Help with Coral Farming DIY

[Texreefer]

bottom line is, there is a reason VERY few of these operations exist in Texas. even the most seasoned aquarists would have some difficulty creating a operating a system capable of sustaining a long term operation in this environment...and if you go through with it.. make sure your pockets are very deep. Cooling alone will probably run you several hundred a month unless you have an indoor climate controlled system

[paul]

bigger tank such as 3 feet tall doesn't mean the more water the more heat it takes to heat up. in the summer temperature the tank will reach 86-90 degrees in the shade. that size tank will never cool off on its own, not even if a cold front was to hit. it would take days of a cold front just to drop it a few degrees if any. you're best bet is to do more research. tanks that size are usually displays. i seen a lot of websites from australia where they build large tanks out of plywood. you are best to use a shallow tank for lighting purposes. make it shallow and long if you want, but don't go deep.

[paul]

i think it would be impossible to build something that large outdoors. you would need a chiller that would run thousands of dollars and heaters that would be insane. corals are more critical to temperatures especially heat.

[jrossjr79]

I thank everyone with their insights, whether it is discouraging and or encouraging. I will be doing alot more research before I even decide to make the plans or the build. I dont want to invest all the money I would need to invest and fail miserably.

I will be going through with it, and that is a fact, I am getting more of an idea of how I want things, but I am still far off from the actual design planning.

I will be keeping everyone posted, including with pictures and design plans.

[CoryDude]

It would probably be cheaper to rent a small wharehouse space and setup the right equipment than to do a coral farm outside. The previous owners of the Aquadome in Austin had the same idea. They even had the covered greenhouses in the back, and they couldn't get the project off the ground because of the temperature extremes.

I pretty sure you've seen the threads on reefcentral with the greenhouse/coral farms. The money you'd spend on this project would probably cover a nice sized downpayment on a larger house.

[jrossjr79]

Ya, as I am researching and talking with Allan over PMs I am noticing that. If I do setup at this house, which I am getting discouraged about, it would be using those wooden sheds you buy from home depot and converting it to a green house. Not really the route I wanted to go, so I may hold off till I get a bigger house. Still looking at my options, but it is not looking so good.

[Mr Cob]

I love that you have no fear on a project so large...also love that you are posting your ideas and asking questions. That's a sign of a very wise person. I plan to do a climate controlled greenhouse one of these days and can appreciate the "big idea".

I know you said you don't have the room in your current home for even a nano tank, but I do think it would be of a great benefit for you to take some time keeping corals in a less expensive environment to get the basics of this hobby down first before venturing into such a large project. What you learn from keeping small tanks will surely prove to be very helpful in your plans for the much larger projects and may be at the root of some new ideas for you.

welcome to MAAST too.

[grouch]

What would worry me most would not be the summer heat as much as the winter cold. Your talking about heating 1350 gallons of water. That's gonna take some serious heaters even with the 3' deep return lines. If there is one thing I know about its cold weather. I'm from Iowa. Normal winter there can be 28 below zero lol no joke. Would be interesting to see how it turns out. You have a time frame in mind for this project?

That is not true I'm from IOWA also and I've only seen it get -27 below. LOL Seriously the utilities to regulate an outdoor tank would cost $$$$.

[jrossjr79]

I love that you have no fear on a project so large...also love that you are posting your ideas and asking questions. That's a sign of a very wise person. I plan to do a climate controlled greenhouse one of these days and can appreciate the "big idea".

Thank you, I always believe if you are going to do something do it big, but take precautions and do the research.

I know you said you don't have the room in your current home for even a nano tank, but I do think it would be of a great benefit for you to take some time keeping corals in a less expensive environment to get the basics of this hobby down first before venturing into such a large project. What you learn from keeping small tanks will surely prove to be very helpful in your plans for the much larger projects and may be at the root of some new ideas for you.

welcome to MAAST too.

I may have found a space for a 50 - 75 gallon tank, wondering if that is sufficient enough space to do a small display tank of coral, maybe do a little bit of propagating in. I know I cant do to much but I may be able to pull some off

That is not true I'm from IOWA also and I've only seen it get -27 below. LOL Seriously the utilities to regulate an outdoor tank would cost $$$$.

It gets cold down here, but not that cold, I think the coldest I ever seen was about 55 degrees, other than the year that it snowed here. I am taking the cold into consideration, however the heat and algae are my main concern. If I do an out door setup here at this house I am looking into heater with an upfront chiller that is used for pools.

Oh by the way, I am changing the dimensions. 10'x6'x18". Which is roughly 673 gallons, give or take a few liters.

[Mr Cob]

a 50 - 70 gal is a perfect size for a first tank...it's not too small so the parameters can stay stable with ease and it's not so big that the cost gets out of hand. I have a 55g with a few mother colonies that I farm from.