gone solar
- Thread starter hobogato
- Start date
Just an idea im throwing out, and I dont know if its already been mentioned but, the clear acrylic tops on the roof dont exactly look like they are getting the maximum amount of light until the sun is directly over them. Its looks like that it is in the range of the 3 hours from 12 - 3p.m. With this being said how about a reflector turned upside down so that you could try and capture more sunlight. I think with a little diy on the roof you could not only get a brighter light, but also extend that brightness for a longer period ..2 cents
dots
Premium Member
I have yet to read the entire thread, but some initial thoughts....forgive me if they have been discussed.
1. Being in San Antonio....(I miss Texas....lived in Austin for a spell).....your closer to the equator, but still pretty far north, this could be a factor.
2. I would guess being close to what 5500-6500 ( isn't that what was the equivalent to full daylight?) You will be more "natural" and will have coloration possibly simmilar to early reefkeepers with a lot of greens, purple/blue tips and browns, possibly loosing some of the wild dayglow combinations we currenltly are able to get with "unatural methods"
Very cool idea, I plan to read the rest and follow this. I am am glad you are being so documentive, thanks for sharing.
I would someday like to hook up some solarcells and drive my tank with these, and charge a battery with an inverter to run mine totally off the grid and not subject to outages.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
1. Being in San Antonio....(I miss Texas....lived in Austin for a spell).....your closer to the equator, but still pretty far north, this could be a factor.
2. I would guess being close to what 5500-6500 ( isn't that what was the equivalent to full daylight?) You will be more "natural" and will have coloration possibly simmilar to early reefkeepers with a lot of greens, purple/blue tips and browns, possibly loosing some of the wild dayglow combinations we currenltly are able to get with "unatural methods"
Very cool idea, I plan to read the rest and follow this. I am am glad you are being so documentive, thanks for sharing.
I would someday like to hook up some solarcells and drive my tank with these, and charge a battery with an inverter to run mine totally off the grid and not subject to outages.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
8BALL_99
New member
If its two yellow of light for you, You have to options.. You can Either run T5s with blue or actinic bulbs. Or if you have more light then you need like most will. You can add some tinted Acrylic to give you some blue light. Most of this has already been talked about in THIS Thread on Sola Tubes. Its already had one split infact. For those that are interested in using sunlight should really check it out.. For those who have already done it post your Pics in the thread!
Will
Will
Im looking at a couple of these sola tube and skylight threads, it doesnt look like anyone has actually tried using a color filter. I just looked at a couple of companys onlne that sell stage lighting equip. and they have some very cool blue color films that would look good, and there fairly inexpensive.
Reefski's
Active member
it is being done with tinted material, not under solartubes but outside. see the amazing setup of Steve Gerrett's here. http://www.garretts-acropolis.com/
my tank is totally lit by the solar shaft lined with spectral aluminum.
i am considering using some of the blue material. i am getting plenty of light for growth but there is something appealing about the fluorescent colors.
the colors are there, they are just not obvious with such a yellow light source, (the sun).
i put a 1 400 watt 14K bulb over my tank for a recent get together so people could see the tank after dark and the colors popped right out. even on corals that had been in the tank for weeks.
anyone thinking about this way to light your tank i say do it!! it works, is good for your wallet and good for the environment. this hobby has a big enough footprint on the environment.
i live in Southern California where the weather is mostly sunny and we don't have snow. even in other more northern climates it could still be used exclusively most of the year. after all, your days are longer than ours during 6 months of the year.
my tank is totally lit by the solar shaft lined with spectral aluminum.
i am considering using some of the blue material. i am getting plenty of light for growth but there is something appealing about the fluorescent colors.
the colors are there, they are just not obvious with such a yellow light source, (the sun).
i put a 1 400 watt 14K bulb over my tank for a recent get together so people could see the tank after dark and the colors popped right out. even on corals that had been in the tank for weeks.
anyone thinking about this way to light your tank i say do it!! it works, is good for your wallet and good for the environment. this hobby has a big enough footprint on the environment.
i live in Southern California where the weather is mostly sunny and we don't have snow. even in other more northern climates it could still be used exclusively most of the year. after all, your days are longer than ours during 6 months of the year.
8BALL_99
New member
I think if you went with a color filter or even just some tinted acrylic the trick would be not cover the entire tube or skylight just add maybe a border to them. Enough to add some blue light but still let a lot of natural light in. I also think Most everybody will still need another source light.. If nothing more then night time viewing. I plan on using 4x54 watt T5s with Blue bulbs.. If I have to much light and I can get by with some kind of blue filter I'll probably change out 2 of the t5s with 10k bulbs so at night the tank still has good color..I don't know,, with this kind of lighting alot of it will be just trial and error to see what works for you.
I agree though its a good idea. I figured my skylight and in about a year it should pay for it self..Maybe two if I still need MH some in the winter ect.. Plus it is a much cleaner way to light your tank. From what people have said heat isn't an issue with them at all.. So MH guys with chillers could save even more if you figure the cost of a chiller and the Juice it pulls when running..
I agree though its a good idea. I figured my skylight and in about a year it should pay for it self..Maybe two if I still need MH some in the winter ect.. Plus it is a much cleaner way to light your tank. From what people have said heat isn't an issue with them at all.. So MH guys with chillers could save even more if you figure the cost of a chiller and the Juice it pulls when running..
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sfsuphysics
Active member
My ongoing saga with my sunporch setup just reminded me today why there are other steps that must be done first... 104°F at 11am... this is bloody San Francisco too! Outside temp at that time about 75
Reefski's
Active member
my tank has no chiller nor will it. all chilling will be from evaporation and fans.
i also believe most people keep their tanks too cold. reefs in the summer get much warmer than we run our tanks. look at the temp charts for reefs 20 years ago.
http://reefcove.co.uk/ronshimek/Temperature and Salinity In Reef Aquaria.pdf
just another way to save some $$$.
i also believe most people keep their tanks too cold. reefs in the summer get much warmer than we run our tanks. look at the temp charts for reefs 20 years ago.
http://reefcove.co.uk/ronshimek/Temperature and Salinity In Reef Aquaria.pdf
just another way to save some $$$.
mborn
New member
I use filters for my tubular skylights in the late spring and summer because the sun is directly overhead and shines straight down the tubes and is too intense. I take them off in winter when the sun is lower in the sky and the light is mostly reflected down the tubes. The days are also shorter and I need the extra PAR. I use roscolux mist blue #61 (see link). It cuts down on the yellow and gives an overall 10,000K appearance. The filters are easy to cut to size with scissors, very light weight, durable, and inexpensive. You can pick them up at any meeting or theatrical supply store that carries rosco products.
http://www.rosco.com/us/filters/roscolux.asp
http://www.rosco.com/us/filters/roscolux.asp
mborn
New member
I have 14†tubes so I cut ~15†diameter circles from the filters. I take the plastic domes off the top of the tubes and place the filter circles over the top of the tubes and then place the domes back on (at the time of year I use the filters I don’t use the semicircle reflectors, I only use those in winter). Since the filters are a larger diameter than the tubes, the edges get pinched down between the plastic dome and the exterior lip of the tubes and are held in place. I currently don’t have any pictures of this. I’ll get some pictures of them this weekend if you’d like, as I don’t have time to go on the roof and pull the domes off in the morning before work, and it’s getting dark when I get home in the evening and I don’t want to be on the roof at that time.
