Fish In Need

kingfisherfleshy

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Hey guys, not sure if this is the right place to post, but here goes.

Some of you may or may not already know this, but one of my jobs is managing the live fish collection for a local university. (UWSP - University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point).

I oversee about 10-15 employee/volunteers, aquire fish, oversee 50+ (and growing) tanks, oversee research, provide a collection for students to learn fish biology and taxonomy from, and make sure all the fish are eating appropriately, healthy, and happy.

We get $500 a year to run this program.

I was recently notified that our saltwater systems nitrates are running exceedingly high. I need to do something about this, but have no budget to do so.

Because it is a fish only system, if I could get a large skimmer, and a dosing pump to run vodka, I would be able to keep it in a healthy range for our fish for a minimal cost indefinitely.

Long story short, I am looking for someone who is willing to donate said equipment, or a sponsor who is willing to. If it happened we would be more than happy to display advertising, and because we are a public university you could get a tax write off for a donation.

Advertising would be more sucessful than you think, our fish biology sector is growing (despite losing lots of funding in our recent political debacle in the state), and our whole community is starting to appreciate my little facility. We are doing more and more in the way of educational shows for kids from preschool through college, campus tours, open houses etc. We have several aquariums that are viewable at any time the university is open to the general public.

I really didnt want to beg, but we are coming to the point now where we might end up losing all of our funding. I need to be best prepared for that situation as possible. Many people put in a lot of hardwork as volunteers, and I put in 20+ weekly and see $30 out of it.

Any sort of help would be appreciated. Thanks again, and sorry if this is in the wrong area.
 
I dont think that is going to be enough on this system...but its not a half bad idea. We have a very small sump (29g tank) for a system that is hundreds of gallons.

I did not design it, it was here before I got here. It would make it hard to make an adequately sized scrubber.

We are planning to consolidate tanks...I am building one large acrylic one...the scrap of which is going to build a new larger sump.
 
Im taking my camera into work today to possibly take a short video of my saltwater section to show what we have to work with. There really is no room for a trough, we could put it on the floor, but then we would need another return pump, and it would be the lowest point in the system, and I doubt that I could fit something down there that could handle a poweroutage water level.
 
What sort of water volume are you talking about?

I have a simple DIY sulphur denitrator design that will handle 500 gallons and costs about $50 dollars to make including media. Very simple project, once installed its set and forget - no dosing and virtually no maintenance - very very effective at eliminating nitrates.

Let me know if this might work for you and I'll post up the link.
 
sounds like you need a bigger sump first off, so what do you have room for.
whats the total gallons you have going on there?
as for the overflow issue i would suggest a checkvalve if its to that point, but if it doesnt overflow a 29 gallon tank i dont see how its going to overflow a 100 gallon tub.
have you tried contacting any of the sponsors or even skimmer manufacturers about them donating?
 
What sort of water volume are you talking about?

I have a simple DIY sulphur denitrator design that will handle 500 gallons and costs about $50 dollars to make including media. Very simple project, once installed its set and forget - no dosing and virtually no maintenance - very very effective at eliminating nitrates.

Let me know if this might work for you and I'll post up the link.

Fairly large, right now its a 75, 60, 30, and a 40 linked together.

Sooner rather than later, it will be a 240g, linked with a similarly sized sump. (With an area for delinquent fishes - I just have to build this tank)

I have heard of this, never really thought of it in this moment though. $50 I could do out of pocket.

sounds like you need a bigger sump first off, so what do you have room for.
whats the total gallons you have going on there?
as for the overflow issue i would suggest a checkvalve if its to that point, but if it doesnt overflow a 29 gallon tank i dont see how its going to overflow a 100 gallon tub.
have you tried contacting any of the sponsors or even skimmer manufacturers about them donating?

We do need a bigger sump (see above) the reason it works is most of the tanks are connected with u-tubes and the bottom level essentially is all one sump. It is set up terribly, but it is what we have. A plumbing nightmare. The kid that I allow to oversee the SW side of things isnt the best, but he has made up the system, and it seems to be working. (Havent had an issue so far) - There is no place for a 100g tub underneath the tanks. I will make a serious attempt at a video...I am just starting classes though and dont personally have any editing software.

I did contact BRS. Never heard back from them, going to try again. I was somewhat hoping that a sponsor would step forward here.

Thanks for the help guys.
 
Bump - I would also like to publicly thank AVAST MARINE for coming out and contacting me.

Great company, both from personal experience, and now here professionally.
 
Fairly large, right now its a 75, 60, 30, and a 40 linked together.

Sooner rather than later, it will be a 240g, linked with a similarly sized sump. (With an area for delinquent fishes - I just have to build this tank)

I have heard of this, never really thought of it in this moment though. $50 I could do out of pocket.



We do need a bigger sump (see above) the reason it works is most of the tanks are connected with u-tubes and the bottom level essentially is all one sump. It is set up terribly, but it is what we have. A plumbing nightmare. The kid that I allow to oversee the SW side of things isnt the best, but he has made up the system, and it seems to be working. (Havent had an issue so far) - There is no place for a 100g tub underneath the tanks. I will make a serious attempt at a video...I am just starting classes though and dont personally have any editing software.

I did contact BRS. Never heard back from them, going to try again. I was somewhat hoping that a sponsor would step forward here.

Thanks for the help guys.

brs not being an actual manufacturer is perhaps not the right place to start.


Bump - I would also like to publicly thank AVAST MARINE for coming out and contacting me.

Great company, both from personal experience, and now here professionally.

thats awesome!
way to go Avast Marine!
 
With your $500 I would set up three large tubs (maybe just add one a year) the first for cryptic sponges, second for live rock, third for cheato/dsb. This would help keep your costs of running your system down.
 
Looking forward to a video of the place. Glad to Avast got in touch with you guys. Thumbs up to Avast Marine!!!
 
brs not being an actual manufacturer is perhaps not the right place to start.
thats awesome!
way to go Avast Marine!

Not looking for this stuff, just anything in general. If they have to clear stock and want to write it off, we will take it. Not very picky ATM of what we would take. Anything helps.

Agreed, AVAST is classy and we are conversing now.

With your $500 I would set up three large tubs (maybe just add one a year) the first for cryptic sponges, second for live rock, third for cheato/dsb. This would help keep your costs of running your system down.

The $500 is long gone. I cant take my yearly budget and put it into our tiny (upgrading to 480g total system) saltwater area...just doesnt make sense. Majority of our collection is FW. We are just looking for a way to run our SW FOWLR systems indefinitely especially in a time when future finances are in question. I also was just recently made aware of the nitrate situation by a volunteer...the saltwater sub manager had apparently been hiding the fact from me.


Looking forward to a video of the place. Glad to Avast got in touch with you guys. Thumbs up to Avast Marine!!!

Looks like I might have to go and buy another reactor from them! Cant beat built in America, they have very sturdy construction.

Hopefully my buddy will be bringing me his video camera so I can at least get some shots of the SW area up for you guys.
 
New Idea...I buy an aqualifter pump, and a timer, and dose vinegar...but I will have to dilute it down with water in a reservoir and just run it for like half an hour a day....anyone else think this might work?

Guess the whole skimmer thing will have to slide and we will make due with the one we have.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

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