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Reef Balls to Promote Marine Life

I. The state of the world's coral reefs:

- as we are coming to the beginning of a new millennium 58% of the world's reef's are at risk

II. Artificial Reefs are used to replace damaged natural reefs which are home to thousands of species of marine life:

-REEF BALLS are an excellent choice for artificial reefs

III. Why Reef Balls ???

Fish Diversity and Support

Large open area in center for fish shelter

Aesthetics

Variety of surface textures

Stability
Ease of Construction

Concrete poured into mold with air bladder
Fiberglass molds are easily adapted

Ease of Deployment
- Floating or barge deployed
Adaption to diverse projects
- Six different sizes

Reef Ball
Pallet Ball
Bay Ball
Lo-Pro Ball
Oyster Ball
Model Ball

QUICK NATURAL MARINE RESPONSE
pH has no adjusting period
Long Lasting (500 yrs)
Material
- Micro silica with calcium hydroxide
- Stronger than Concrete
- pH of 8.3 = Seawater pH

COST
- Economically designed

-STABILITY
- Designed so over half of the weight is in the bottom near the sea floor
- Opening in the top breaks up the lifting force of hydrofoil effect common to dome shapes
- Side holes are wider near center, narrow near surface
- Creates vortexes
  - Reduce lifting forces
- Bring nutrients to life on reef
- Anchors NOT required unless in shallow water with high energy areas

-

-SURFACE TEXTURES

-AESTHETICS

-PODUCES MARINE LIFE

are all needed for a good artificial reef.

...Reef Balls are your answer

-In Sidney, BC Reef Balls have attracted marine life off of a new fishing pier.

-Reef Balls use a marine friendly concrete, meaning that its pH is closer to that of the sea than normal concrete.

Reef Balls off of West Palm Beach have flourishing reef communities due to reef balls:

Click here to view pictures of this site:

For specifics about REEF BALLS see the Internet Brochure!!!!!! -topics discussed are:

Why build reef balls?
Projects
Deployment
Holes
Surface Textures
Concrete
Pricing
Sizes, Weights, Volumes

IV. Standard Sizes

6' x 4' Reef Balls (3000-6000 lbs)

General Artifical Reefs

4' x 3' Pallet Balls (1500-2200 lbs)

Heavy construction
Six packs on Barge

3' x 2' Bay Balls (375-750 lbs)

Shallow bays and estuaries

Lo-Pro or Oyster Balls can be used as caps

V. Cost of Reef balls

PER USE FEES

	Bay	Pallet	Reef
1 Month	N/A	N/A	N/A
3 Months	$25	$45	$65
6 Months	$20	$35	$50
1 Year	$15	$25	$40
3 Years	$10	$20	$30
Purchase	N/A	N/A	N/A

VI. What's New ??

Improved Mold
New Mixture Approved

Lower pH
Easier casting

Buoys and Moorings

Added Concrete pad and anchors

Protect Baby Mangroves
Coral Reef Restoration

This web page has been created by:

-Ed Adams, USNA
-Jared Goodwin, USNA