Multiple Tank System Thread

[johnmaloney]

Thanks to your support we are beginning our move to a new facility this week. With that comes the construction of 2 new multiple tank commercial systems, like those you see in the pet store. Except in this case they will be for industrial application, (pretty ugly) because we don't allow walk ins and I am cheap like that. So I figured I would start a thread, because the first time I did one of these it seemed like a big task, but it turned out to be pretty easy. Maybe one of you wants to start a small frag farm, or breed fish etc...or are just curious. Who knows, I just though it would be cool to have when I was looking for one.

 

Anyway, as it goes a long I promise pictures. FPL turned on the electric at the new warehouse today, but until the electrician installs the lighting I can't take any pics of the tanks unfortunately.

[Degener8]

Grats on the move.. Hope everything works out well and your business flourishes even more.

[tyty]

Without pics, how about a description? How many tanks? How big? Lights?

[johnmaloney]

The tanks:

 

Because I have trouble reading I confirmed an offer for 20 gallon tall tanks that are plumbed to face out normally, (like in a pet store, your tank etc...), instead of sideways. Big disaster because they are 24 x 12 x 16

 

(i know, i should have pics here)

 

The problem here is that wall space and available electric outlets are the problem. Or at least that is how I see it, I am sure I can run wires, but I am not a fan of that, and the actual warehouse runway is pretty narrow... If the tanks were plumbed the other way I could put twice the number of tanks in the same space.

 

 

Grats on the move.. Hope everything works out well and your business flourishes even more.

 

Thanks! As long as I can stay out on the water I am happy as can be. Still going to try to get my brothers over here full time if I can talk them into it...kids these days and their retirement plans. My brother wants to invest in the company he works for, and retire in 20 years and live by the beach. I was there this morning.. We have different philosophies on life....

[Degener8]

If i had an offer to do your "job" I would jump on it. Just the idea of exploring and collecting and getting paid for it sounds awesome. (i know there is a whole business/work side to it that we dont see or think about but still sounds awesome..LOL )

[dtfleming]

I figured that you would use stock tanks or tubs....................

[johnmaloney]

I have them too. But we need a system that will keep (fish in this case) separate. Most of my invert tanks are separate smaller tanks though, makes packing much easier in a small shallow tank.

 

Lighting - none. Fish do better with low light, reduces stress and no need to show them off so it works well. Breeders I guess would have to run that, I have to do it another tank setup so I may just include a note about that...

[dtfleming]

What kind of fish do u plan on keeping?

 

I assume that you will have invert systems, fish system, macroalgae system. Corals too?

[yardboy]

Cool John!

Need any help? I'll take a week of vacation and come over!

Afraid I've got the same philosophy as your brothers, though I managed to invest in a company that it's facilities are nearly always on the water, fresh or salt, and I've specialized in the salt ones.

But then the water's too cold right now for this wuss. Very soon though.

It'll be cool to see a setup where you plan everything out before you start, unlike mine where it just seems to evolve with no obvious pattern! Or maybe it's creationism. I am the god and I have no idea where I'm going and get distracted very easily.

 

Thanks again for the livestock, or I guess it's non-stock livestock, eh?

[animalmaster6]

This is going to be awesome!

[johnmaloney]

I have always needed help....

 

Well the lights went on and low and behold when you get a good clear look at the lighting in the rafters there are junction boxes with non-capped wires coming out, no overhead lighting, the exit signs don't light up with a battery backup, the last electrician ran red wires for white when they ran out I guess...electricity nightmare there...

 

But I did clean the tanks today, so tomorrow I bring the camera.......

[johnmaloney]

What kind of fish do u plan on keeping?

 

I assume that you will have invert systems, fish system, macroalgae system. Corals too?

 

yep inverts for sure, algae for sure and we will see what else. after talking about it today we might just make this a double row invert system...we have humping fishing guards already on the MARS systems...

 

We will be specializing in a few fish, and bring in other species mixes. Angels, puffers, etc...

[yardboy]

John, you're still going to be collecting? Will you also get wholesale stuff from other collectors? Do you have an aquaculture license so you can grow stuff out, or will it be strictly retain though the internet? Sorry for all the questions but the only businesses I've ever had have been sole proprietorships.

[animalmaster6]

But I did clean the tanks today, so tomorrow I bring the camera.......

Omg John is going to tkae pictures

We will be specializing in a few fish, and bring in other species mixes. Angels, puffers, etc...

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

[johnmaloney]

We will be increasing collection efforts, and we will be adding new species as well as purchasing from other fisherman - we just need more holding capacity first. This won't be a Reef Cleaners thing though. New venture, this is a partnership with my brother, and will be an S-Corp, although, I have owned mostly sole proprietorships myself. Not that it matters, I keep myself judgment proof. Unless they are into snails.

 

We have access to an aquaculture farm, but I just don't have the time for it. 140 concrete ponds that average 5k gallons or so too...it is a shame, but there is only so much to go around... But if I could just get one of those ponds....... Want a 139 pond fish farm yardboy?

 

Omg John is going to tkae pictures

 

dont be so shocked. on at least 5 occasions this year already i have posted pics

[yardboy]

Wanting and getting are two different things. There's even less of me to go around (or maybe not). Not to say that I wouldn't like to try it. But that old "business plan" thing is just too much work. I tend to not know exactly what the F**** I'm going to do before I start it. And I'd rather not gamble with someone else's money anyway.

I'm assuming the pond farm was for freshwater?

John, some need to realize that you can really only do one effective thing at the time underwater (or maybe it's only me that can). I've tried bringing my camera and collection containers at the same time, and nearly drowned myself. When I lost a container with about 10 brilliantly red colored brittle stars to the current, I gave up doing both at once.

[animalmaster6]

So you're planning on having thousands of cool inverts? Awesome!!!

 

Still going to have Reef Cleaners?

 

That's really awesome you'll be getting some fish!

[Pickle010]

OK... I want some details on this set up and I want it now!!!

 

Or...

 

whenever you get around to it.

 

 

First off how many 20g talls are we talking about being plumbed together? Must be using some sort of sump/ I'm going to assume large - what pump are you using for the returns and how are adjusting for flow to each tank? Gate valves? Ball Valves? How large is the PVC you using for your overflow?

 

Details Details Details... dammit!

 

(insert angry emoticon here)

[johnmaloney]

Wanting and getting are two different things. There's even less of me to go around (or maybe not). Not to say that I wouldn't like to try it. But that old "business plan" thing is just too much work. I tend to not know exactly what the F**** I'm going to do before I start it. And I'd rather not gamble with someone else's money anyway.

I'm assuming the pond farm was for freshwater?

John, some need to realize that you can really only do one effective thing at the time underwater (or maybe it's only me that can). I've tried bringing my camera and collection containers at the same time, and nearly drowned myself. When I lost a container with about 10 brilliantly red colored brittle stars to the current, I gave up doing both at once.

 

hah! agreed, cant do two things at once. I just want a few tanks for easy to culture items, and then someone to run the rest. It was FW

 

yep reefcleaners is here to stay, this is a wholesale thing

 

First off how many 20g talls are we talking about being plumbed together?

25 at first, then 23 after cracks....eh...might patch one.

 

Must be using some sort of sump/ I'm going to assume large - what pump are you using for the returns and how are adjusting for flow to each tank?

 

pool pump, and a 110 stock tank sump

 

Gate valves? Ball Valves? How large is the PVC you using for your overflow? Not sure, I want to throw all the tanks out to be honest and do it the right way, so these will likely be temporary until I get those. I will do a seperate post on how did what I call an "ideal" setup, but these will have just a few valves. Usually I like to use one on each tank. They all start getting plumbed together tomorrow, as it turns out I will have 3 different styles of combining them. One I call "book shelf style" one book rack style, and one the good way. Anyway I do promise progress on this setup, the entire build out and move in has to happen in the next 14 days. Speaking of which....back to the flooring. Electrician is going to have to finish soon....I am putting vinyl backsplashes in..anyway I have some other stuff for the thread too, little tricks that can be useful in a home too.

[rickg]

Super!! I'm planning on starting some sort of operation. Look forward to following and pics. Congrats and good luck to you.

 

Didn't notice the carpenter elec.... I have a cabinet shop anything I can do to help PM me. Decades experience.

[johnmaloney]

if I run 4x4s resting on cinder blocks with plywood across at one foot wide and 8 feet long I can rest 1000 pounds on that, and go up 3 tiers right? I was pretty confident I could, until someone told me otherwise today...

[rickg]

if I run 4x4s resting on cinder blocks with plywood across at one foot wide and 8 feet long I can rest 1000 pounds on that, and go up 3 tiers right? I was pretty confident I could, until someone told me otherwise today...

So if I'm following you. You will have two columns of cinder blocks 96" apart to the outside of blocks with

4x4x96s resting on block spanning the distance then 3/4 x12x96 plywood on top. Built up to 3 tiers. Is that 1000lbs per tier or total? What specie of wood are the 4x4s? Not pressure treated I hope. PT is to wet and will twist n warp as it dries. On the surface I would think your ok. But you need to look at span as if it were a floor joist. When your at your local Lowes or HD look in a construction manual to see what is req'd for the span. Maybe its 2-2x8s or 2x12s. I'm outa the rough carpentry knowledge, that was many years ago. Not sure if this was any help...

[dtfleming]

Sounds like John needs to due some Hiring. Thats sucks about the electric situation, but doesn't surprise me either.

[johnmaloney]

haha...electricians... I have a truck and crew today to move out the current tanks but the electrician didn't finish...so the tanks can't go in. He says it will only take him a minute, but I have to wait until Monday......aargh. I am planning to kidnap him later on and force him to wire.

 

I am will double check at home depot, I have done this setup before but another guy bought the wood...the weight is only really 650 per tier, but I like to have "fine for 350 pounds over just in case of something.."

 

Basically it is 3 cinder blocks stacked with the 4x4s running through the holes in the cinder block. The gap between the planks is covered with plywood to evenly distribute the weight. Thanks for the tip on pressure treated, I didn't realize it was weaker. The span itself is only 6 feet, the rest goes through the cinder block, one foot on each side so it sticks out a little.

 

edit: lesson learned - sandals and cinder blocks do not go well together.

[yardboy]

Thanks for the tip on pressure treated, I didn't realize it was weaker. The span itself is only 6 feet, the rest goes through the cinder block, one foot on each side so it sticks out a little.

"Yea, Pressure treated pine is a lower grade of wood than is normally used for building, plus it's wet, as rickg pointed out, put it under load when wet and it'll sag dry and be worthless.

 

edit: lesson learned - sandals and cinder blocks do not go well together.

Owww, my toes throbbing just thinking about it. At least athletic shoes and better work boots with that stuff, but then I'm prone to dropping stuff like that from heights onto my feet, so steel toes for me.