The outdoor tank area is a holding and experimental area furnished with fiberglass tanks of various capacities receiving aerated, continuous flow-through, UV sterilized ambient (13 °C) well water. No pathogens or toxins can be used in the outdoor area. Natural river water sourced from the Willamette River is also available to a limited degree.

There are eighteen 100L tanks, forty-eight 380L tanks, nine 700L tanks and three 1400L tanks.

A flexible design allows tank configurations, flow rates and temperature regimes to be tailored to meet specific needs. Any number of combination of tanks can be rented at any time depending on availability. Tanks are reserved on a first come first serve basis.