My zoo update

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Over the winter, I was having a temp issue. The heat exchangers on the tanks weren't allowing the valve to open...meaning they weren't heating the water. We replaced one. (Gov't place remember....if both are broken, we only fix one). Two days ago, I noticed the temp coming up in the River pool (big one). With the history of HE valves sticking, I figured I would get to replace this one now as well. Then I looked closer. The flow gauge wasn't ever reading...meaning it wasn't running hot water in it. That means the temp is all from solar gain. I isolated that section of the life support system to make sure. With the HE off line, the tank went up to 87 F yesterday. Of course, for anyone who has delt with a larger body of water, you know that means a NASTY algae bloom the next day.

Sure enough, today it looks like pea soup. All I can do it laugh and keep backwashing the sandfilter slowly to fight it. DO didn't crash on me (it's still running at 77%).

One a side note, the rays, silver dollars and leporinus look GREAT in the other pool. I finished doing some concrete rock work on the turtle end, so the 4 podocnemis will be out this afternoon. Anyone in town should swing by this weekend. From the outside veiwing area you can actually see animals now!

Well....back to work.....
 
Teething problems, lol.
 
Zoodiver said:
Over the winter, I was having a temp issue. The heat exchangers on the tanks weren't allowing the valve to open...meaning they weren't heating the water. We replaced one. (Gov't place remember....if both are broken, we only fix one). Two days ago, I noticed the temp coming up in the River pool (big one). With the history of HE valves sticking, I figured I would get to replace this one now as well. Then I looked closer. The flow gauge wasn't ever reading...meaning it wasn't running hot water in it. That means the temp is all from solar gain. I isolated that section of the life support system to make sure. With the HE off line, the tank went up to 87 F yesterday. Of course, for anyone who has delt with a larger body of water, you know that means a NASTY algae bloom the next day.

Sure enough, today it looks like pea soup. All I can do it laugh and keep backwashing the sandfilter slowly to fight it. DO didn't crash on me (it's still running at 77%).

One a side note, the rays, silver dollars and leporinus look GREAT in the other pool. I finished doing some concrete rock work on the turtle end, so the 4 podocnemis will be out this afternoon. Anyone in town should swing by this weekend. From the outside veiwing area you can actually see animals now!

Well....back to work.....
Click to expand...

time for a new thread with new pics :)
 
By way of a quick update:

Temp swing did cause the typical algae bloom. To top that off, the backwash system for the sandfitlers has failed and we are waiting for the right sensors to come in. That means the large pool is still very green at this point. Pacu are loving it. They patrol the entire pool all day. The only temp control I have right now is adding cooler RO water. Right now that is keeping it around 85F. Still too warm for my taste. You'll get a kick out of the solution management handed down: "The heat is coming from the concrete bio tower, so just by pass it." So, you want me to remove the biological filter (also the way we're keeping the oxygen level up) from the tank that is just starting and barely hanging on as it is??

As an added personal note: I've taken a position with another local zoological facility which will start July 1 full time. However, I am very committed to this project so will be staying on part time (still 30-40 hours a week) to help them work out all these "growing pains". Two reasons for that choice. First, I feel like I can fix the problems that are occuring quicker than trying to get someone else in here and up to speed. Second, there's nobody in their right mind who would want to jump on board this project right now in it's current state.
 
Here is a current shot of the River pool. 8,900 gallons of algae bloom as a result of too much direct sun light and temps ranging in the upper 80F.
I can say it's starting to clear up. The 9 pacu in there seem very happy.
The second shot is a pair of tanks in the holding. The right tank is housing a pair of leopoldi, the left is holding 2 silver arowana and a redtail catfish. In the background, you can see the bio-tower setup for what used to be the arapaima holding.

River display algae bloom.JPG

Holding.JPG
 
dude!!!! THAT LOOKS SWEET!
 
Looks like the "higher ups" tried everything they could to skimp on the set up with inexperienced contractors and inadequate/faulty equipment. It never ceases to amaze me that people think that it’s a good idea to try and save money on components and lack of wanting to pay a little more for experienced personnel/contractors. This way of thinking has a 100% failure rating in all aquarium set ups and when you get into the public aquarium arena, the price of failure is much more expensive. Instead of a nice Arapaima exhibit for an industry standard price, they got a more expensive (in both time and money) green pacu tank.:clap Makes you wonder how these people get in the positions of making these type of decisions in the first place.:confused:

Run to your new job and don't look back!!!

nice Leos BTW
 
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