noisy.)

 

[chewitback]

Yes a blower is just an industrial strength air lift. Think of an air lift that has a 2 inch port instead of that little hole you attach the soft plastic tubing onto.

 

[brad ellington]

First off I am writing. This on my phone so sorry..
I am 23 and love this hobby along with drag racing and farming / growing stuff.. I have been kicking around the idea of of trying to grow and sale Coral. I. Space and I am building a small greeen house 16' by 8' or12' but any way I have read a few books and look up stuff on here. But would like to hear from people that have or that are doing this.. the green houe is for a hydroponices project. I would like to keep things small and sale local. Any tips

 

[chewitback]

Well, first off, what do the pet stores need or look for in your area? If you can grow what they have a demand for, then its good. If you can't/wont/whatever, then it's going to be a rocky road. Don't just trust calfo's books, or anyone else's for that matter. Calfo strongly recommends Xenia and several other softies to start production (and even did when originally contacted) but ask any pet store and they will tell you that for every person they actually buy Xenia or sarcophytons or ___ from, they have 10 other people waiting to sell it to them. SPS might be the local demand, or Zooanthids. I know in indiana it's all about zoos (just go to an INDMAS frag swap if you don't believe me), but Chicago area in IL is more chalices, and SPS. The area and the demand of your area is going to greatly define what you should or should not produce. Don't grow a coral because you like it; grow it because others want it.

 

[BigCity]

Very interesting, tagging along to see how it goes.

 

[rooster426]

Awesome space! And an even awesomer town to have it in! That was truly a unique and serendipitous find (if that's a word?). BTW, the little guinea pig is seriously mobile, and eating like a madman.

 

[reeftanknewbie]

Yes a blower is just an industrial strength air lift. Think of an air lift that has a 2 inch port instead of that little hole you attach the soft plastic tubing onto.

I see thanks...I was confused with this but it seems like a cheap way to get some water movement in the tanks. I also agree with growing what others what vs. what you like. I have several corals in my tank already on the frag rack that are of interest of others and not myself. blue xenia and white anthiela are still very popular in my area.

 

[chewitback]

Awesome space! And an even awesomer town to have it in! That was truly a unique and serendipitous find (if that's a word?). BTW, the little guinea pig is seriously mobile, and eating like a madman.

Yes, it's a nice place indeed, and it was a great find! Glad to hear the science project is doing well

 

[robvdv]

Mm, be a little cautious with airlifts. I use two blowers and around 50+ airlifts in my greenhouse and I'm not convinced. Perhaps get a small rotary blower (not linear) and some cheap propeller pumps and see what works for you. FWIW I'm thinking of going about 50% airlift, 50% prop pump.

 

[acpoweradapter]

Looks good. Are you going to do wholesale or start a website?

 

[chewitback]

I'm going to deal with wholesale to start. I have already talked with several wholesalers to see if there was a market/demand for such things, and they all expressed interest. A webpage might fall into place later down the road, but for now it's a simple game of producing the product before I slap together things like websites to sell the product.

 

[dahenley]

CHEW,
did your wholesalers say what they look for, or give you suggestions?
(you dont have to share confidential information)

but since there are some that might be interested, they would know what they sell, and what they would look for.
i know you will have more, but it might help you get on your feet.

also, on a different thread, people say they might not sell the most, but their reputation for keeping the best looking corals (size and encrusting and what not) but also for keep the cleanest (algae free plugs and no bugs and pests)

it might suck for a while with 4 week QT on new stuff, but once you have all your tanks going, 1 bad coral can spread and ruin a lot of stuff.. and you dont want that reputation....


(in the future, are you going to talk about your QT setup and methods?)
just something to think about since this is a build/learning thread.... haha

 

[chewitback]

Yes the wholesalers told me what they want. I even spitballed the idea with one group where they are willing to send me the best and unique specimens they come across automatically for the purpose of me propagating them and selling them back in steady supply. Also a wholesaler gave me a list of things they knew we could mutually profit from because of recent unavailibility from wild harvests and a list of corals to be banned from wild harvests by CITES in the near future. As for my quarantining, it's relatively simple. Nothing elaborate, but hopefully it will prove just as effective. Let's just say pest algeas and parasites are not a concern at this time.

 

[jeff@zina.com]

Let's just say pest algeas and parasites are not a concern at this time.

Tossing them in a tank with a tang and a wrasse?

Jeff