720 Gallon Project Update.

[curator]

I wanted to post this update to my project since I have yet had a chance to produce a new web page explaining where I am in the process. Previously I had finished coating the room with Polyboard and installed a Natural Vented Gas heater for Climate control.

I have two thermostats, one running fans

and one running the heater.

The reason I used two is because in some cases the room is cool but requires circulation because of humidity. I will eventually drop the thermostat and have the fans controlled by humidity monitor, but I chose this route in the interim to cut cost.

After the room was complete I purchased the tanks, which from a previous post I described where the Rubbermaid stock tanks.

I had taken those back in exchange for Tuff Stuff tanks which provided more growing area.

I had originally planned to have a sump return for each system, I was going to buy the Tuff Stuff 40 gallon tank, elevate the grow tank and have the sump underneath at a 90 degree angle with half of the sump exposed. I wanted to have the option to run skimmers and DSB’s in the sumps if I so chose.

Because of space requirements and the lack of desire to build stands for each system I ditched the idea all together. I will be running 6 independent systems and one Display.

I have broken up the systems like this. Quarantine, SPS, Leather, Gorg & sponge, Disco, Palythoa and Zoanthus. I will be running DSB’s in two of the systems the Sponge, and Disco’s. In the remaining ones I will be running rock rubble as a biological filter. Most of the tanks will be low to moderate flow with exception of the SPS and Zoo tank, which will be moderate to high.

I am running a myriad of lighting, in fact anything I can find on the market. My objective is to have the option to watch study and photograph the animals under a variety. So far I have purchased a Quad Prism PC, A standard dual 40w fixture, A #4 110 VHO Ice Cap pendant. I will most likely ass three more fixtures each MH, two with supplemental PC’s.

The room provides natural lighting via three skylights, which during the summer months provided a great amount of illumination. I however am not one of the lucky ones with a E/W home, so during the winter I am finding I lack direct light. I have a lumens and Par meter and plan to begin a series of weekly measurements which I will post in quarterly intervals.

Blane Perun

 

[Marcosreef]

Excellent! Very well done. Seems like you put a lot of time and effort into your system(s). I wish you the best and thanks for sharing!

Marco

 

[Dumb Guy]

That's a big setup. Looks like you plan on making a lot of money off of your LFS. How big is the show tank? Looking forward to seeing your progress.

 

[curator]

not so much, money I'm going to gear towards trading
through Mail and Frag Swaps. I'll be selling corals to
my site members at a discount if they have nothign to
trade.

My old display was 450 gallons, I hope to match that
with my new display.

 

[Anonymous]

Nice! Very clean looking.

Where did you get the tuff stuff tanks? I'm using a rubbermaid from Agway, but I like the looks of yours better.

Are you currently selling frags off your page or is that all in the future?

 

[curator]

I got the Tuff Stuff locally. I had the Rubbermaids originally but returned them all for that reason. I had sold intensively for about 1 year, then decided I liked it enough to invest in this addition. I feel now with more room I can dedicate systems, and have a lower operating cost, and less loss. I believe this will result in a more pleasurable experience. My aim is trading and frag swaps, however I’m sure I will continue to sell propagated coral to those who don’t want to be bothered with trading.

http://doityourself.com/store/variouspetsupplies02.htm

I originally found the tanks here, and contacted the Mfg. To find a local dealer. Actually I ended up never finding one. A friend (Steve Pro) who runs PMAS our local society, had come across the tanks when he was at a feed supply store and contacted me. It was aggravating to take all of the tanks back, but worth it in the long run. My situation is a lack of space, as you can see from the above photos the room is very narrow. I think the Rubbermaids are built better and conducive to throwing in some egg crate for an instant shelf. Locally there is a large difference in the price of the Rubbermaid tanks, 89 vrs 56. From a previous post on the subject of just tank people have posted back that they have found the RM tanks for around 68, so it’s worth the difference in price. I think if you have the room, just add some more tank. I have included a previous post below of my
Stock Tank research.


Options for grow tanks

After raising corals through propagation over the last few years in glass tanks I decided to take a different approach when beginning my new set up. I had weighed several options; custom building glass tanks, fiberglass tanks, building wood tanks, and shipping containers. I wanted to fit 6-8 systems in my place and was aiming for systems ranging from 100 to 200 gallons. A great cost effective option around the boards is the Rubbermaid container, the company actually markets these as stock tanks. Looking into the industry I actually found a few different manufacturers. The first shown below by Toter

The toter looked good and was built rugged, also has a few options as far as gallonage. I never really considered it though I was not crazy about the design.

Rubbermaids, the stock tank family shown here. I actually purchased 8 of these tanks and ended up returning them. The rounded design not bother me as much as the ratio the tank stepped down inside. The ridges are convenient, but the total surface area of grow space in relation to the amount of floor space there were occupying was bit less than I bargained for. The tanks are built great, and each have a built in drain plug. A bit cost prohibitive for 8 systems, locally a 100 gallon tank cost about $90 bucks with tax.

After returning the Rubbermaids I purchased 6 Tuff Stuff stock tanks and will most likely buy two more. I liked the Tuff Stuff the most because of the surface area. The drain plugs are only included on tanks at 140 gallons and above, but since I eliminated sumps in my plan it won’t be a detriment. The Tuff Stuff tanks, are stock tanks and despite the thin walls they can sustain their shape completely full of water. One last attractive feature of the Tuff Stuff tanks was pricing. A 140 gallon tank cost me about $65 bucks

 

[zooqi]

cool info here..
zooqi

 

[wade1]

In regards to your tuff stuff tanks... I am a bit concerned for your corals sake. We have 2 of them in the lab we use for various projects, but rarely ever leave anything in them. From what I have noticed, they release something that smells like fresh rubber for a very long time. Because of that, and since they are in use, I would HIGHLY recommend a hefty use of activated carbon non-stop. I have a feeling that because of the cheap rubber component to the tuff tanks, they also release detectable amounts of heavy metals (we couldn't use the type in our phytokplanton lab as they killed our cultures). If you notice anything unusual, I'd look to those tanks.

But, all that said, it looks like a hell of a setup. Keep us posted on how things in it do.

Wade

 

[curator]

Wade:

When I bought the tanks I noticed a black residue coating on the inside that seemed to take forever to clean off. I had purchased canister filters for each system (hot Magnum) for forced carbon exchange. After I cleaned the tanks the smell for me disappeared. Using a conductivity monitor I measured the water in microsiemens both before it went into the tank, and after a week being in the tank and saw little to no difference. I have had Discosoma, Palythoa, Zoanthus and Gorgonia, as well as fish in three tanks now for about four weeks. ( pics up top were dated ) I have not witnessed any abnormality, but certainly do have my concerns as well. I have run into a few people that have used these tanks as well in Aquaculture. I sent an email to Tuff Stuff asking if there are FDA approved, since they are being marketed under Stock Tanks. I’ll know more in the next few months after I set up an SPS tank. I had my reservations and as I mentioned above actually purchased and returned the Rubbermaids because of a lack of space.

I’ll be curious as well to see the results. Worst case I switch back to Rubbermaids, and
A big water change.

blane

 

[O P Ing]

Blane:
I am sure you are aware of the limitation of conductivity measure because it was addressed in one of your previous threads. Most of the leached chemicals that Wade refered to are organics, and they don't influence the conductivity unless they are organic salts.

 

[curator]

sure

"they also release detectable amounts of heavy metals "

this is what i read though, a conductivity meter picks
up heavy metals right ?

 

[wade1]

Only if they are in an ionic form at the time which they should be...If they are in pure metal form then no...

I was more concerned about the organics released from the processing, but if they've cleaned up well, then more power to you, they certainly hold water just as well as anything else.

Wade

 

[curator]

Wade:

I was not being a smart A** or anything. In the long run
I’m not sure either really. I hope they work, but one week
can not really determine if they are leaching something or
not. If a month from now things seem to be struggling I’ll
be sure to post, as well as contact the manufacturer again.
My space is so Limited I really hope they pan out.

blane

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
The chlorine-rich environment of sea water pretty much make all metal ionic, but the important things is organics.

 

[curator]

A member on another board had stated he believed if they were stamped
Safe by the FDA for livestock they should be safe from leaching contaminants.
Anyone know what kind of specs the FDA considers before giving a product
A stamp of approval.

Blane

 

[Totlxtc]

I've had mine setup for almost 3 months with no problems what so ever. I dont have corals in it yet but do have LS, LR and cauplera. Once i get my lighting i will add some corals and see how it works out. Mine also didnt have any type of residue in it but it had been sitting in the store for atleast 6 months. According to the manufacture the tubs are safe for fish and storing foods. Their main site is Tufftubs.

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
I feel that the only organization that I will trust is NSF. If it is passed by NSF for potable water, then it is definitely safe for reef. FDA is a different agency with different agenda, but if the container is approved for material handling of food-grade materials (animal feeds are not food grade), then it should be fine. I doubt that both are true, since almost all container will brag about it if they do. But I will call or check website to make sure.

 

[curator]

thanks for the advise. That is a good tip. I mailed the company again. If i hear back from them I'll post the response.

 

[dale nilson]

I'm curious, if a tub is rated safe for potable (fresh) watyer, does that neccesarily mean that it doesn't leach anythingthing into salt water?

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
As far as plastic is concerned, it is true in all the cases that I am aware of. But obviously for some stainless steel and all copper vessel, it is not true.