South Flordia Aquaculture

[diveman05]

Hey everyone, i recently moved to south FL (boca raton area) and have a very nice little place with a nice shurbbed in back yard in a safe area, what are your thoughts on putting a little aquaculture tank system back there i have a screened in patio that doesn't let any sun in but is very bright still, would putting my acrylic tanks on the edge of there allow enough sunlight for mushrooms, zoos, and softies to grow, i don't want to get into acros yet, but does anyone know of any south FL outdoor reef places where they do this?

[jhildebrand]

As long as the temps are stable should be no prob. Wish I had that option. Just watch the heat if it's by the windows and keep the glass clean.

[diveman05]

the temps shouldn't be too bad, it really usually doesn't get too hot here in the day, there are some days but overall i think a decent chiller and even a heater at night to keep it from dropping in the winter below 75 should be ok...

[innercirclepro]

Doesn't get too hot? Feels like 90 today ha! Isn't ora in ft. Pierce?

[diveman05]

It is hot, but i had a friend give me a really nice good size chiller so i'm thinkin things should be ok, i want to test it first for a few weeks and chart the temps to see just to be safe, and i'm not sure about ORA but i'm going to look it up now

[specialkb]

I run part of my operation outside and part inside , as long as you have a good chiller the sunlight allows for great growth.

[innercirclepro]

well i called ora. they grow in green houses and are in ft. pierce but DO NOT allow tours, the nice lady said they have to many trade secrets.

[sweetdreamfiji]

I have heard of acrylic tanks coming unglued in greenhouses. the sun damaged the glue line, the panels are fine. Ask carefully before you set up your system. Anthony Calfo would know how to deal with this problem. You might want to use glass instead, you can often get large, used, scratched glass tanks for cheap. In Tampa commercial freshwater aquaculture uses concrete coffin liners. They only cost $100, need to be epoxy lined and weigh 700 pounds! Post back here if the system works. I have thought of the same thing, but have not tried it.

[diveman05]

I've got a week before i get my stuff from my old house then a few weeks before i get it all set up but i'll keep everyone posted on how it goes!

[diveman05]

my biggest concern is heat, my chiller should be fine but the sun down here can be pretty hot, but that should work well for the frags to grow good too! does the sun act as a natural UV sterl. of sorts?

[captstinky]

Can't speak for UV, but my outdoor tank on the porch hasn't climbed above 83 yet. I'm due west of Tampa on the coast. I've a lot f surface area that allows for evaporation- presumably helping to keep the temp low.

[snatchbak]

Build a glass house.

[jimicasper]

Corals do grow outside in the wild.

[scuba guy ron]

I live in tampa bay, The pool in the back gets up to 100, I'd imagine a tank can get well over 100. You gotta have a heck of a chiller. It will be on all the time. Id imagine you would be going through chillers like no tomorrow. Why dont you just put a container of water where you will put the tank for 24-48 hours and see just how hot it gets. :)

[captstinky]

84 has been as hot as mine is getting- but it is shaded from noon time sun

[tank o tang]

In Tampa commercial freshwater aquaculture uses concrete coffin liners.

Hmmm Coffin tanks with dracula gobies. lol

[Mr..Tang]

so heat is a problem, OK that's understandable. But would you get too much light from the greenhouse? Or would it be as if they were in the wide? And than are you going to have tons of algae growth too?

I have a small scale operation indoors and am running out of room. I had the thought of going with a greenhouse, but these two problems scare me..

[diveman05]

I have mine setup and its not in direct sunlight all day only for about the last 5 hrs or so, and heat hasn't been much of a problem, i have a fan blowing right on the sump and the evaporation (3-4 gallons a day) keeps the tank really decent, even on the hottest day the hottest my tanks have gotten is 83

[captstinky]

No algae issues here BTW. I was kind of hoping for the greenwater problem- free food. Most folks I spoke with at the LFS said I would get it...raining today, maybe I can take some pics of the system

[captstinky]

diveman05, what livestock do you have in the system and how are they holding up? Have you thought about a PAR meter?

I have some yumas, pink palys, zoas doing well, and some others that are not too happy- GSP (of all things) and xenia.

[diveman05]

right now i've just got some zoos, and all but 2 colonies seem pretty happy, i've considered a par meter but i've been way to busy lately to do much with the system, i'm also thinking about hanging a metal halide light over they system and run it a few hrs a day while not in direct sunlight to supplement some lighting.

[Mr..Tang]

please post some pics of your setup. Try and get a good pic of teh sun hitting the greenhouse too please