300gal+ Senior project

[eliben10]

Hello, my name is Eli. This will be my first post on R2R, but I'm active on other forums (mainly Atlanta Reef Club). This is my last year in high-school, and as my final large project I wanted to start a coral propagation center up in the mountains of North Georgia.

My goal is to create a 300gal+ coral propagation system in an affordable and efficient manner.

I'd like to record the construction of the system, growth of corals throughout the school year, propagation techniques, and put them in a blog, online forum, book, or video series.

Finally, at the end of the year all acquired corals will be auctioned off and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to a organization that contributes to re-establishment of coral reefs.

Here is the list of potential organizations the proceeds would be donated too.

Coral Restoration Foundation

The Reef Ball Foundation

Coral Cay

Coral Reef Alliance

A poll will be taken to allow the members of the community (ARC) to decide what organization will receive the proceeds. I will gladly take into consideration and research more organizations if a member has one in mind.

The goal for this project is not only to grow coral, but to educate people about coral and marine ecosystem in a hands on way. That is why my goal isn't just to publish things online, but to make the facility available for younger kids to come and see. I realize it isn't much, but maybe it could inspire children to think of coral as more than plant. Maybe the answer to our vanishing coral reefs lay within the younger generation.

This will be the primary forum that I'll post updates on, but will also try and post identical threads on the other major forums. My goal is to get this project out to as many people of the reefing community as possible. The more the merrier. Here is the link to the mother thread

If anyone has any questions, comments, suggestions or concerns please don't hesitate to post them. The project is still in the planning phase so changes are possible. The current system plans and materiel list will be posted soon.

Thank you,

Eli

 

[eliben10]

This will be a list of materials I'm using, as well as basic schematics for the system plumbing.

Materials for system (as of now):

One 100 gallon horse trough will act as the sump for the entire system (Minus quarantine) - Acquired

Four 29 gallon Rubbermaid storage containers. These will act as the frag tanks. I've water tested these and they do not bow. Their dimensions are 20x30x16 - Acquired

For the return pump I'm thinking a Mag 18. This is where I could use ya'lls advice.

Plumbing will be done in 1" diameter 40 PVC. - Acquired

The stand will be made by me using 2x4 studs. - Acquired

As of now the lighting will be 4 Chinese LEDS.

The tank will run a protein skimmer and possibly some media reactors.

Here is a simple plumbing diagram I made on paint. Thank god I don't want to be a graphic designer.

 

[iyad_nadi]

Good luck interesting project

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R

 

[eliben10]

Thanks guys

 

[eliben10]

So I've opted to go for one of these

Rather than a multi tank approach. I believe all the drains and gravity fed pipes on the other system would have made it hard to keep a constant flow and water level. With this system everything will be as simple as possible and I wont have to build such an elaborate stand.

I do have a question for you guys: Do any of ya'll have experience with light movers? I know people use them in hydroponics, but it seems you could do a similar system with a frag tank. And does anyone have a good recommendation for a skimmer? I was thinking Reef Octopus, but I'm open to suggestions.


The system will be constructed on what is currently my back porch, but it will be walled in and from hence for be known as "The fish room".

Here is a quick shot of what it looks like as of now. Hopefully I will be able to show a progression of construction by the end of the project.

The space is 8x16 so it will be a pretty decent size. Eventually I hope to have two or three systems in the room.

The main frag system will be made out of a 10ft long livestock feeder. At 12in deep it's a bit shallower than I would have liked, but it should do nicely.

The quarantine system will be a 55 gal long plugged into a plastic 29 gal sump. Pretty simple.

Here is the updated floor plan, system plumbing schematic, as well as the saltwater mixing station I'll be making. Hopefully this will be the final system plan.

The porch already has electricity, hopefully I wont have to add anymore breakers to the power box.

This system plan is much more simple. I also found a 700 GPH internal pump I will be using. I'll probably end up upgrading it, but it will do for now.

I've decided to put the mixing station on the interior. I have enough room and I won't have to worry about the water getting too cold in the winter.

Here is the link where I found the mixing station plans - http://wamas.org/forums/topic/58398-...tation-advice/

I'm condensing multiple posts from the mother forum, so sorry for the super long posts

 

[jack89]

Very interesting.... Keep up the good work

 

[eliben10]

Today I took my life savings and went and bought a 10' livestock feeder. Okay, it wasn't my life savings, but it had been sitting in my room for quite sometime.

I'm glad to say that these jars paid for 90% of the tank. Every little bit counts.

The ride home was interesting. I forgot to throw some straps in the cruiser, so I ended up holding it coming down the highway

After a quick trip to Lowes everything was ready to go. (Except that lowes didn't have any bulkheads so I had to order them.

Here is the first plumbing I made for the pump line

I then realized it was pointless to have 2 valves as if closed off it just burn out the pump. So I added a T to the left side and will add one more valve to that. That way when the flow to the tank is cut, the water will just circulate in the sump.

The bulkheads will be here on tuesday, so hopefully I'll have a post with the system up and running by wednesday.

Cheers Guys!