swmming pool reef

[luke33]

WOW, this is the first time i've seen this one. This is how it would have went down for me. I would have said, honey, i think i'm going to turn the old pool into a SW pool and spend alot of money on my dream tank........you have smoked one to many left handed cigs darling. Dream on! lol, no matter how many times i would have showed her how this dream would pay off and become profitable.....it would have always followed the rolled eyes and thougts of idioticy. lol, you must be single with to much money if you really plan on pullling this one off! Good luck! I'm rooting for you. My advice, just start it and mess up on the way. Re think and keep moving forward.

 

[zeusfc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10036211#post10036211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sac-bobme
the dust and stuff wouldnt be an issue w/ a glass house around it like he said he was going to do

ah yes good point... didn't remember that when vacuuming dust out pools!

best water-motion device would be surge towers... but these would render surface skimmers useless

look at waikiki aquariums outdoor exibits for ideas

 

[coffeedolphin]

THANKS for info- links- ideas-MUCH APPRECIATED!!! will fly to chicago for conference next week....

Pool-Reef update-
the city:
1) no laws against turning your pool into a reef as long as:
a) no salt water released into drains containing living organisms esp- non native
b) no illegal native organisms??(see above this one didnt make sense)
c) no violations of building codes
d) no commercial activity involved unless prelicensed
e) no violation of vector control laws
f) fully gated area

pool guy:
1-seen one already in laguna beach- mansion w/ infinity pool on cliff and side separate jacuzzi looking into an enclosed giant aquarium / pool - you can sit in the jacuzzi and watch models swim in the reef from the side- custom made w/ earthquake mounting absorbers- pre planned by same firm that did updates at long beach aquarium
2- said he thought salt water was 100 times stronger pool currently 30-40 ppmillion salt
3- pointed out that there is a large green city electricty box not too far from pool which could not be moved
4- noted otherwise pool in excellent structural condition and said he believes it would be possible- but also notes pool has small chance of popping out of ground at this sea level height if it were to be completely emptied??

contractor:
said can do anything including making enclosure- rewiring and re plumbing- with separate dedicated breakers- heaters- - even louvered ceiling to limit sunlight if I want- waiting for full quote

A/V guy- comes well reccomended- has over seventy custom installs in malibu and santa monica- will be here tomorrow

neighbor 1- im crazy

neighbor 2- please make sure to invite him when done- and please dont make too much noise

LFS group 2- be here after closing at 8 pm

thanks for all comments- ideas- i really appreciate it- 70 brains are better than one...

so far it seems like it can be done- but would be much more usable- practical- logical to build it custom in advance.....
i know i probably shouldnt do it- but i am very tempted just to see what happens... btw- as hard as it is believe i am normally not crazy..... ran a successful aquarium service company through medical school in DC in the late eighties and early nineties....have been around LARGE systems since far back as i can remember- father was a water purification engineer- helped designed and build worlds largest water desalination plants w/ the US dept of Interior JECOR- throughout the eighties- helped develop the first rolled RO membrane w/ US navy and parsons-bechtel-fluor prior to this....actually scuba dived within the pipes of these systems they were so huge-- have had aquariums entire adult life- everything from bettas to 300 g reefs.....just not bigger....yet. have dove in red sea, fiji, hawaii, pago-pago.... actually graduated with a degree in molecular physics from yale, but started off first year in mechanical engineering....so i dont know why i am being illogical and even pursuing this... but what the hell- what else am i going to do w/ my time?? i dont watch television, dont go clubbing-- and I love playing with aquariums..might as well build a reef.... will keep you updated

 

[BeanAnimal]

Yes the pool can POP out of the ground if emptied. The water table is very shallow in many parts of cali. When you drain the pool it can actually float out of it's hole.

Yes, it would be MUCH more usable and practical if it were engineered to be a reef form the getgo.

Are you OK with only being able to view from the top down?

 

[Michael L.]

Bean, you can get a device called "SNUBA". It is basically a simple SCUBA reg hooked up to an air compressor on a long hose. I think they are a couple hundred bucks and with a mask and a few pounds on a weight belt coffeedolphin could get a perfectly good view of the reef and access to frags.

We use them to dive boats (rezincing and bottom cleaning) and for picking up crap off the bottom of our pool with the vacuum.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I have worked with commercial divers many times. I have seen those, as well as the full dive helmets with supplied air and surface tether.

There was never a question as to the fact that there are certainy "ways" to view such a system up close. If you want to see the moon up close, or even in person there are ways also

 

[mope54]

I have an idea/deal:

Build a gazebo next to your pool, add a bar and jacuzzi, then build a huge circular tank.

Make sure your pool is clean and ready to run over the summer and I'll keep the pool/jacuzzi stocked with an assortment of hot, bikini clad women.

 

[Beaner3]

The SNUBA! Thanks for seconding that motion Michael L!

It sounds like CoffeeDolphin has done a little homework, and leg work. I have never seen anything like this done for private enjoyment before. And you have your bases covered on the maintenance side as well. I'm throwing my 2 cents in again and saying run a FOWLR in that pool for a while, at least a year, let all of the live rock goodies get a foothold, it will also give you time to see how all of that water will balance out. Good luck with it man! And post some pics if you really get moving on it and do this thing!

 

[Kentanner11]

I dont want to get into it, but personally I would not use my pool but instead make an insanely huge tank. Then with any left over money start a summer program for teens/adults who are interested in saltwater. Or what you could do would be; make a LFS lol!

 

[Kentanner11]

I dont want to get into it but I would personally build an insanely huge tank that could be built inside your house even if it was the size of an entire room, you could allways add to your house!,
I would do if I were you would start a program/internship for teens/adults who were interested in saltwater. Give back to the community in that sense, share the saltwater hobby. Anyways nomatter what you do good luck!

 

[Steven0000]

i would build a tank that you could go under and come up through the middle

kind of like a big dough nut
but with a square or rectangular hole in the middle

that way you could see all kinds of reef inhabitants

 

[zeusfc]

OK lets accept this is going to happen...

any chance of a couple of pictures of the pool as it is, so we can visualise the whole thing?

 

[coffeedolphin]

Spoke w/ second 'experts' - they basically said it would suck and i wouldnt be able to see anything- (very depressing) - and cleaning the curved sides would be a nightmare- they said i should build a rectangular tank partially underground- partially above ground on the other side of the house - more sun - more practical- and add an addition to sunroom - extension 1/2 flight down to view at eyesight level ..... this is exactly what auswog said ..... they think i can still make a 3-4k gallon new purpose built tank which i would actually use- for much less than the conversion - they also said not to trust the other lfs guys.. and after the novelty wears off i would be stuck w a mess........sooo should i be stubborn or sensible....i am going to ask 'experts' at chicago conference... if they say it sucks- am going to build the partial underground 3-4k tank

 

[Sarcophyton874]

What are you planning to SCUBA in your own tank? I mean a few vacations to the South Pacific would suffice. You might even be able to buy your own reef in Fiji.

 

[TriniStylez]

I really like the new idea of the partially underground tank.

 

[ludnix]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10037811#post10037811 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
Yes the pool can POP out of the ground if emptied. The water table is very shallow in many parts of cali. When you drain the pool it can actually float out of it's hole.

A friend of mine had his pool rip out of the ground from it being empty far too long. He left it empty for about 6 months due to his laziness and unwillingness to maintain a pool. The pool basically turns into a boat with the water underneath and all cement breaks around it raising the pool 4-5ft above the surface.

I don't know any steps to preventing this other than filling it with water, but I imagine it will all depend on what season of the year you're working on it.

Good luck and I can't wait to see some pics! How about some pics of the pool in it's current state?

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10041327#post10041327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coffeedolphin
Spoke w/ second 'experts' - they basically said it would suck and i wouldnt be able to see anything- (very depressing) - and cleaning the curved sides would be a nightmare- they said i should build a rectangular tank partially underground- partially above ground on the other side of the house - more sun - more practical- and add an addition to sunroom - extension 1/2 flight down to view at eyesight level ..... this is exactly what auswog said ..... they think i can still make a 3-4k gallon new purpose built tank which i would actually use- for much less than the conversion - they also said not to trust the other lfs guys.. and after the novelty wears off i would be stuck w a mess........sooo should i be stubborn or sensible....i am going to ask 'experts' at chicago conference... if they say it sucks- am going to build the partial underground 3-4k tank

Exactly what some of us have been saying all along

You will be much happier with well designed tank compared to the nightmare of trying to retrofit a swiming pool. If the water table is that high, you may have a hard time building something you step down into. The tank may have to be raised and landscaped around to give the feeling instead.

 

[PAUL327]

Forget the headaches that will come with a swimming pool reef. Save your $$$$$$$$$$$ and invest in an awesome reef tank that will be the envy of your friends and guests from your living room. What about earthquakes? Floods? Fires? would you want a natural disaster to ruin your Pool Reef? I wouldn't. I live In florida and I'm having a hell of a time just keeping my reef safe from all of the hurricanes. Great thought but bad idea. I dont know if it hails in your part but I went through two hail stroms last month say good bye to your green house. Just my opinion though. Plus who knows what Mother Nature has in store for Hunting Beach in the future and for the entire country as far as that goes.

 

[skimate]

I’ve been dreaming of building a reef in a large pool although not quite on this scale (10’x15’x5’). One option I’ve considered for viewing is to build a concrete room in the centre with windows in it and a bride to access the room. I dismissed the idea due to the space it would take up but it sounds feasible on a pool this size.

 

[plandy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10041327#post10041327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coffeedolphin
i would be stuck w a mess........sooo should i be stubborn or sensible....

You'd definitely be stuck with a regrettable mess if you proceed with this pool idea. It's such a shame to see all that time and resource wasted toward a dead end project. Listen up and build that large semi grounded tank and enjoy the rewards of finely engineered mini ocean reef. Make it any shape and size your heart desires.