Coral propagation outdoors

dinki

dinki

Member
I stumbled upon a website of a guy who was starting a coral farm in a greenhouse. The concept of using the sun intrigued me. Has anyone attempted this on a small one tank scale? I'm guessing keeping water tempts down could be pretty tough when temps are 90-100+
Any thoughts on doing this small scale?
 
mkzimms

mkzimms

Member
ive read a few articles about people doing this in places like hawaii and such. they have tanks on their decks and patios. i think you'd need to live in a place that has a good noon day sun and consistent temperatures.
 
mscarpena

mscarpena

Member
You could do it with the proper equipment. In your area you would need a huge chiller to keep them temp around 80. Chillers are not cheap either. Also you would need temp controllers and a couple of heaters for winter time. I don't know what your electric bill is, but it would have to be pretty high to make it worth your while. Also you chiller dies and you don't catch it right away when it's 100 degrees forget it all your stuffs dead. So bottom line is it is a good idea, but probably not worth your while. If you have a glass sun porch that you heat/cool and is north/south so it gets all the light that is another option.
 
cowfishrule

cowfishrule

Active Member
doesnt intensity of the sun play a role as well?
i mean, hawai'in sun is much different than the sun here in jersey, am i correct?
 
mkzimms

mkzimms

Member
Originally Posted by COWFISHRULE
http:///forum/post/2489671
doesnt intensity of the sun play a role as well?
i mean, hawai'in sun is much different than the sun here in jersey, am i correct?
absolutely it would make a difference. if i remember correctly from 8th grade earth science...you'd have to do some measurements to find intensity and uv index. you'd also need to calculate the yearly solar altitude and azimuth angles to best position your tank for the ideal daily/yearly coverage and angle of attack. fortunatly people do this stuff all the time for things like positioning solar panels so you could start by talking to someone in that business or do some extreme googling. the information is definitely out there.
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
Weird dejavu moment. I swear I saw this exact same OP with a different name on --.

Except that person is allegedly from Australia. I could be wrong. SPS section.
 
reefmate75

reefmate75

Member
my LPS gets his corals from a guy that grows his corals in a green house...so it can be done, but i wouldnt call it worthwhile
 
dinki

dinki

Member
Originally Posted by GrouperGenius
http:///forum/post/2490528
Weird dejavu moment. I swear I saw this exact same OP with a different name on --.

Except that person is allegedly from Australia. I could be wrong. SPS section.
I'm on -- too, but I'm not from Australia nor do I post there all that often.
My thoughts on the small-scale outdoor propagation idea was merely out of curiosity. I understand that handling things in the winter would be a bit of a struggle and the summer would require intense cooling. My idea was more of a temporary grow out tank that would be extremely inexpensive to set up. Would it be worth it? Probably not but I'm really only asking if anyone has tried it.
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
Originally Posted by dinki
http:///forum/post/2490969
I'm on -- too, but I'm not from Australia nor do I post there all that often.
My thoughts on the small-scale outdoor propagation idea was merely out of curiosity. I understand that handling things in the winter would be a bit of a struggle and the summer would require intense cooling. My idea was more of a temporary grow out tank that would be extremely inexpensive to set up. Would it be worth it? Probably not but I'm really only asking if anyone has tried it.
There is a picture I have seen on here of a tank that is outside. Covered in glass and in full sun. It's in Arizona I think.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Google Vitor Pestana Sun Powered Reef
There is also a LFS here in Michigan that has coral propagation tanks, huge ones, in a big greenhouse attached to the store.
 
cowfishrule

cowfishrule

Active Member
michigan knows whats up.
i'd say 90% of the plants you buy are grown in michigan greenhouses.
i dont know why. they just are.
next time you go to lowes or the depot, look at the info on the plant, or the name on the side of the dolly they use to wheel them around.
guaranteed its from michigan.
 
iyachtuxivm

iyachtuxivm

Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2491030
Google Vitor Pestana Sun Powered Reef
There is also a LFS here in Michigan that has coral propagation tanks, huge ones, in a big greenhouse attached to the store.
would love to know where. Id like to see it in person.
 
theappe3

theappe3

Member
Ive always wondered if you can grow corals with the sun naturally, I guess that answers my question. I know that the sun is that one that grows corals in the ocean, but just didnt know if it can be done at home :0
 
dinki

dinki

Member
In doing a bit of research I stumbled upon a guy who set up some tanks in a small courtyard at his home in Portugal. He took a unique (at least to me) approach by placing the tanks in the ground to use the earth as a natural heat sink. The tanks are glass covered to reduce evaporation. Very interesting.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Originally Posted by dinki
http:///forum/post/2492874
In doing a bit of research I stumbled upon a guy who set up some tanks in a small courtyard at his home in Portugal. He took a unique (at least to me) approach by placing the tanks in the ground to use the earth as a natural heat sink. The tanks are glass covered to reduce evaporation. Very interesting.
Yup, see post #11
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
I think the rules on this forum do not let me post that kind of information but if you copy and paste that address I gave you into a google search you will fine it.
 
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