Remote Display Refugium / Heat Sink

[Subsea]

I have to say that I've never seen a system quite like yours and I am impressed!
Are you located in Austin (proper) or a little outside the city?

Mailing address reads Austin. I have 1,5 acres 25 minute drive from UT campus when traffic is nice.

Thank you for the compliment. If you love what you do, it’s not work.

 

[Katrina71]

This is a very interesting approach. I hope you don't mind if I call it "organic". Thinking outside the box is never a bad thing. @najer you came to mind with this thread.

 

[najer]

This is a very interesting approach. I hope you don't mind if I call it "organic". Thinking outside the box is never a bad thing. @najer you came to mind with this thread.

Very nice, my kind of reefing.

 

[Subsea]

I ran away from organic chemistry in high school. Now, I am fascinated with biochemistry.

When bacteria & algae can adjust their dna expression, I consider that SPECIAL.

 

[Subsea]

Eighteen months ago, I experimented using cryptic sponges in place of macro refugium. During this same period, Live_plants started offering decorative sponges from Gulf of Mexico. I became fixated on these sponges:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-three-amigos-are-sponges.563833/

Knowing nothing about sponge husbandry, I did the only two things that I knew to do: I used a toothbrush on them and I dosed silicates. Upon adding the first drop of silicates, solids precipitated immediately. Because of the numerous fossils deposited 150 million years ago into the Edwards Plateau Sea, silicates were satuated in Trinity Aquifier,

 

[Subsea]

With 1HP blower off for the night and water temperature outside at 80,6 degrees and water temperature inside at 76,3 degrees I turned fans inside off for the night. I am beginning to think that Reef Under Oaks does not need heat sink in house

 

[Subsea]

As an early riser, I enjoy the the sounds of nature outdoors. With the soft southern breeze whispering through the oak tree blended in with crickets & frogs, there is a new sound of water gurgling. I like it. There is harmony & peace in these sounds of nature.

Due to a restricted flow, before I went to bed last night, I turned off Mag12 that pumps water from outside into tank inside. Present water temperature outside is 78.9, inside water temperature is 75.6 and air temperature outside is 80 degrees with 84% humidity. Inside air temperature is 75 degrees with humidity of 48%.

I buried 150G Rubbermaid tub for the purpose of being a heat sink and a heat source during winter. Since I have connected the Yellow Anaconda with 1HP blower, I may have more than adequate summer temperature control.

The large system (2000G) which I have operated for 7 years is maintaining 77.8 degrees using two 20” box fans

 

[Subsea]

As an experiment, today I will not use tank in-house as a heat sink. Evaporative cooling and geothermal cooling will be tested.

Mussels & clams for breakfast.

Sorry about micro bubbles in water. I will address that later.

 

[Subsea]

At present, my largest outdoor system, 2500G and growing, is being tested without salt. Ground water cost $0.28 per 1000G. The salt to bring up to ocean strength will be $500. Operational testing without salt is in order. This extended system is now operating at 78.7 degrees in the morning before sunup.

 

[najer]

I love the scale of this.

 

[Subsea]

I love the scale of this.

As I see it, increasing system volume and shading this volume from heat gain is the operational goal that will allow me to competitively market product. To that point, I presently have 1200G tank in the shade with a water mist covering the tank. A 20‘ by 40’ greenhouse has a water deluge header running 40’. Greenhouse is shaded with three 50% shade cloths covering full leangth. If required, I run two Hurricane fans that move 100 greenhouse volumes each minute.

For the first quarter of next year, if needed, three 2500G tanks are available to be buried in ground. At 5’ wide and 10’ deep, it is only an option if AQR is generating sufficient revenue.

 

[Subsea]

Present outside temperature is 97 and feels like 106 degrees with a humidity of 42%. Low humidity allows evaporative cooling to be effective. The 2500G system is 81.4 degrees. Reef Under Oaks is 82.5 degrees at the end of a very hot day outside.

 

[Subsea]

It’s conclusive. I do not need the heat sink in my house. Heat sink of 150G Rubbermaid tub buried in ground combined with evaporative cooling will keep system chilled.

Something that I did not mention is that air bubblers are a major component of evaporative cooling in my systems.

 

[Subsea]

One other point on evaporative coolong. A mature oak tree will evaporate 100GPD.

THERMODYNAMICS 101

When 1lb of water evaporates, 1000 BTU of cooling takes place,

Then 8.34 lbs/gallon times 100G Times 1000 btu/lb equals 834,000 BTU of cooling each day.

 

[Subsea]

Good morning “heat sink”.

 

[Subsea]

Sun is over peak of house and for me tank pictures are impossible. At dawn, water temperature was 78.9 with condensation on outside glass. It bewilders me as to how tank water can drop to dewpoint of outside air.

As I continue water makeup with well at 1000ppm of TDS I need to step up macro growth to absorb minerals. Because I will be permitted as a zero discharge mariculture facility, it is mandatory for me to remove this mineral buildup and turn minerals into product which is macro algae & zooplankton.

 

[Subsea]

It’s been eight weeks since the Big Crash after 2 week vacation in Pittsburgh. I can only clean up so much on my own. I now have an apprentice who is a high school junior. As destiny would have it, I sat next to Brenna’s mother on my return flight from Pittsburgh vacation.

@Brenna Eliaz , if you are shadowing this thread it’s time for you to shine forth.

Reinforcements are here. Instead of the Calvary I brought in the Blue Leg Brigade at 1000 strong. For heavy armor support are 10 Urchins and 10 Emetald Crabs.

 

[Subsea]

When I first set up 150G tank in home, at 32” tall, it was to grow marine sea grass. With a stair stepped substrate going from 2” deep to 10” deep when I moved things around on the bottom, I removed my shirt to not get it wet. Instead, I got arm pits wet. This tank was illuminated with a single 1000W MH that grew the darkest emerald green Caulerpa, Prolifera and Paspoides. Going sexual is an event to behold in 150G tank full of Caulerpa..

 

[Subsea]

@Paul B

I got mussels from your part of the country. Now I want to find your stash of ghost shrimp & amphipods.

 

[Paul B]

There are so many shrimp here they have to take turns putting their heads underwater.