New plywood prop system

alti · 10-19-2006, 10:52 AM

Figured id share some pics of the construction of my new prop system. This is a plywood framed tank divided into 3 sections. Comes out to a total of about 1000 gallons. Each section will be slightly shallower than the other and water will be pumped into the first section and overflow into the following sections.

inkblue · 10-19-2006, 10:53 AM

can i Ask what this is foR? is it a perSonaL aquarium in someOne's houSe or is it for puBlic disPlay

hopE to see more progression piCs...

masterswimmer · 10-19-2006, 10:58 AM

Looks interesting. Better get those hip waders out

Reaching those little frags in the middle of that prop system is gonna be a bitch of a 'reach'.

swimmer

DonCisco · 10-19-2006, 11:30 AM

either that.... or go nuts and install a hoist system so you can pretend to be Tom Cruise in mission impossible....picking those pesky frags.

cali_reef · 10-19-2006, 11:33 AM

How humid is that basement with all that water? do you have a site with the corals you are proping?

charile1 · 10-19-2006, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cali_reef


	How humid is that basement with all that water? do you have a site with the corals you are proping?

www.altisreef.com

alti · 10-19-2006, 11:48 AM

Im expanding the coral farm and this is the first of 3 new tank we will be building in the next few months.

It is gonna be a pain to reach into the center. Its not as bad as it looks, but im gonna need a small step ladder t get to the farthest frags. Ill probably leave fresh cut mother colonies that need time to regrow in the middle. that way i only have to mess with them every few months. Im adding a brace every 4' and there is a place when i can kneel on the wall on all corners and where all the seperating walls are. This way i can get on top of the tank and support myself on the brace.

The have not had any serious humidity issues yet since the basment is about 10,000 sq feet. My dehu normally removes about 15-20 gal per day out of the air and im only evaporating 6-10 gallons daily, so i know im not adding any more humidity than i am removing. Im going to add a big air vent to remove moist air once we can find the right place to mount it. this should be enough to handle all this new water.

scarf_ace1981 · 10-19-2006, 12:19 PM

i've been to alti's and he has some nice stuff. great guy and is very knowledgable.

can't wait to come by and check the new addition once it's up and running. thanks for sharing alti.

**jhale** · 10-19-2006, 01:14 PM

very nice

I love to see people like yourself expanding the hobby.

Can you give us any details on the equipment that you'll be using?
That looks like a scary amount of area you have to light.
Will you be using a gaint CA reactor or dosing 2 part?
what will be used for flow? Closed loops or powerheads?

alti · 10-19-2006, 09:38 PM

Im not sure of what im going to use yet. Coral farming is alot different than general reefkeeping. I have to make sure i use the least ammount of energy possible and maximize the growing area. We are going to start off with bare minimums in terms of lighting and flow and adjust from there.

This will be an all softie system so im going to start off using 2 , 250 or 400 watt halides per section. We built a nice 3' reflector today and it spreads the light perfectly. If the outer edge of the tank needs more light we can add supplimental lighting as called for. At these extremely shallow depths halides are very efficient even when spread out this far apart.

As for flow im going to start off using a 3600gph return pump. The reason we made it into 3 sections was to try to use as much gravity as possible to reduce the need for too many pumps. The first section is 3" taller than the second and the second is 3" taller than the last. The water will be all be pumped into the 1st secion and overflow into the following 2 sections. The drains are all located in the last section and will be returned to the sump located under the first section by means of an angled pipe. Im theory the same 3600 GPH pumped into the first section will have no choice but to flow into the next section and so forth. So each section will have 3600 GPH flowing through it. I am also going to add a spraybar across the bottom of each section that is teed off the return. I will probably turn this on for an hour or so each day to flush any waste off the bottom. IF more current is needed i will add a closed loop to these spray bars or add some airlifts.

No need for a reactor on this one. I use 2 part to buffer my makeup and topoff water so that should be enough to grow corraline on the plugs and rocks.

Im going to build so big counter current air driven skimmers. Much cheaper to build and use far less energy than any of the other types. IME there is no better skimmers, as long as you have the room for a tall skimmer and dont mind changing airstones.

10-19-2006, 10:52 AM	#1
alti frag farmer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hackensack, n.j. Posts: 68 Reefer Ratings: (7) Friends: (0)	New plywood prop system Figured id share some pics of the construction of my new prop system. This is a plywood framed tank divided into 3 sections. Comes out to a total of about 1000 gallons. Each section will be slightly shallower than the other and water will be pumped into the first section and overflow into the following sections.

10-19-2006, 10:58 AM	#3
masterswimmer www.saltwatercritters.com Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Orange County Posts: 9,249 Reefer Ratings: (88) Friends: (16)	Looks interesting. Better get those hip waders out Reaching those little frags in the middle of that prop system is gonna be a bitch of a 'reach'. swimmer __________________ House of Fish (845) 610-3114 www.saltwatercritters.com Serving all your saltwater critter and reef needs

10-19-2006, 11:30 AM	#4
DonCisco nano freak Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Staten Island Posts: 344 Reefer Ratings: (5) Friends: (0)	either that.... or go nuts and install a hoist system so you can pretend to be Tom Cruise in mission impossible....picking those pesky frags. __________________ So long, and Tanks for all the fish

10-19-2006, 12:19 PM	#8
scarf_ace1981 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NYC Manhattan Posts: 4,856 Reefer Ratings: (67) Friends: (0)	i've been to alti's and he has some nice stuff. great guy and is very knowledgable. can't wait to come by and check the new addition once it's up and running. thanks for sharing alti. __________________ Finch breeder

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10-19-2006, 10:53 AM	#2
inkblue Muro Ami Captain Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Williamsburgh, Brooklyn Posts: 7,809 Reefer Ratings: (86) Friends: (22)	can i Ask what this is foR? is it a perSonaL aquarium in someOne's houSe or is it for puBlic disPlay hopE to see more progression piCs...

10-19-2006, 11:33 AM	#5
cali_reef Fish and Coral Killer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: On the wet coast, again. Posts: 3,930 Reefer Ratings: (28) Friends: (3)	How humid is that basement with all that water? do you have a site with the corals you are proping?

10-19-2006, 11:48 AM	#7
alti frag farmer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hackensack, n.j. Posts: 68 Reefer Ratings: (7) Friends: (0)	Im expanding the coral farm and this is the first of 3 new tank we will be building in the next few months. It is gonna be a pain to reach into the center. Its not as bad as it looks, but im gonna need a small step ladder t get to the farthest frags. Ill probably leave fresh cut mother colonies that need time to regrow in the middle. that way i only have to mess with them every few months. Im adding a brace every 4' and there is a place when i can kneel on the wall on all corners and where all the seperating walls are. This way i can get on top of the tank and support myself on the brace. The have not had any serious humidity issues yet since the basment is about 10,000 sq feet. My dehu normally removes about 15-20 gal per day out of the air and im only evaporating 6-10 gallons daily, so i know im not adding any more humidity than i am removing. Im going to add a big air vent to remove moist air once we can find the right place to mount it. this should be enough to handle all this new water.

10-19-2006, 01:14 PM	#9
jhale paper bags are fun! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: G.V NYC Posts: 15,307 Reefer Ratings: (43) Friends: (32)	very nice I love to see people like yourself expanding the hobby. Can you give us any details on the equipment that you'll be using? That looks like a scary amount of area you have to light. Will you be using a gaint CA reactor or dosing 2 part? what will be used for flow? Closed loops or powerheads?

10-19-2006, 09:38 PM	#10
alti frag farmer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hackensack, n.j. Posts: 68 Reefer Ratings: (7) Friends: (0)	Im not sure of what im going to use yet. Coral farming is alot different than general reefkeeping. I have to make sure i use the least ammount of energy possible and maximize the growing area. We are going to start off with bare minimums in terms of lighting and flow and adjust from there. This will be an all softie system so im going to start off using 2 , 250 or 400 watt halides per section. We built a nice 3' reflector today and it spreads the light perfectly. If the outer edge of the tank needs more light we can add supplimental lighting as called for. At these extremely shallow depths halides are very efficient even when spread out this far apart. As for flow im going to start off using a 3600gph return pump. The reason we made it into 3 sections was to try to use as much gravity as possible to reduce the need for too many pumps. The first section is 3" taller than the second and the second is 3" taller than the last. The water will be all be pumped into the 1st secion and overflow into the following 2 sections. The drains are all located in the last section and will be returned to the sump located under the first section by means of an angled pipe. Im theory the same 3600 GPH pumped into the first section will have no choice but to flow into the next section and so forth. So each section will have 3600 GPH flowing through it. I am also going to add a spraybar across the bottom of each section that is teed off the return. I will probably turn this on for an hour or so each day to flush any waste off the bottom. IF more current is needed i will add a closed loop to these spray bars or add some airlifts. No need for a reactor on this one. I use 2 part to buffer my makeup and topoff water so that should be enough to grow corraline on the plugs and rocks. Im going to build so big counter current air driven skimmers. Much cheaper to build and use far less energy than any of the other types. IME there is no better skimmers, as long as you have the room for a tall skimmer and dont mind changing airstones.