http://wwwinstructablescom/id/build-an-artificial-reef/ Home Browse Community Submit How to Build an Artificial Reef by condofish on July 23, 2010 Table of Contents License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) 2 Intro: Build an Artificial Reef 2 step 1: Choose Location 2 step 2: Test Reef Design Outside of Water 2 step 3: Move Materials to Site 3 step 4: Build your Base 3 step 5: Add Levels 2, 3, and 4 4 step 6: Add the 5th level and the center support 6 step 7: Monitor, maintain and protect 7
License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) Intro: Build an Artificial Reef Some reefs are erroneously constructed from car tires (a bad idea due to the toxicity of rubber disintegrating in salt water), and some are built using broken-down cars Our goal was to ensure that fish and other marine animals, such as crabs, octopus, and eels, looking for a place to live and reproduce had the best environment available The reef project chose cinder block because the block was much easier to handle than cars and other heavy industrial items and the Calcium content of concrete bolsters the growth of various plant and invertebrate life forms Also, logistically it made more sense because block is readily available The fish habitats are formed into an igloo and caterpillar shapes which offer the best environment to live, breed and find protection step 1: Choose Location The very first step is to choose a low current location that is conducive to undersea life, reproduction and feeding In 1985, a 60-foot tuna-fishing vessel of Mexican origin was anchored close to the beach in Playa Hermosa A fire broke out aboard causing considerable damage and the boat sank In 2002, fishermen living in Playa Hermosa knew the location of boat and helped discover the wreck and the remains of the fishing vessel The wreck has a N-S direction To the south is a drum with nets and ropes completely covered with vegetation and corals, at the center is the engine and various mechanical parts of the arms At the other end, the north, one can see a metal cube of about 100 cubic feet that is most likely a fuel tank The wreck lies about 400 meters west from the beach, facing the parking lot of the first entrance to Playa Hermosa It sits at a depth roughly 20 to 30 feet depending on the tide 12 fish habitats consisting of the igloo block structure are located around the wreck While the CondoFish project in Playa Hermosa Costa Rica obtained full government MINEA approval for the project, this may not be relevant in other international locations Costa Rica is a very ecologically conscious country and anything regarding natural resources or wildlife requires approval and constant surveillance step 2: Test Reef Design Outside of Water While you may have a good idea of what your design will be We highly suggest testing your design outside of the water This will save valuable building time underwater The following steps will show the design that the Playa Hermosa Artificial Reef Project used It seems to be good design to start with After a 3 month period, an explosion of aquatic life has occured in the in and around our "fish condos" http://wwwinstructablescom/id/build-an-artificial-reef/
step 3: Move Materials to Site Move your materials to your building site We chose a clean patch of ocean floor and dropped the cinder blocks one by one We built the Reef structures by moving the blocks from the pile to the building site http://wwwinstructablescom/id/build-an-artificial-reef/
step 4: Build your Base Build your base on level sea floor Anchoring should not be needed if the location chosen is calm enough http://wwwinstructablescom/id/build-an-artificial-reef/
step 5: Add Levels 2, 3, and 4 Build the sides up to the 4rd level http://wwwinstructablescom/id/build-an-artificial-reef/
step 6: Add the 5th level and the center support Add the 5th level and the center support The 2nd image is a cutaway shot to show a better view of the center support http://wwwinstructablescom/id/build-an-artificial-reef/
step 7: Monitor, maintain and protect Now monitor your artificial reef on a weekly basis One thing that you may want to do is put up buoys marking the area so that anchors aren't dropped on any of your fishy homes Enjoy and watch life flourish! Playa Hermosa Artificial Reef Project Guancaste, Costa Rica CondoFishcom