My Greenhouse FARM In the making!

[scubadude]

Originally posted by organicreefer
scuba,
so what about security concerns?do all youre neighbors know what youre doing?from what ive seen of youre yard it doesnt seem to have a fence?or its a really big yard?what about critters getting in to youre greenhouse?i know around here the racoons would lay waste to to it -eat the fish and taste everything else

Yup! Yup! I have thought about that And I am gonna be putting up a fence, but I will need a permit for that, so I figured I would get the GH done then worry bout the fence And maybe even put barbed wire up to a 2' level for rabbits, coons, dillos, and a couple of bobcats in the neighbor hood. The only thing I have heard of that scares me is Vultures can tear up a greenhouse and some have been known too (from what I hear) and there are alot round here. Does the owl decoy work on vultures?

[Reefs Rock]

Rocky

That's a cool machine you got there. And, your trench is straight as an arrow. I'm impressed, dude.

My quest for FL land took a turn for the better today. I'm getting tired working with RE agents that don't want to work, so, called a couple of others and have two parcels to look at. Both in the area around Ft. Pierce and Port St. Lucie. I'll keep you posted via e-mail if I come down.

Keep up the good work so, when I build my GH you'll have all the kinks worked out.

[scubadude]

Originally posted by organicreefer
i really need to add -you must have a GREAT wife

You have no idea! Shes a real sweetie! There is a tradeoff though....We have 4 dogs now and she wants me to build her a kennel when we move Thanx for saying that OR

[Reinhold]

HOLY COW!

That is one serious reef tank you're building!

One totally unrelated question from a Northerner: what kind of trees and bushes are those surrounding your yard? It looks like a jungle. Did you hit a ton of roots when you were trenching?

[wastedincome420]

Kool pic of you and the digger Look like a kid with a new toy
What kind of pump do you plan to use for the circulation of the cooling pipes??

[scubadude]

Originally posted by Reinhold
HOLY COW!

That is one serious reef tank you're building!

One totally unrelated question from a Northerner: what kind of trees and bushes are those surrounding your yard? It looks like a jungle. Did you hit a ton of roots when you were trenching?

Mostly palm trees, and pines some pepper trees (thats what I have heard them called)

Originally posted by wastedincome420
Kool pic of you and the digger Look like a kid with a new toy
What kind of pump do you plan to use for the circulation of the cooling pipes??

I have one AM3000 and a fairly large jacuzzi/pool pump (for the 2 big systems) I found at a Garage sale for $40. Im gonna try both of them and go from there

[wastedincome420]

Scuba: If you happen to need any ype of parts for the "pool" pumps or just want another size lrt me know....I can hook ya up

[scubadude]

Originally posted by wastedincome420
Scuba: If you happen to need any .........can hook ya up

Thanx wasted!


Ok Here is where im at.







Im hashing out how to fill, flush, and check for leaks on these systems now Please any and all suggestions, comments are welcome So far Im thinking to just plumb the tanks right into the underground radiator, but once I do that it will be almost impossible to drain the underground radiator So the only way I see about really flushing this system is to keep diluting it!? I only have a 55gpd RO/DI unit but I was thinking of using half tap water and the other half mixed and/or NSW. Here are the two systems I have setup. One 300 linnear ft. x 4" Radiator for a 200gal. tank and a 100 rubbermaid refugium w/dsb and the other system will have a 180 linnear ft. x 4" Radiator for 200gal tank only. I may plumb more tanks to these systems eventually but I am gonna havta see how they do temp-wise with what I have. I forgot to add that for each 1.5 linnear ft. of radiator is equal to a gallon.

[Reefs Rock]

Rocky

Man you are moving right along.

As for testing, wish you had asked that before you buried them pipes. The normal way, remember I'm a retired steamfitter and have tested many pipe systems, is to cap one end and hook up a compressor to the other with a gage. Thin wall should hold about 50lbs of pressure (it should be marked on the outside of the pipe) It would be something like, xx # of lbs at 70 degrees or similar to that.

Then let it sit at that pressure for at least 10 hours. If the pressure doesn't drop you are good to go. If it drops a fraction of a lb, you can chalk that up to temperature drop.

The way you have it now, if there is a leak you have to dig it back up.

I knew I should have dropped everything and come down to run that job for you.

As far as flushing it out, that would have been a good thing to do before it was buried, too. You could have hooked up a garden hose and let the city pressure flush it all horizontally. As you have it now you have to raise the water and sand up about 4 or 5'. Not an easy thing to do.

Hmmmmmmm, after all the bad news I've brought you today are we still friends? If not, forget I posted this and let someone else figure it out. I'd rather remain your friend.

Anyway, wish I'd been there! Wish I could be there to help figure it out. Two heads are better than one. But in our case, maybe not. Remember I said you were going to work out all the wrinckles of the GH and then I was going to take advantage of your knowledge when I build my GH.

Call me if you need, too.

Good luck old friend.

[turtlespd]

Scuba,

Just so you know, everytime my gf says i spend too much time with my tank or i spend to much money on it or anything as a matter of fact....i point you out ..easy way of getting of the hook..

Man you are nuts, nuts i say nuts..man i envy you..good luck..

Paul

[Steve]

Incredible! Good luck. Myself and I am sure everybody appreciate the pics and info.

Reefs Rock - I hope you find your land in Florida. I know at the Ron Schimek meeting you were a little down on finding the land. Good luck.

[Iron Crab]

Very nice! Very CRAZY!
I took over my dining room for my tank- you took your BACKYARD!

Are you looking into another water source in the future or can your present source handle this??

I like the cooling system. I was thinking of settin' something like that up in my basement but not as big.

Keep us updated and good luck!

Someone should get some Reefland members together with these projects and the pictures posted and get a book out.

Bill

[Reefs Rock]

Steve

Yes we are making some progress on the Florida property. Realtors have sent three new pieces to consider. All are zoned AR1, which means we're allowed to have a GH and retail out of it.

The problem before was the one we wanted was zoned R4. Even tho they allowed horses and GHs, no retail sales could be conducted on the premises. So hobby GHs were ok but not retail sales.

One of the current choices seems ideal albeit a bit over priced. After looking at it we'll make an offer and see how interested the other party is. It's been on the market 6 months, so who knows, maybe they won't take a lower offer. We'll see.

I've got to get going to take advantage of all the experience Rocky is sharing with us. Isn't that GH awsome?

[scubadude]

Sorry guys I had to go out of town for a few days

Reefs Rock
( A few notes for your journal My Man! )

The way you have it now, if there is a leak you have to dig it back up.

Yes this is true! I could not have hooked up a compressor and flushed, tested, all this because of the following reasons

1. There is not really enough room down in a 12" wide trench (5'deep) for you to just jump down in there.

2. Remember Im in the water line....its like mud down that far and you have to work fast or else your sides will cave in.

3. I dont have a compressor anyway.

Needless to say Reefs Rock there was a very good freind of mine that was on site who is a Professional Plumber, and the PVC operation was mostly supervised by him. The PVC pipe has a rating of 3000lb crush on it.

I knew I should have dropped everything and come down to run that job for you

Talk is cheap BRO!

[Reefs Rock]

Rocky

Good morning. Glad to see you back.

Well, of course being from the frozen North land, I forgot you Floridians live in a swamp . Guess I'd better get used to that fact since I plan on living there.

Happy to hear you had a sanitation engineer on the job helping out. You had me concerned about the pipe joints and leaks, etc. Wouldn't be the first time somebody buried pipe without being tested only to find out it leaked. I feel much better now.

If you read my post above, we've got a piece of property to come down and take a look. It's located just off Midway Rd. which branchs off Hwy 70 just before Ft. Pierce. Very convenient for you to stop buy whenever you come to FT. P.

I'll keep you up to date on when I'm coming down, maybe we can get together.

I'm going to have to squeeze the FL trip inbetween my trip to WA state to see my adopted grand-daughter (April 30 - May 7th) and a spring fishing trip to Canada (May 16 - 25th). So, possibly May 9 - 14th. I just don't know at this time. The realtor is supposed to e-mail some pics of the property today.

Geeez retirement life is busy.

[scubadude]

Originally posted by Reefs Rock
Rocky

I'll keep you up to date on when I'm coming down, maybe we can get together.

Yes please do!

Well I got my biggest underground radiator hooked up to a tank today and flushed it out and got all the air bubbles out (it took almost 8hrs.) Let me tell you this system WILL cool the water like I wanted....I am also using an AM3k to push through over 300 linnear ft. of 4" pipe underground as well as it being the tanks main circulation....Its plenty circulation....I will also be installing surge devices too. well heres some pics of the status

[Reefs Rock]

Alright, I am impressed!

Rocky

Just made offer on the property off Midway Rd. in Ft. Pierce FL. And made flight arraingements for May 9th through the 12th to go look at it..

That's not a lot of time! Don't know if we will be able to get together. I'm thinking not. Need to spend the neccessary time putting together the prop deal.

I will be in touch with you via cell phone when down there.

In the morning, 4/30/02 i fly out to WA for a surprise visit for Kehly's 15th birthday.

God, retirement is fun.

The GH and cooling system is AWSOME!!!!!!! I'm proud of you, Bro!

[wastedincome420]

LOOKS AWESOME ROCKY
So you plan on "sucking" from the cooling pipes?? I'm kind surprised that you didn't plan for the "return to tank" bulk head to be on the right side of tank (looking from the back of tank) instead of the left. I would think that if it was on the other side (which is also where the cooling lines come up from the ground) then you could have pu the pump right under the tank&bulk-head in order to cut out that bunch of elbow's you have on the return side of the amp3K.
Well keep of the great work How much salt are you going to need for all that water volume??
Mark

[scubadude]

Originally posted by wastedincome420
How much salt are you going to need for all that water volume??
Mark

Im thinking along the lines of using NSW to start and possibly even for W/C's there is 150-300 gal truck containers I can get to transport and if I find a nice area preferably a bridge, and collect during high tide and have a pump and a couple of batterys lined up. I think there will be atleast half synthetic salt mix w/ RO/DI water to start with though. But if I had to do it all w/ synthetic salt I would need enough salt to make 850 gallons of SW. Here is how my setups will be

SPS system

has 300 linnear ft. of 4" thinwall underground cooler connected to a 200g tank and a 100g rubbermaid This will be the SPS tank, and the 100g rubbermaid will have a few mangroves and a large portion for refugium w/lots of DIY LR and some clams maybe

Softie system

hass 200 linnear ft. of 4" thinwall underground cooler connected to a 200g tank and 3 - 29g tanks as refugium mud beds and scrubbers

[thezookeeper]

I've been keeping tabs on the project Rocky and I have to take a few minutes to tell you how GREAT it looks! I just KNEW you were crazy enough to get it done, and get it done like YESTERDAY! LOL Seriously though, I can't believe how much you've done in so short a time period. But you definately have a lot of interesting ideas going on there and I can't wait until we see those tanks up and running!


Joanne