Setting up a fish greenhouse

[bigbettadan]

I just purchased a greenhouse kit to house my ranchu/veils. The main reason was cost cutting(though I am excited) so I could have my garage back for storage. Anyway I was wondering if you guys that currently have one for goldies can give me any advice/insight with setup, wintering allowances, etc..

Dan

[small_ranchu]

What kind of kit are you buying?

[GlassGoldfish]

Dont use PVC: the new replacement for PVC is called PEX. It is semi-flexible and uses compression fittings on brass nipples rather than that purple/blue chem glue for pvc. pvc has been shown to leech plasticisers for over 12 years! PEX wont crack if it freezes and doesn't leech plasticizers. Word!

[bigbettadan]

Thanks...

I can give you details next time we chat Fred...

Dan

[fantail1]

I can comment from a UK perspective, if that would be of use, but our winters are a little (English understatement) milder so might not help.

Some general points:

height to the eves will affect the number of tiers of tanks you can have, so raise the eves if you can.

I run two long tanks down either side (so 4 tanks in total) and each pair has a sump filter. This is the best design I can recommend as there are no awkward corners to access etc.

Without a UV, the water goes green and in summer will get hot (though less so with the central system than they used to as individual tanks).


does that help?

David

[bigbettadan]

Yes.... Though it will be mostly tubs. I may not put any tanks in.

I was hoping to get input from the UK guys since it sounds like you guys mostly use them.

Dan

[bigbettadan]

Oh, Indiana winters arent too bad, on average.

Dan

[bigbettadan]

What do you guys do in the summer to prevent overheating??

Dan

[fantail1]

If you are using tubs, then presumably just on ground level? I would have a look at Andrew James' blog - that shows an excellent arrangement. John Parker has something similar but with one level of tanks (at eye level) above.

In the summer in the UK, if water volumes are large enough, I find the temperature peaks at say 27 - 28C, so high but not too high.

I hope I have attached a couple of photos showing how mine looked a year ago, when it was being set up.

[fantail1]

sorry, should have added - at those temperatures, there is no need to do anything particular to keep them cooler.

David

[marlin08]

I just purchased a greenhouse kit to house my ranchu/veils. The main reason was cost cutting(though I am excited) so I could have my garage back for storage. Anyway I was wondering if you guys that currently have one for goldies can give me any advice/insight with setup, wintering allowances, etc..

Dan

What size and type? I've toyed with the idea, myself.

[johnatoranchu]

What size and type? I've toyed with the idea, myself.

As always, the bigger the better and no matter how large it won't be large enough. My greenhouse fish house is 33ft x 15ft and is glazed with twinwall polycarbonate. This houses ten 6ft x 5ft x 15 ins ponds (5 each side) at ground level and a row of aquariums at eye level along each side totalling eight 4ft x 2ft, five 5ft x 2ft and one 6ft x 2ft. All the aquariums are 9 inches deep.
John

[Ichthius]

Dont use PVC: the new replacement for PVC is called PEX. It is semi-flexible and uses compression fittings on brass nipples rather than that purple/blue chem glue for pvc. pvc has been shown to leech plasticisers for over 12 years! PEX wont crack if it freezes and doesn't leech plasticizers. Word!

That for flexible pv also known as vinyl like standard airline tubin. Rigid PVC pipe is inert and not flexible. Doesn't last as a greenhouse frame either way.

[bigbettadan]

Thanks for the input. I checked the blogs for Andrews set up and was going to pick Johns brain a bit. Won't be as big as Johns. I do want to keep it simple. I love simplicity...LOL

Dan

[small_ranchu]

Dan,
I am wishing to get something like this... :exact:

[VeiltailGuy]

Dan,
I am wishing to get something like this... :exact:

WOW~!:confuse::confuse:

[bigbettadan]

Who wouldn't?

Dan

[Hondataeg6]

Dan, are you going to have the tubs raised? Or at floor level?

[Hondataeg6]

This is what I wish to have in the future.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll92/hondataeg6/fc7823d4.jpg

[bigbettadan]

Basically at floor level, raised off the floor with brick about 10 inches. I may build a tank shelf above as has been suggested.

Dan

[small_ranchu]

Make it two layers for future. If you need help let me know. lol

[bekko]

Jaderloon makes pretty good kits at a reasonable cost. At least the pieces fit together properly; unlike some other manufacturers.

There have extruded aluminum poly clips, but you can save a lot of money if you just roll the plastic and tack it down to a wooden stringer under a piece of lath. Once you remove a piece of poly, you are unlikely to be able to use it again whether you use the aluminum clips or the lath.

Run a 1x4 wood stringer all around the building at ground level and another about seven feet off the ground to separate the roof poly from the sidewall poly. Use self-tapping screws and a nut driver drill to attach the wood stringer to the metal frame tubing.

In the winter, use two layers of poly with a small squirrel cage blower to "inflate" the plastic and keep an air space between the two layers. There is a jumper hose to connect the roof, side walls and end walls so you only need one small blower to inflate the whole structure. The air space provides very good and very inexpensive insulation.

In summer, turn off the blower, pull shade cloth over the roof and remove the poly from the sides.

-steve

[Cincy Ranchu]

Without shade ( painting the glass and a net block) Dan will see 120F May through September. It can be ambient temperatures in the mid 90's F for weeks at a time