swmming pool reef

C

coffeedolphin

New member
Has anyone converted their swimming pools into a reef? I have a backyard pool, ibelieve its 12k gallons- never use it- its a salt pool - no chlorine - i was thinking of making a glass enclosure and converting it into a giant reef - maybe w a diy rock scaffold system w internal piping- i live in huntington beach california -warm but not too warm and good sun most of year - i could add a few 1000w halides if needed - is this even possible or legal and has anyone ever done this?? please advise
 
I am going to discuss it w/ the guys at OC aquatics later today - i had just asked them to custom build a 300g in a separate room- if this is feasible i might just do it instead... i will make sure it is legal as well - i know large fw pools have to be approved here bcause of mosquito larvae... i already inadvertantly ended up w a fw pool after draining it and filling it w/out chlorine when first buying the house two years ago i was fined for the algae and mosquito larvae - tadpoles etc by the city...but their shouldnt be any mosquitos in saltwater- and if it is enclosed i should be able to do what i like w/ it??
 
I dont think rain would be an issue, not in a reef of that magnitude. the ocean often experience chances in salinity.

no need to cover it. I think the main problem would be the sheer cost of making that volume worth having.if your thinking of a reef for it, ouch. youd need 10,000$ worth of cleaning crews atleast. you cant exactly hop in and start syphoning ditrius.
 
Water changes, rain water polutants, electrical costs, evaporation makeup, heating costs...

How in the world do you think you will be able to manage such a project? This is something that takes a full time staff to maintain and monthly budget. Do you have dive gear or know a diver?

Groundwater contamination, anti-fungal paints, neighbors pesticides and fertalizers...

You would need to build a greenhouse over the entire tank. All for a blurry top down look of some coral?

There is just too much to deal with compared to a purpose built tank.
 
I'll volunteer depending on the budget you looking at.

A word of warning. It gets VERY expensive.

For LR you can use DIY rock and seed it with regular LR. In 6months you wont know the difference.

As for lights dont worry, sunlight in California is around equiv to 1200-1500w per sq meter.

When are you planning on doing this if you decide?

A gaint reactor but suplements and salt alone will run into the thousands for start up. Pumps and plumbing are simple to design and figure out, but you will probably opt for a larger submerged Wave machine.

I have played with Lagoons and larger tanks but never done a pool conversion. Just being honest.

If you decide to bring this beast to life. PM me as I would be enlist my services.

-RFB
 
It would basically be like an aquaculture operation. I wouldn't do it unless you have access to large quantities of seawater.

If it were me I would just fill it in, build a green house a have a large tank built.

If you can't afford that then you probably don't want to do this.
 
Wow I was thinking about something like that, sep for I dont have a pool well the neighbors house is up for sale and there Is NO way it is going to sell. If I had a pool/what you should do... is to first make a GIGANTIC batch of LR from concreate you need to soak it for like 2months to get the PH right anyways it costs you 9cents or so per lb and you could sell them for 2$ a lb if you made a pool full you would definately gain some serious $$$ I would say into the thou's. easily! It is just an undertaking! lol Good idea. I would dont know about covering it,, you would keep out mosquitoes but w/o a cover mosquitoe larve would be eaten by the fish!!! Would you use the existing pumps, IMO it depends on what you have, I would use the existing plumbing but scrap the exisitng pumps and filters and make a serious DIY!!! lol GOOD LUCK! you never know you might turn into a home aquarium that people from all over come to see lol! Hey you could charge admission! Anyways sorry for rambling but GOOD Luck! lol
 
I talked to the guys at OC aquatics:
1) need to ask city if ok- they think it should be ok if covered
2) need to build a drain system with elevated tiled and sealed enclosure for flooding- will ask my contractor guestimating 6-10k
3) need plexiglass top- again probably 20-25k for enclosure w/ top
4) need enclosed filtration system w industrial skimmer- they said 4-6k for skimmer and pump
5) they said scaffold w/ diy would work but would take LOTS of help/time and 3 months to stabilize
6) would add 1000 lbs of rock on top of scaffold system
7) they can get truck of water- catalina water at 20cents a gallon to deliver- would take multiple trucks but doable
8) they said exactly what you guys said: expensive- but easily could be used for aquaculture- tey would grow their sps in it and maintain it if i build it...........
i am going to get the contractor here on tue to ask how much for the enclosure- draining-retiling- filtration shed
 
Man, it will be expensive but it would be great if you are able to do it!!!! It would be nice if you can build something so that you can view it from its side though.

Keep us updated!
 
ya, mabe dig a ditch next to it and a small viewport. probibly wouldn't cost much considering you are turning a POOL INTO A REEF, how cool is that!

Considering how close you are to the ocean, I would try to see if there is any way to install a pipe to a salt water source and put a pump on that bad boy. Try and talk the city into hooking something like that to one of there saltwater sources. Say you will let whoever does research on coral have the advantage of using this as a research resource or if I were you I would let them keep coral in it. You just might get them putting endangered corals in it. so cool and it wouldn't hurt to ask. Contact some researchers and universities and see if they would be interested in helping you out in exchange for use of it for research. It would be cheaper for them to just visit you for classes then it would building there own system.
 
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