How much greenhouse info is in Calfo's book???

[coralfarm'n]

www.sherrysgreenhouse.com

just go here and look at the free greenhouse plan links...scrool till you find..."small backyard greenhouse" 12x14 ..from the NC coopertive extension

there are a lot of free plans here, but this one is probably the most popular, cheapest and best on the net.

You can even use polycarb instead of plastic if you like...since it will bow around the quonset frame...But I would scratch the use of it imo..there is a guy here in ohio that has it on his greenhouse and His heat bill is obserd imo...inflated double layer of plastic is as good or mabey better imo

[zanemoseley]

Where do you get your 300g vats from. I saw some at aquatic eco but they are pretty pricey. A 240g was $750 plus shipping.

[ALTI]

i got mine from tractor supply. $225 i think.

[zanemoseley]

Well I found the PVC 12'x14' GH you mentioned. Looks good except for the covering. With it only being one sheet of 4-5 mil plastic the insulation value will be pretty poor thus making it harder to keep a stable temp I would think. The one I was looking at has 10mm polycarb siding with a layer of air inbetween layers to insulate. It has a R value of 3.0 which is near what a 4in brick wall is which is R=4.0

I'm not ruling out building my own but I would think I would want some insulation to it.

[zanemoseley]

Ok well I don't buy the fact that the sunrise GH has a R value of with a dual layer 10mm siding. Here's some common R values I found off a site on sallysGH's

Single Pane Glass 0.7
Double Thickness Glass 1.0-1.25
2" Dead Air Space 1.0
1" Pink Poly 5
2" Pink Poly 10
Wood (1") 1.0
Concrete (6") 1.63
Dual Glass with Argon Gas 2.3
Dual Glass with Argon Gas and Special Tinting 3.7
Dual Glass with Argon Gas, Special Tinting and Film Barrier 4.8
6 mm Dual Wall Polycarbonate 1.6
8 mm Dual Wall Polycarbonate 1.7
16 mm Tri Wall Polycarbonate 2.5

[zanemoseley]

Could use some of this tri wall polycarb by the sheet. Expensive though.

http://www6.mailordercentral.com/igc...umber=CPC-CL16

Its very expensive though. To cover a 14'x10' greenhouse would cost about $3000 in triwall polycarb.

[coralfarm'n]

you use 2 layers of plastic....on the inside of the greenhouse a squrrile fan is mounted ....it inflates a air pocket about 6" between the layers of plastic...and insulates as well as the twin wall

Trust me ...we have over 75 90 ft long greenhouses right behind us literaly...about 90 ft behind the house....if I know one thing, its greenhouses and agriculture

[coralfarm'n]

I get 300 gallon rubbermaids from tractor supply at $179 and the other long 300 vats from a farm store called "Big Blue" for $169

[zanemoseley]

Damn so you have 75 GH's behind your house???

Are there any 300 vats that are rectangular.

[coralfarm'n]

yes there is 75 greenhouses behind my house...though they are not mine..part are on my land

It is a major ornamental shrub business.

I don't care for that line of work...since I grew up in that type business. I can talk hort and bot till you fall asleep lol

I will be constructing 2 30 x 90 hydroponic tomato greenhouses
in the future ....after the coral prop greenhouse is done

I don't really care for the tomato business either...but hey...I can't resist trying to tap the major market..that will always be there. With just tomatos and no "dirt" lol

[coralfarm'n]

Oh..the 300 long vats I have are rectangular. I will try to get you a pic tomorrow if you like

[zanemoseley]

So are the rectangular ones from the "big blue" store? I though the 300g rubbermaids were oval shaped.

[zanemoseley]

These also seem like a good priced alternative to using just PVC and would probably last longer.

http://www.gothicarchgreenhouses.com/cold_frames.htm

The price seem too cheap IMO though. A 12'x24 is only $350, that seems too cheap for a steel frame.

[zanemoseley]

Also how long lived is the dual layered covering. Do you have to replace it every couple years?

I assume you'd just have a fan on one of the ends for ventilation right.

[Qwiv]

You will need a heater, a hanging gas fire work great and are cheap. You will have to replace the plastic after a while, but it should last a few years.

[coralfarm'n]

www.tropicalmarineimports.com/sump

the 300 gallon long sump is made by Freeman Industries.

I also have 2 300 gallon Rubbermaids they are almost round but I quess oval.

The Freeman sump is almost rectangular but is also rounded on the ends...Greenhouse poly lats for 4-8 years...it is usally warranted for 4 years...alot use regular poly for the first layer and greenhouse poly on the outside layer.

[coralfarm'n]

For the 20x30 greenhouse I am building I have a 42" belt driven fan, and a few differant motors from 1/3 to 3/4 HP to use on it

[Steve847]

How would sheets of acrylic work for glazing? Would a double layer of 1/8in acrylic work for a greenhouse? Do you have any more links for constructing a greenhouse? Thanks

[zanemoseley]

It would probably end up costing you as much as polycarb and not be as good.

[Steve847]

I only ask because i have 150 sheets that are 4x8 that Im going to try to use for my GH. Has anybody actually used acrylic before?

[coralfarm'n]

you could try the arcylic but I think it filters out uv light in the spectrum needed by coral..would have to look that up..it also discolors over time.

But if it is free then try it and see with a prototype greenhouse..I have found things are not always as people say and write...or the corals are not reading this stuff one

I have another link but have to find it ..it has even more than the last site for free greenhouse plans