Very Large Display Tank, Help Appreciated

Well I guess we will see what happens as I might be using 2 of the exact same high quality skimmers. Probably something like dual ETSS Quad 3000 Profesionals. Each one is rated for up to 5000 gallons when using a 3/4hp high pressure pump. I figure a max tank load of 10,000gallons should be suffecient for my 5800gallon display, and I have found that ETSS rates their skimers very conservatively. I might end up using 1 large skimmer made of mabey translucent fiberglass but Im unsure at this point, it depends what some of my connections offer me.
About the seawater question... I have thought about trucking in seawater but it is not much cheaper and there is a lack of clean water on the coast of B.C. Buying salt by the pallet makes it a little more affordable and I can also get it by the 2000lb bag for a little cheaper yet.

Anyone have any big tank ideas of their own, things they would do to a large tank???

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

um.. ya Tony, exactly what I said in the second paragraph
"one was more efficient than the other and there was a limited amount of nutrents for them to remove from the water. "

Forgive my oversight, I didn't mean to imply you hadn't already said the same sort of thing I just wanted to try to elaborate on it. Trying to think of ways to quantify measurements of a skimmers effectiveness. (To be fair, Steve, you did also say "it doesn't sit right with you" so I thought we could to figure out some reasons.... I thought you brought up an interesting topic, I should be allowed to pursue it with you!!!)

For example I am sure we can agree that one such quantification is the rate at which DOC is removed from the water, another might be the efficacy (note this is not a typo for "efficiency") of the foam (i.e., a beckett style has low efficacy compared to a counter-current but makes up for it in terms of volume turnover). What about a minimum threshold? Do think that there can be a minimum threshold of amount of DOC before a skimmer might "start" to be effective or do you think it's closer to a linear relationship?

[Lofus]

I would think that there is some minimum level of DOC necessary for foam production, below which the matter is re-desolved at the surface when the bubbles burst.

As far as two of the same skimmer type operating differently, I can only guess that it would be due to different inlet compositions relating back to the installation. As was mentioned before, if one was receiving some of the water that had already been through the first skimmer then the foam production would be less.

Depending on the amount of skimmate you make, you might want to consider bagging it and selling/using it as fertalizer. On a 5000 gal tank it mught be a viable option.

I have tried using the diaper pooh as fertilizer and have had good success with some plants but it has too high sodium content for other plants...
Im sure I could grow a forest of mangroves with it though...