Under the Oak Tree

Subsea · Apr 30, 2019

Because I saw a challenge, I decided to operate a reef tank outdoors in the Texas Hill Country under one of the few Oak trees on my property in Austin.

Tank is a standard 55G with about 2” of aroggonite substrate and has been set up for 3 weeks. Sump is 150G Rubbermade tub buried in the ground. Circulation is from Mag 7 at about 500 GPHr. In tank circulation is assisted by air bubblers creating a continuous vertical loop current that is presently tumbling a bush of Gracilaria Hayi.

The last picture shows the top of a 1250G tank buried in ground for a geothermal heat sink. It will be the final redundancy in temperature control during the Texas summer.

Waters · Apr 30, 2019

That is really.............strange lol. Why do you want to do it? What about rain or other weather issues? Solves any worry about getting water on the floor

I am curious to see how it all works out!

Subsea · May 1, 2019

I like a challenge, that’s why I do it. I am all about biofiltration and natural food webs. This tank was seeded with all mature live rock full of amphipods, copepods and micro starfish.

With respect to rain & weather, it’s part of the natural ebb & flow of the universe. I can assure you that natural sunlight & nitrogen fixation bacteria will grow a mixed reef with no other input. I consider pollen & bugs as nutrient input.

The tank is less than one month mature.

I have three separate mariculture systems out doors at my Bear Creek residence. The 10K gallon system in the greenhouse is shut down due to electrical cost to keep cool during Texas summers. The picture showing the top of a 1200 gallon tank buried in the ground as a geothermal sink to support six 150G propagation tank on back patio. The core of this system has been in operation for 5 years. The 1200 gallon heat sink was added this month. Once this system has proven its effectiveness, I have three more 1200 gallon tanks presently used as rain water recovery so that greenhouse system can be brought back into production.

Rybren · May 1, 2019

To boldly go where no man (or fish) has gone before. Anxious to see how things turn out.

sde1500 · May 1, 2019

Handsome pyr you have there! Have you tried any sort of passive geothermal cooling under the greenhouse, basically just fans and tubes buried to move air cooled by the underground out into the greenhouse.

Subsea · May 1, 2019

sde1500 said:
Handsome pyr you have there! Have you tried any sort of passive geothermal cooling under the greenhouse, basically just fans and tubes buried to move air cooled by the underground out into the greenhouse.

With evaporative cooling I can maintain < 80 degrees during 100 degree Texas summers. In effect the 7000G tank was a big swamp cooler using hurricane fans moving 10 greenhouse volumes every minute. Water jets sprayed in air perpendicular to air flow cooled both water and air in greenhouse. Both air & water were cooled into the 70. During the hottest time of the day the air was the driest which made for effective evaporative cooling. During the hottest month of August my electric bill > $1000. I shut the system down. That was 3 years ago.

To rectify these operational issues, I changed what grows in the water to hardy Texas Gulf Coast micro inverts and hardy seaweeds used in refugium reef tanks. It is my goal to supply a sustainable source of macro algae, both utilitarian and ornamental to the reef hobby heavily seeded with amphipods & copepods.

In burying tanks in the ground, I do two things. I dampen system temperature changes due to increased volume which is shielded from heat gain by being buried in the ground. Considering that ground temperature is in low 70’s, I also get geothermal heat sink in summer and heat source in winter.

Subsea · May 1, 2019

Rybren said:
To boldly go where no man (or fish) has gone before. Anxious to see how things turn out.

Thank you for the couragement my brother. I seem to be going against mainstream thinking and I like it that way.

To complicate things I am in Pittsburgh today catering a Cajun family reunion for 10 days. I now have a high school apprentice with an iPhone talking to me and trying to learn “what’s it all about”. For his first full day of work I paid him with a $100 bill. I think I got his attention to excell.

cracker · May 1, 2019

Very cool. I seem to remember You have other outdoor projects ? Big question, How do You keep the water warm in cooler months?

Subsea · May 1, 2019

cracker said:
Very cool. I seem to remember You have other outdoor projects ? Big question, How do You keep the water warm in cooler months?

I don’t warm the water with electricity. I allow system temperature to fluctuate. I have a 20G stand alone reef tank on my front porch. During peak sun input between noon and 4PM, I observed 5 degree temperature increase in 10 minutes bringing water temperature up to 104 degrees before I turned on two pancake fans And also flowed ground water at 79 degrees thru 100’ of 1/8” tubing. After three hours the temperature had cooled 30 degrees down to 73 degrees. Reef fish (Scopas tang, Royal Grommy, Purple Dottyback. Reef fish showed no discomfort during these large temperature swings. I now operate that 20G tank with fans on 24/7. Water cools to the dew point temperature, usually in mid 60’s, and slowly increases to 78 degrees during the heat of the day. I don’t agree with the assumption that reef fish need constant temperatures. For certain, macro algae, corals, sponges and micro inverts do not need reef temperatures to thrive. In my experiences, it is much easier to operate a reef tank in the low 70’s or upper sixties.

Subsea · Jun 25, 2019

As an addicted reefer, I upgraded: 55G tank has been replaced by 150G tank.

Subsea · Jun 29, 2019

Full heat of summer is on going. Temperature fluctuates 12 degrees with a high of 85 and a low pf 73 degrees.

I have connected a 55G tank in house to 300G outside system.

To bury/insulate 300’ of piping from/heat gain is next priority.

Subsea · Jun 29, 2019

I guess my impatience pushed toooo many times.

Subsea · Jul 9, 2019

A young apprentice will be joining me at AQR today. While I will be permitted by Texas agriculture department as a zero discharge mariculture growout facility, I don’t plan on growing expedentially. I only want to subsidize my hobby addiction and develope apprentice.

The real revenue generated by AQR will be as a bed & breakfast. Keep Austin Weird is part of the marketing draw with Reef Under the Oaks. Maximum day daytime water temperature is 84 degrees with 100 degree air temperature with a water cool down to 73 degrees. The 150G tank is presently TANGS & Drawf Angels, Clowns, Dottybacks & Royal Grammy with Flower Anemones, Tube Anemones, Coco Worm and GSP as the only coral.

Just did put this 1HP blower into operation.

Subsea · Jul 10, 2019

@Jomama

Talk to me about your refrigeration chillers. How big, efficiency rating, cost up front and cost to operate

sfin52 · Jul 10, 2019

predators issues with your out door tanks?

Subsea · Jul 10, 2019

I have water snakes that sometimes go after frogs in my fresh water pond.

During the heat of the day, Hunter sleeps in my living room. At night he is a master hunter. At 110 pounds not much gets by him on the Ranch.

PS. Yes, he eats popcorn with me.

Dr. Dendrostein · Jul 10, 2019

Subsea said:
@Jomama

Talk to me about your refrigeration chillers. How big, efficiency rating, cost up front and cost to operate

I'm cooling 100gal apprx., I'm talking about my new DT, I'm using a 1/2hp chiller. Everything is outside, max average temp.,in summer 103, I keep tank at 76°, give or take 2°. Everything is centrally located, DT & refugium. My electric co. charges $25 for every 1 amp, per month. So I total all devices and chiller (chiller is 4-5amp), comes out to 9amps. So, 9 x $25 is $225 per month for 4 months

. Unfortunately we have some of the highest electrical charges in the country. Bummer

Dr. Dendrostein · Jul 10, 2019

Subsea said:
A young apprentice will be joining me at AQR today. While I will be permitted by Texas agriculture department as a zero discharge mariculture growout facility, I don’t plan on growing expedentially. I only want to subsidize my hobby addiction and develope apprentice.

The real revenue generated by AQR will be as a bed & breakfast. Keep Austin Weird is part of the marketing draw with Reef Under the Oaks. Maximum day daytime water temperature is 84 degrees with 100 degree air temperature with a water cool down to 73 degrees. The 150G tank is presently TANGS & Drawf Angels, Clowns, Dottybacks & Royal Grammy with Flower Anemones, Tube Anemones, Coco Worm and GSP as the only coral.

Just did put this 1HP blower into operation.

If your set up was mine, I'd insulate the heck out of all hoses, tanks except view area, on view areas, an insulated panel to remove for viewing. Determine amount of water, and do 1/3hp for every 100 gallons? Or dig hole 10 feet deep throw some braided hose, then go thru a well, probably get 55° water coming out?