Swimming pool as a prop tank

[RRodrigues]

Hi,

I'm planning to use those flexible plastic swimming pools as a prop tank. I want to go big and have lots of space for my corals to grow. That way I could also do some snorkel in it, always dream with that...

I want to share some thoughts about it.

Thank you.

 

[purebullet417]

i saw one for 30 bucks today and i wanted to buy it but my mom said no lol. its was 120" long and totaled 284 gallons lol

 

[RedEyeElf]

I've seen it done in the rigid ones

the flexy ones seem like they might leak, and that would be a HUGE problem in the living room

 

[TIMMYE]

I think they would be perfect. Nice and shallow, but just get a rigid one.

 

[RRodrigues]

TIMMYE, why a rigid one?

 

[chrisstie]

If I was a coral, I wouldn't want to grow in a pool that someone is going to swim in- theres a lot of body gunk that would go in the water I would think

 

[TIMMYE]

When I think of swimging pools I am thinking more of the kidde pool types. Something mor ein the range of 8-16" deep and 4-6 across. And with that you a few types, the soft sides plastic, or the harder more rigid ones. With the rigid ones I would think it would allow you drill bulk heads if you wanted too, and you would not have to worry about the side caving in on you. Just my thoughts. I was actually thinking of doing something similar to this for an outside setup this year, with growing kenya, xeina, and other weed type corals.

 

[72olds455]

I think he is talking about the 200.00 portable swimming pools right? They are like 4' tall and 10' across. I have had the same idea, fill it with salt water add a skimmer and some frag racks and presto huge under the sun frag tank fun!!! You would have to make provisions to take care of evaporation and rain water though.

 

[jpm]

grandaaa maluco!!!!

I was think in this idea to .
We have to talk about this.

 

[Meisen]

Yeah cool idea. Make sure that the material they are made of isnt going to poison your whole enterprise though. Some of those vinyl pools leach crap into the water for a long time. You can smell the stuff coming off them!

If I were to use the smaller, pre-made kiddie pools, I would just buy two and double them up for more structure. I think between the UV and the warm water, they might not hold up so well (havent you ever seen them bust after a season or two outside?).

The portable Koi ponds they use for shows would work well and are probably safe but mucho $$$ I think.

I like the rubbermaid horse troughs. Much more durable (UV stable) and they actually have a decent system volume to boot.

 

[Meisen]

If you decide to go the 4' x 10' pool route, we NEED to see pics! Especially ones of your family swimming amongst the coral racks.

 

[Grunt]

One of my friends has a coffee table pool book. It has pictures of some amazing pools. One of which is a saltwater pool and its entry way is a slope of sand, its a natural pool. It looks amazing. Wish I had one like that.

Cheers

 

[Rustylugnuts]

22' geodesic screen dome (replace screen with polyethylene film) + 16' above ground pool = more than i can afford but it would certainly be fun

 

[adamhaulena]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=609669

If he was talking about the kiddie pools, this one started to leak because of a non-uniform bonding surface for his plumbing.

 

[davy182]

why not use cement blocks and some pond liner and whamo instant pool the size you want for cheap.

 

[72olds455]

I saw a pre-made liner that fits perfectly into a 40 yard construction dumpster. Just coat the dumpster in something to make it more rust resistant and sink in in the ground where only a foot sticks up, add the liner and fill. Now thats a big frag tank.

 

[davy182]

or just dig a whole and line it

 

[Jojoyojimbi]

how about an old bathtub, already predrilled in two spots for an overflow

 

[adnup]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9824702#post9824702 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 72olds455
I saw a pre-made liner that fits perfectly into a 40 yard construction dumpster. Just coat the dumpster in something to make it more rust resistant and sink in in the ground where only a foot sticks up, add the liner and fill. Now thats a big frag tank.

Yeah Aquatic Eco sells them......I had visions..... then they were suddenly dimmed via the "wife" lol...

 

[RRodrigues]

davy182, I also thought using the pond liner but I guess is a bit more expensive.

Thank you all for the advice. I'm seriously considering a 95" x 65" x 20" (240 x 165 x 50cm) flexible plastic swimming pool. I'm going to set it up in my garage.

Now the question is how many of those big lumenarc reflectors do I need to get a nice amount of light in it?? I was searching for other reflector types (those used in hydroponic culture) here in Europe but can't find any online.

I'm planning to use 250W 10.000K as this is primarily for soft coral. Maybe i'll use live sand to cover the bottom and give me some bottom-up reflection. For filtration I'll be using dead live rock. As this swimming pool has aproximately 450gal (1700l) I was thinking of using a big air pump to move water (as Calfo did in his GH).

CC always welcome