Outdoor Reef Tank

redline · 03/18/2008, 01:25 PM

Who has a tank outside that uses natural sunlight? What issues did you have, or are there, and where do you live? I'm in Southern Ca, and the weather is pretty decent year round.

2fishy · 03/18/2008, 01:29 PM

I've seen a picture of one in Hawaii with clams in it. If I remember right it was at an aquarium but this actual tank with the clams was outside. I've also seen an outdoor saltwater pond on HGTV. It was at someone's house. That was also in Hawaii.

illal · 03/18/2008, 01:48 PM

id be would about your sg. when it rains

Devil Man · 03/18/2008, 01:53 PM

what size are you talking about? a local guy here built a 20ft x 10ft x 8ft tank or whatever you want to call it...ran into issues with algea, circulation, and filtration. all of the equipment just wasnt big enough.

redline · 03/18/2008, 02:12 PM

I have some spare tanks 60gal and smaller that I was going to put on a rolling stand so it could be moved back under the patio when it rains. I figure i'd give it a try. What I'm wondering though is in the Summer, if the tank water will get too hot even if it's in the shade with the outside temp above 90 deg.

Bax · 03/18/2008, 02:15 PM

There's one large tank in SoCal in the large tank forum, but I have not seen a post in a while. It's a huge tank under a canopy just amazing! Lot's of coral, hundreds of anems and clowns, I want to say it's 2000 g al plus.

tydtran · 03/18/2008, 02:18 PM

I think it would get way too hot. Check out the large tank forum. There's a nice thread there on sun powered reef. Outdoor tank in Portugal.

Bax · 03/18/2008, 02:20 PM

This is the tread

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1038647

redline · 03/18/2008, 02:24 PM

I think I'll just fill a tank with water and take temp measurements for a couple of weeks and chart the results.. thanks for the input and the link to the gigantic tank.

sslak · 03/18/2008, 02:46 PM

There is another thread on reef central, a guy in South America has his tank in-ground in his back yard. This prevents temp swings.

He uses a sealed glass cover to prevent rain/debris from entering, and to give him a way to view the aquarium.

He also has an attached refugium (also enclosed like a greenhouse and half below ground to preven temp swings)

He's using natural seawater and such too...I wish I could find it, the thread is incredible. The only electric he pays is for a heater and chiller that barely ever run, and pumps!

redline · 03/18/2008, 04:01 PM

It's just amazing how expensive electricity is. Anyone who lives here in California knows that once you pass the 120% of your alotted 'power' it just starts getting REALLY expensive. I remember about 4 years ago I was at 320% for 3 months straight and it was over 600 a month in electricity. I'll have to look for the thread with the in ground tank. Sounds interesting to read.

Tang Salad · 03/18/2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sslak
There is another thread on reef central, a guy in South America has his tank in-ground in his back yard. This prevents temp swings.

He uses a sealed glass cover to prevent rain/debris from entering, and to give him a way to view the aquarium.

There's a guy in Portugal with a similar setup. Looked very nice. There was a thread in the DIY section here (or maybe at RDO?) a year+ ago.

sslak · 03/19/2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tang Salad
There's a guy in Portugal with a similar setup. Looked very nice. There was a thread in the DIY section here (or maybe at RDO?) a year+ ago.

Portugal, thats it! I kept wanting to say Peru which is why I thought South America...

It is in the DIY section - it's pretty amazing.

03/18/2008, 01:25 PM	#1
redline Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: so cal Posts: 58	Outdoor Reef Tank Who has a tank outside that uses natural sunlight? What issues did you have, or are there, and where do you live? I'm in Southern Ca, and the weather is pretty decent year round.

03/18/2008, 01:29 PM	#2
2fishy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 918	I've seen a picture of one in Hawaii with clams in it. If I remember right it was at an aquarium but this actual tank with the clams was outside. I've also seen an outdoor saltwater pond on HGTV. It was at someone's house. That was also in Hawaii. __________________ Carole Current Tank Info: 55 gal

03/18/2008, 01:48 PM	#3
illal Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tamarac, Fl Posts: 5,700	id be would about your sg. when it rains __________________ -AL

03/18/2008, 01:53 PM	#4
Devil Man Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Naples, Fl ( hurricane valley;-)) Posts: 616	what size are you talking about? a local guy here built a 20ft x 10ft x 8ft tank or whatever you want to call it...ran into issues with algea, circulation, and filtration. all of the equipment just wasnt big enough. __________________ "My dremel spins at 20k and 30k rpm. Is that enough? Its not one of those puny little girly-man hand dremels. This is Arnold Schwartzeneggerr type stuff were talking here."-qwuintus hahaha Current Tank Info: 58 gl with 20+ gl sump

03/18/2008, 02:15 PM	#6
Bax Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,619	There's one large tank in SoCal in the large tank forum, but I have not seen a post in a while. It's a huge tank under a canopy just amazing! Lot's of coral, hundreds of anems and clowns, I want to say it's 2000 g al plus. __________________ 150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz

03/18/2008, 02:12 PM	#5
redline Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: so cal Posts: 58	I have some spare tanks 60gal and smaller that I was going to put on a rolling stand so it could be moved back under the patio when it rains. I figure i'd give it a try. What I'm wondering though is in the Summer, if the tank water will get too hot even if it's in the shade with the outside temp above 90 deg.

03/18/2008, 02:18 PM	#7
tydtran Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 853	I think it would get way too hot. Check out the large tank forum. There's a nice thread there on sun powered reef. Outdoor tank in Portugal.

03/18/2008, 02:20 PM	#8
Bax Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,619	This is the tread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1038647 __________________ 150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz

03/18/2008, 02:24 PM	#9
redline Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: so cal Posts: 58	I think I'll just fill a tank with water and take temp measurements for a couple of weeks and chart the results.. thanks for the input and the link to the gigantic tank.

03/18/2008, 02:46 PM	#10
sslak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,705	There is another thread on reef central, a guy in South America has his tank in-ground in his back yard. This prevents temp swings. He uses a sealed glass cover to prevent rain/debris from entering, and to give him a way to view the aquarium. He also has an attached refugium (also enclosed like a greenhouse and half below ground to preven temp swings) He's using natural seawater and such too...I wish I could find it, the thread is incredible. The only electric he pays is for a heater and chiller that barely ever run, and pumps! __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 58 Oceanic/20g Sump/250w XM 20k/2x39w T5 True Actinic 03/2010 Reef Octopus NW Cone Skimmer

03/18/2008, 04:01 PM	#11
redline Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: so cal Posts: 58	It's just amazing how expensive electricity is. Anyone who lives here in California knows that once you pass the 120% of your alotted 'power' it just starts getting REALLY expensive. I remember about 4 years ago I was at 320% for 3 months straight and it was over 600 a month in electricity. I'll have to look for the thread with the in ground tank. Sounds interesting to read.