Outdoor lagoon tank, anyone have experience or knowledge of one?

RuffReef

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This topic has came up multiple times between my wife and I and I would like to do one but here are my issues:
1) Would have to be efficient, no chiller or heaters running all the time
2) How to enclose it and keep the temp cool in the summer?
3) How to clean it if enclosed?

I would love to do a 1000g shark lagoon/pond all open but I am afraid of how I can keep the moisture, dew, sprinklers etc out of it. I have tried to search the web on builds like this but came up empty, is there a forum for large pond/shark builds?
 
BeanMachine

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Steve Garret would be a good guy to ask questions to. Or Cy is got that outdoor tank and I'm sure would give you some pointers. Your guys weather is pretty extreme though don't know how easy that would be for you.
 
RuffReef

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I figured with the tank below ground it would stay stable to ground temps for the most part. Because we are on the foothills we don't get such extreme weather but it gets very cold in the winter, we actually got snow this winter.
 
benjaminS

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I was at Steve Garret's Place the other day.

This topic has came up multiple times between my wife and I and I would like to do one but here are my issues:
1) Would have to be efficient, no chiller or heaters running all the time
** What I can tell you is that If you have enough surface area you can just put a big fan over it. If you copied steve Garret's set up it would have to be rectangular and with a big big fan blowing over it. Should keep the temps perfect at 78. But It was from basic observations and him explaining to me what he did.

2) How to enclose it and keep the temp cool in the summer?
Secondly he used expensive shades that he shipped from the east coast. A couple thousand dollars a sheet. For different times of the year.

3) How to clean it if enclosed?

From what I can remember he's running it like a 2 foot high frag tank almost. with a divider in the middle and shades. Lots of shades.

but yea + 1 on asking steve garret on his build. Then if you're lucky you'll see how he doses his tank but I won't spoil that for you. :)
 
RuffReef

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Garret grows coral though, I wouldn't do that outside. It would be more of a lagoon style with large angels/small sharks.

I've seen Steves tank and it amazes me and I asked him lots of questions, he perfected it and would have a wealth of information but I was hoping someone has information on a non reef tank sertup. I know with sharks some people used sand filters for filtration.
 
SchnitzelReef

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i dont think u can get away from having to run heaters...prolly have to get an acutal gas water heater, or a tankless water heater. especially since its 1000gallons, but natural gas is cheap.

keeping it cool might be kinda awkward with a HUGE fan...just get a couple chillers and you will be fine...plus u have Solar panels...
 
cymaster007

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lets do a trip down to Scripps aquarium, when i was thinking about the outdoor lagoon i saw theirs in the back by the touch-tanks.
Let me know what weekend you want to head down and Daisy and I will go-
 
benjaminS

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But chillers are inefficient. steve garret is running his entire tank at 600 Watts if I'm not mistaken. A decent sized metal halide alone has 400 watts on it.. not much more cost efficient than that..
 
Mohawk

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Aquarium of the pacific in Long Beach has a lagoon set up with sharks, rays and Huuge tangs., Its awesome., They just have fabric screens hanging over it to keep the direct sun down.,. But im sure they pump a ton of water through there to keep things steady.,. Id imagine that the biggest issue for you would be temp. Not so much keeping it cool., but keeping it warm., Even out here in the desert it doesnt get as cold as you guys but my pool drops into the 50's in the winter., How would you keep it warm?
 
cymaster007

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the creatures that can survive in tide-pools are more adapted to salinity swings, temperature swings and low oxygen
 
RuffReef

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cymaster007 said:
lets do a trip down to Scripps aquarium, when i was thinking about the outdoor lagoon i saw theirs in the back by the touch-tanks.
Let me know what weekend you want to head down and Daisy and I will go-
Click to expand...
Doesn't scripps have a constant supply of water though being pumped in? I would be somewhat limited in that regard.

The place we wanted to put it was in the area the BBQ is now, I would need to cut the concrete to get the pond level but it does have a lattace over the top so I would cover it when it raines.

As far as heating I was hoping to use natural gas but where we thought about putting it is the complete opposite side of the house, I would have to tear up a lot of lawn to get a line there. If the insulation work as planned and with the tank being in the ground it shouldn't need much heating, no more than my tank and only in the winter.
 
pgr11

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Heat exchanger should work to heat it. Lmk if your serious Jamie. I can set somethings up and have a guy come out and do a consultation with you on it.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
RuffReef

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Mohawk said:
Aquarium of the pacific in Long Beach has a lagoon set up with sharks, rays and Huuge tangs., Its awesome., They just have fabric screens hanging over it to keep the direct sun down.,. But im sure they pump a ton of water through there to keep things steady.,. Id imagine that the biggest issue for you would be temp. Not so much keeping it cool., but keeping it warm., Even out here in the desert it doesnt get as cold as you guys but my pool drops into the 50's in the winter., How would you keep it warm?
Click to expand...
Our pool gets to the 40's in the winter but it is concrete and above ground. My train of thought of keeping it all below ground and insulated it'll help regulate the temperature naturally.
 
RuffReef

RuffReef

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pgr11 said:
Heat exchanger should work to heat it. Lmk if your serious Jamie. I can set somethings up and have a guy come out and do a consultation with you on it.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
That would run off gas wouldn't it? I'm not sure how I could get a gas line there.
 
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