swmming pool reef

[Horace]

I would def go with the custom built tank. You can get yourself a MONSTER fiberglass tank built and then install glass where ever you want for viewing. Our local Culvers just put in a 1500g fiberglass tank with two starfire viewing panes of like 3'x10'. Seriously, if you cant view it from the side(s) then its going to be a big waste of money IMO. Build it so your guests can be amazed...no guest is going to appreciate the hard work/money you put into a tank that they cant even visually enjoy.

 

[PAUL327]

I agree Horace

 

[Beaner3]

Use the pool as a filter/ some type of refugium for a massive wall tank set up to separate your inside from the out doors, With a mega deep sand bed and maybe a sea grass type biotope. That would be pretty cool too. To have one whole wall of your house as a reef. And your pool to filter it. Like a 10 foot high thing made out of 4" acrylic with 1/8" skinning the outside of it to protect the actual aquarium panel from scratching. When the 1/8" gets too scratched. it will be much cheaper to replace than a whole 4" ten foot tall sheet. The fee for this consultation will be waived as long as you post some pics of your pool at least. haha

 

[BeanAnimal]

"skinning" the viewing panel will make for a rather poor viewing experience. Light is reflected/refracted at each air/material interface. In the case of two panels, that means

AIR
SURFACE
ACRYLIC
SURFACE
AIR
SURFACE
ACRYLIC
SURFACE
WATER

The net result is a significant amount of distortion. In other words the benefits of using acrylic for clarity will be lost. Depending on the height, low iron glass may provide a less distorted view and be more durable. The problem with the glass is the thickness needed for strength and the loss of light and clarity due to that thickness.

Wo certainly DO laminiate viewing panes (Your car windshield is two panes of glass with a sheet of flexible plastic inside). However the materials are sandwiched very tightly (fused) together to eliminte much of the distortion.

Think of the distortion on a double pane window when you look through it at an angle. Notice the extra reflections?

 

[Beaner3]

Really? I built this aquarium and installed it with a sheet of 1/8" skinning the side you see here. This tank is in a bar and restaurant and I did this to protect it from the possibilty of some drunken stiff running his keys all across the front. Looks terrible and distorted doesn't it?! You are just shooting everything down everywhere BeanAnimal. I would love to see your "perfect" setup because I'm SURE a know it all like you has all the best gear to go with all that knowledge stuffed into your gigantic brain. See? now I'm getting negative here. I'm not even responding to any more of your posts. no one likes a knowitall

To everyone else though, skinning an aquarium with thin cast acrylic DOES work and does NOT distort. I can say this from first hand experience. Also notice THE ANGLE that this picture was taken, I don't see any "SIGNIFICANT DISTORTION" do you?

 

[Flamehawk]

That tank looks just fine to me JOHNNY

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10056076#post10056076 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Beaner3
Really? I built this aquarium and installed it with a sheet of 1/8" skinning the side you see here. This tank is in a bar and restaurant and I did this to protect it from the possibilty of some drunken stiff running his keys all across the front.

There is a difference between a display in a bar and display costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a home. Get real.

Looks terrible and distorted doesn't it?!

Who could tell from a photo like that. Honestly man... this is nonsense.

You are just shooting everything down everywhere BeanAnimal.

Get over it and grow some thicker skin. Why is it that you just can not handle people who disagree with you? Why is it that you feel the right to make personal attacks when you somebody disagrees or has a different opinion? Get over it and grow up.

I would love to see your "perfect" setup because I'm SURE a know it all like you has all the best gear to go with all that knowledge stuffed into your gigantic brain.

And there we go with the personal insults. GROW UP. There is no such thing as perfect. Why are YOUR ideas and opinions valid but not mine? This has NOTHING to do with perfect. It has to do with the exchange of information. NOT ALL IDEAS are good ideas beaner. Holding a different opinion is certainly not hostile. Having knowledge, logic and sound reason to back that opinion is also not a crime. Just becuse YOU don't have a gigantic brain stuff with knowledge, does not mean some of us don't. Get over it.

See? now I'm getting negative here. I'm not even responding to any more of your posts. no one likes a knowitall

No your making personal attacks like a spoiled child. If you don't like my opinion, refute it kindly or don't say anything at all.

To everyone else though, skinning an aquarium with thin cast acrylic DOES work and does NOT distort.

The average blind monk could tell if a 1/8" sheet of acrylic is placed in front of a display tank. The point WAS that somebody spending THAT KIND OF MONEY on a luxury display MAY NOT WANT the added distortion. I SURE WOULD NOT.

A) We are talking about people who spend thousands extra on STARFIRE glass to get just a bit more light transmision and a little less tinting compared to regular glass.

B) We are talking about people who use ACRYLIC because IT IS CLEARER than GLASS with LESS DISTORTION.

So the point remains the same. ADDING A unbonded layer to the front of the tank will add to the distortion of the object viewed inside the tank. Pretty dam simple fact that is easily demontstrated via science or first hand observation.

When coupled with A and B above, my point is that IT MAY NOT BE WANTED. What don't you get about that? It does not take a gigantic brain full of knowledge.

I can say this from first hand experience. Also notice THE ANGLE that this picture was taken, I don't see any "SIGNIFICANT DISTORTION" do you?

I don't know the picture kind of sucks for the purpose you are trying to use it for. Secondly, a picture is rather useless for this purpose anyway.

 

[illal]

this whole thread is nonsense

 

[zeusfc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10055091#post10055091 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Beaner3
Use the pool as a filter/ some type of refugium for a massive wall tank set up to separate your inside from the out doors, With a mega deep sand bed and maybe a sea grass type biotope. That would be pretty cool too. To have one whole wall of your house as a reef. And your pool to filter it.

RATFPML!!!!!

congrats Bean on reaching over 9000 posts... at this rate you'll have the 10000 by July 4th...

 

[BeanAnimal]

just 50,000 or so behind Randy Farley

Thanks for reminding me that I spend too much time helping people and not enough time drinking beer!

 

[coffeedolphin]

Update: have been discussing idea extensively- thanks once again for all the help- the feedback has been helping me shape this into a more reasonable and doable project............

A/V guys said forget it- even highest rez nothing close to what i want/ what looking up close at aquarium

someone did the pool-reef in miami a few years ago- started off w/ some corals on shelves- big mess- did nothave custom enclosure- just tarp for rains- became a big mess- gave up after one year--

pool-reef would work better in tropics w new plumbing- done many times esp for aquaculture

i was asked to start w/ goals & budget & work forward not backward from spur of moment idea so here are goals, of course SAFETY being first, w/ budget of 80k for system 20k for livestock:

1) Very large system 4k gallons plus

2) able to keep grow any corals

3) rely on natural lighting as much as possible

4) if feel like it- can get into pool from above

5) keep maintanance down as much as feasible

6) view should be at least one side at least 12 feet by four foot

That said based on all excellent comments above- i think a new pool-reef 16 ft by 12 ft by 10 high - rectangular- with four feet below ground on 2 ft concrete pad--- six feet above and 12 foot viewing pane along the 16 ft side is reaonable. on the back side there would be a cover -maintanance room with ladder to view from above and enter- three foot- with a side one foot rim leaving a central open to sunlight area of fourteen wide by 8 from front to back.....maintenace room
would be a 4 by 16 shed behind for equipment- would not have a sump- just one large industrial skimmer. would make a diy live rock framework inside the system curing w/ light salinity to check system thoroughly.. a s for protective acrylic on glass- more than scratches i am concerned about earthquakes- i have to be certain that 12 by 4 sheet does not pop off under any circumstance- and that there are no cracks......maybe a concrete basin lined w/ fiberglass one fit rim- either glass or acrylic presed against the rim- does anyone have experience w this???

 

[coffeedolphin]

Also- if making DIY infrastructure live rock- could i use 1 1/2 inch pvc pre drilled with increasing diameter holes from proximal to distal as framework to make the diy rock- and run flow out through rock both during curing as wella s later when adding real rock/ inhabitants- ie flow would be from inside therock out- as well as surge device- has anyone done this before- would it work??

 

[coffeedolphin]

also- for the roof panels- what would be th ebest material- - i have a sunroom now w/ some type of plastic large 2 by 6 ft panels- but they appear to be slightly yello already after six years..... any suggestions on roof panel material??

 

[coffeedolphin]

THANKS ONCE AGAIN FOR ALL COMMENTS: BOTH THE SUPPORTIVE AND THE CRITICAL - I AM LEARNING FROM BOTH!!!

 

[BeanAnimal]

I think it will depend on what kind of structure you plan to build.

Glass may be an option and would likely be the best for durability. However earthquake damage is a consideration also.

Lexan is the most durable with regard to earthquakes, but I believe it has a lower light transmision ratio than does clear acrylic.

The problem with lexan is that it scratches so easily. Acrylic will aslo scratch easily.

This may be a question for you local sunroom contractor that has experience with sunroom type structures in your area.

 

[t-bone2]

wow another ruined thread good luck coffeedolphin in what ever your decision is sounds like you have been doing this along time research is always the most important part of any decision again good luck

 

[zoly5]

hey i live in huntington beach too. JW were is your house in HB?

 

[BeanAnimal]

t-bone what exactly is ruined about the thread?

It would appear to me that several of us have offered coffeedolphin a substantial amount of help in finding a direction for this project.

We have helped find the right questions to ask.
We have helped him determine that converting a concrete swimming pool into a reef is not likely the best use of resources and will not likely provide the best overall viewing or maintenance experience when the same resources could be used to engineer a system beter suited to meet his needs.
We have helped him determine that whatever he builds need to be isolated from the runoff and debris from being placed outdoors.
We have helped him determine that flow and rock structure will be important and may be better addresses in a ground up engineered system.

I could go on... but it would be pointless.

 

[t-bone2]

oh i thought it looked more like an episode of wwe on monday night everyone has some sort of good imput no matter which side of the road there comming from instead it turns into a ****ing contest on weathers who right or wrong thats all

 

[coffeedolphin]

Spoke with Anthony Calfo and Sang Ly at IMACS: Calfo said hes seen MANY pool-reefs especially in tropics- said he has taken tons of pictures of them and in them with viewboxes -and that its very easy to make an overhead viewbox that floats from acrylic- he will put together the pictures of the pools and lagoons and place them on his marine depot advice site to show what can be done....

Started a a discussion w/ hobbysists after talking to experts--at lunch break- Essentially consensus was that pool reef retro will take more than 30 hrs aweek to maintain while custom half pool-half tank reef will take ten or less hours aweek.......with better view---

Sang of ecosystems was very helpful and gave me acopy of a GREAT magazine: CORAL- a translation of a german magazine Koralle--- the recent 2007issue is dedicated to......GIANT TANKS!!! they interview Knop and his tank w/ pictures over 15 yeasr and this guy yiall (likely mispelled) who made a 20k tank- turning it into a public aquarium!!- I have to finish reading this on the way back and will update monday ---