Life of a transport coop reef??

[Sea-r-cy]

What is the lifespan of a chicken transport coop reef? I've heard of 2-5 years, would be interested in the year-to-year condition.:confused:
Sea-r-cy

[Capt Rick]

Robert, Capt Mike Lilly over in Orange Beach says he's got one that's appx 15 years old that's in fairly shallow water off Pensacola beach.
He had a diver go down to check on the condition of the coop for him and the diver came back and said it had grown into a solid mass of marine growth and coral.
If that's the rule and not the exception to the rule, that means they only get better with age and would last indefinately if not moved or buried in a hurricane.
I'm experimenting with one of my coops by adding natural limestone rocks inside and around the bottom perimeter to speed up the marine growth process. :cool:
Good Fishing,
Capt Rick

[stone]

Candy and I have been diving a single coop (not two chained together) since 2000. It is extraordinarily intact. Even the thin sheet metal on the top (probably 18 gauge) is only rusted through at the edges of the supports. This coop survived Ivan and didn't move an inch.

[Candy]

Stone & I have been diving a coop reef since 2000 and it is in terriffic condition and holds an unbelieveable amount of fish.

I think the galvanized steel lasts longer than anyone suspects. With our research project, we'll get some firm data on the life of coops over the next several years.

I sure hope that the ACOE doesn't outlaw these fantastic reefs. I posted contact information to all our elected officials along with a letter that can be copied and pasted. If we can encourage everyone we know to send letters to these Congressmen & Senators, maybe they'll see that this needs to be stopped! Go to the "News of Interest to Forum Members" forum.

[Mattatoar]

I dove on 2 single coops out of Carrabelle that were in the water for 13 years and there was only minor buckling of the steel. Heavy sponge and hard algae had encrusted the whole thing. Grouper were nearly certain to be there most of the year. They were in 40' of water.

The state is looking for reefs with something like a 50+ year lifespan, if I remember correctly. Maybe Bill Horn or Jon Dodrill could 'splain it.

[atlantacapt]

You guys are making me want to make the run down to Navarre to check out a coop that we found years ago to see if it has survived past hurricanes...it is in 60'...

[Viper]

Cameron, just say when and I'll go with ya...