In ground pool converted to reef? (1 Viewer)

[Fishbone]

Does anyone know of anyone who has successfully converted an in ground pool into a reef pool? Didn't find much on YouTube.

I'm thinking about trying to do this when all the kids leave home.

Trying to identify all the pitfalls for planning.

Things I'm thinking about are things like:

1. Temp control.
2. Does plaster leach any undesirables into water?
3. Salinity control considering rain. Rarely has rain caused the pool to overflow. And a couple inches at a time in 25000 gallons doesn't seem like it would swing salinity that bad. Run off to the pool isn't an issue because all side slope away from pool.
4. Chemistry of rain water? Any issues
5. Is it possible to pull this off without some sort of glass green house over the pool?
6. I have cartridge filters any reason why they wouldn't work as mechanical filtration?
7. If current pool pumps are good for saltwater pool would they hold up to the salinity required for a reef?
8. How do I get 25000 gallons of saltwater other than making it?

These were just a few off the top of my head?

Anything else?

Thanks guy



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[Tnconcept]

It is possible you just need some serious Temp control with the swing we have in TX we can have a cold, hot, and rain in one day. Probably a room or shed to keep the Huge skimmer and inline heater and inline chiller with a circulating pump sending it back and forward from the pool to that room. Unless you want to see that types of equipment in your pool. If it's fish only then they can handle a swing maybe some softies but SPS forget it. Not sure what type of seal you have in the pool but the possible leak of phosphate. But it will be an interesting build for sure! Kind of like a koi pong just with more loops to jump. Just some brainstorm...

Cheers and happy reefing!

 

[foos]

With that volume I would reach out to a public aquarium for advice. Also email Tidal Gardens about the outside aspects of it since they have a greenhouse setup. They are north of us and have to deal with more cold, but should have good advice.

 

[Fishbone]

Thanks for the input.

Considering a glass greenhouse type structure around it that is climate controlled. This would help temp, rain and humidity since the ac system would pull moisture out of the air.

For additional temp control I'd potentially use a large greenhouse fan and a water feature tied into my APEX for additional evaporative cooling and oxygenation. This is how I control the temp on my 180 reef that has halides, LEDs, large grow lights over 55g refugium and lights on algae scrubber. Just not sure of how much temp that type of setup could reduce.

Yeah on the leaching, considering some type of pond paint or sealant.

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[decimal]

Swimming pool reef | Marine and Reef General Discussion

Well, this has probably been discussed already at length, but there is this..

marsh-reef.org

 

[Fishbone]

Cool thx. I'll check it out

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[Tstew32]

There’s a guy in Dallas doing a build right now on reef central


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[Cody]

There’s a guy in Dallas doing a build right now on reef central


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Reef central

 

[Tangs]

Around 6 months ago I saw on utube a guy who did that. But is was mainly a big fish tank. Evaporation was an issue along with acid rain.

 

[Tangs]

Too bad you were not closer to a natural salt water bay. Many public aquariums get their water that way.

 

[Tangs]

Make sure you let your neighbours know what you are doing. You won't be the first who has their neighbours use your pool while you are away....

 

[Tstew32]

10,000 gal pool reef. 38,000 liters

10,000 gal pool reef. 38,000 liters - Reef Central Online Community

10,000 gal pool reef. 38,000 liters Large Reef Tanks

reefcentral.com

 

[Tstew32]

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[sneezebeetle]

Moody Gardens is in Galveston and they do in fact get the majority of their SW direct from the bay for all their aquariums. When they do need to make their own they do that as well, last I was there they were using Fritz.

 

[Fishbone]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm going to start planning this and we'll see when I get it done.

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