250 gallon solar reef

[hobogato]

thanks

Looks great Ace

very nice tanks

man great work.!!!

here are a few pics of the clowns starting to host and a couple of coral frag pics

(no, the duncan doesnt mind the clowns, it is usually nice and inflated even with them in it)

bubble gum monster frag - thanks again lucky!

ora hawkins echinata - thanks again terry!

pink chalice - thanks again bill!

just thought i would include this pic so everyone could see the light coming from the solar tubes. this pic was taken at about 5:30pm, the sun is much brighter in the middle of the day. all four 4' t5 bulbs (in the wooden frame on top of the tank) are on in this pic as well as the led moonlights in the recessed fixtures on the ceiling.

 

[Vanpire]

Great information.

How far is the bottom of the end of solar tube and the water level of the tank? I assume that you have t5s on so that the light is not too yellow.

 

[hobogato]

it is about three feet. remember tho, my house is 2 floors, so these tubes run 16' to the roof. if they were shorter, the light would be much more intense.

 

[Vanpire]

Is there a reason why it is not closer to the water level? I am looking to do something similar., and thus, the questions.

I thought about asking these questions off-line but others who are considering something might have the same question.

 

[hobogato]

no problem at all. as far as the height, that is just how far the ceiling is from the surface of the water. i installed these tubes for a previous tank in 2008. that was an sps dominant tank, so i had the tubes extend down to about a foot from the water surface. here is an old thread documenting that:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1457056

once i got rid of that tank, i just capped them off as skylights. when i put in this tank, i just left them capped at the ceiling since it will not be as much of a high light demanding tank.

another quick video - last feeding of the day

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OoZsQHhhqkc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Vanpire]

Nice. I like the movie. Awesome.

OK. I am setting up a 600 SPS tank and it would be nice if I didn't have to extend the tube further down, but it looks like I might have to. It looks nice flushed to the roof. Or I can always set the tank higher on the stand.

My tank is cube-like at 5' x 5' x 3' (high). I am thinking of 4 x 14". I am planning to keep SPS around 1'-2' under the water level. On the same will be some squamosas so it won't require as much lightling.

At 16' long, could the light seem more yellow since the light intensity is diminished. To me, brighter (higher intensity) sunlight always seems whiter and less light (less intensity) seems more yellow.

 

[hobogato]

sounds like a great project, cant wait to follow your build thread

not sure about the length affecting the color of the light, the reflective surface is noticably a slightly different color.

 

[mnc]

Love the video, love the tank very inspiring. ------------Mike

 

[Vanpire]

sounds like a great project, cant wait to follow your build thread

not sure about the length affecting the color of the light, the reflective surface is noticably a slightly different color.

It is going to be tons of work but it would be fun. I will be checking different tubes to see the difference. Good point on the tube reflective surfaces.

 

[hobogato]

thanks

Love the video, love the tank very inspiring. ------------Mike

 

[adolfo425]

Very nice setup.

 

[hobogato]

thankyou

 

[dknydiep]

Great setup. Subscribed! Take some more pics when you get the chance.

 

[ravenmore]

Nice - I was thinking of using solar tubes to light my tank. Nice to see it implemented.

 

[Genin]

fantastic and well thought out. those clowns are amazing btw.

 

[ravenmore]

Just noticed you're in SA - cool! Is the red macro in the display dragon's breath?

 

[hobogato]

thanks, ill try to snap some coral pics soon

Great setup. Subscribed! Take some more pics when you get the chance.

go to the advance topics forum and search for solar tanks, there are many that are using tubes or other types of sky lights

Nice - I was thinking of using solar tubes to light my tank. Nice to see it implemented.

thanks, it has been really fun watching their colors/patterns develop

fantastic and well thought out. those clowns are amazing btw.

yes sir it is, need some? i am constantly harvesting it and giving it away

Just noticed you're in SA - cool! Is the red macro in the display dragon's breath?

 

[ravenmore]

awesome and thanks. pm sent.

 

[swflfisher]

do the tubes give enough light? could get rid of halides?

 

[hobogato]

in the summer, it is more than enough light, but in the winter i am fortunate to have the t5 supplemental lights. i removed my halides when i put these in. if my house were only one floor, i think there would be enough light year round.

do the tubes give enough light? could get rid of halides?