gone solar
- Thread starter hobogato
- Start date
sfsuphysics
Active member
Guillo what type of roof is that? Looks like some really long asphalt roll or something.
My biggest issue with poking holes in my roof is I have an EPDM membrane roof (very low pitch) as a result it's not as easy to make water tight again as asphalt shingles
My biggest issue with poking holes in my roof is I have an EPDM membrane roof (very low pitch) as a result it's not as easy to make water tight again as asphalt shingles
Very cool tank. I also run 2 14" solatubes on my 525 but I also run 3 400 MH and 2 250 MH (only 3 hours on the 250's). My tubes only get 3 hours of direct sunlight in the winter and something like 5 hours in the summer so I needed the MH's and 440 watts of actinic (the wife wouldn't let me reposition the house...lol). Either way I feel like there is no substitute for natural sunlight.
sfsuphysics
Active member
Yeowzers that's a monster tank! You can see where the sunlight is coming in though, those areas are so much more brighter (and whiter) than the rest.
luisgo
Member
I just finished reading this thread for the second time and what can I say. Wowowowowowow...... Excellent information.
I have some comments and questions. Looking at the Sun Dome and the Solatube products I see that the Solatube looks of better quality. In the Solatube site mention of copies that are not as efficient in transferring the light. Any comments as to the best product.
The other thing is that every picture of the Solatube product in the Internet presents tubes with bends. I read here that bends will decrease the light, which is logic. Maybe the bends are to help diffuse the light when the sun is exactly on top of the dome. Anybody knows?
I am convinced to change my lights. I live in Puerto Rico and we have sun all year long. The other thing is that the cost per kilowatt is 27¢! My electric bill is killing me.
I have a 125 gallon reef with two 175 watts metal halides and two VHO 160 watts, one actinic and one actinic white. I want to replace the two MH with two 10†Solatubes and cotinue to use the VHO’s. My roof is 10’ high which is a short distance. Any opinions as to that amount of light?
This is my tank
I have some comments and questions. Looking at the Sun Dome and the Solatube products I see that the Solatube looks of better quality. In the Solatube site mention of copies that are not as efficient in transferring the light. Any comments as to the best product.
The other thing is that every picture of the Solatube product in the Internet presents tubes with bends. I read here that bends will decrease the light, which is logic. Maybe the bends are to help diffuse the light when the sun is exactly on top of the dome. Anybody knows?
I am convinced to change my lights. I live in Puerto Rico and we have sun all year long. The other thing is that the cost per kilowatt is 27¢! My electric bill is killing me.
I have a 125 gallon reef with two 175 watts metal halides and two VHO 160 watts, one actinic and one actinic white. I want to replace the two MH with two 10†Solatubes and cotinue to use the VHO’s. My roof is 10’ high which is a short distance. Any opinions as to that amount of light?
This is my tank
hobogato
New member
very nice! you are correct that bends will decrease the amount of light, but i was told as long as the bend is less than 15 degrees it is a small decrease in light. of course, everyone's product is the best if you listen to them.....
i chose sun dome because of the price (what can i say, i am cheap) and because of the polycarbonate dome - supposedly more shatter-proof and resists yellowing over time better than acrylic. 10' is fairly long for 10" tubes from what i understand, you may want to consider 14".
i chose sun dome because of the price (what can i say, i am cheap) and because of the polycarbonate dome - supposedly more shatter-proof and resists yellowing over time better than acrylic. 10' is fairly long for 10" tubes from what i understand, you may want to consider 14".
I'm looking at the Aussie made solatubes.
The focusing dome on the top (same picture as luisgo) promotes more of the light from early and late in the day, and rejects the most intense midday light.
This way the light is more uniform over the day and there is not such a discrepency between winter and summer. They are said to be over twice as effective as the opposition.
Check out the soladome spec on their website. They look really good.
The focusing dome on the top (same picture as luisgo) promotes more of the light from early and late in the day, and rejects the most intense midday light.
This way the light is more uniform over the day and there is not such a discrepency between winter and summer. They are said to be over twice as effective as the opposition.
Check out the soladome spec on their website. They look really good.
hobogato
New member
digitalis - maybe i should clarify.....
i am not here to represent ANY brand of tubular lighting.
i did lots of research and called lots of dealers. each product seems to have advantages and disadvantages. because i was looking at 14" tubes, most of my info is about that size. i was told they could be as long as 30' without significant loss of light by some while others (including the ones i got) said 16' was pushing it. i was also told (and read) that a 10" tube had shorter distance capabilities.
by all means, do your own research and believe whomever you wish.... just keep in mind that the bottom line for some people it to make a sale
i am not here to represent ANY brand of tubular lighting.
i did lots of research and called lots of dealers. each product seems to have advantages and disadvantages. because i was looking at 14" tubes, most of my info is about that size. i was told they could be as long as 30' without significant loss of light by some while others (including the ones i got) said 16' was pushing it. i was also told (and read) that a 10" tube had shorter distance capabilities.
by all means, do your own research and believe whomever you wish.... just keep in mind that the bottom line for some people it to make a sale
True. I had considered this a LONG time ago, and emailed the crew at WWM and they had no idea, and said if I ever tried it to let them know how it worked. I think it's a great idea and would love to try it, but I don't know how long I plan to live at this house, and don't want to install 2 or 3 in one corner and then move out. If I were sure that I would stay here, I'd install 3 myself!
On a real sunny day you can but it blends nicely when the 250's come on. I couldn't put anymore then 2 tubes because of the roof pitch. I have one on each side of the peak and the tank center in right below the peak. I also don't get direct sunlight on them all day, only a few hours. I live in NY, but if I ever moved to a FL I would do 4 with actinic just like ace did.
matona
New member
In contrast, I did virtually no research and just went to HD to pick up what they had... I think the 10" that I got were about $170 each.
It is very bright on my tank, and I like how it makes the light shimmer. I'd show pictures, but the tank needs a little cleaning first, and with two little boys that want to get in the tank when I open it up it's going to have to wait until they are sleeping. I'm very satisfied, and can hardly feel any heat coming off of them which was a huge help for me.
Hobogato - did you paint the outside of your tubes where they come into the house? Just curious, I think I'm going to build the canopy up to the celing anyways. (Eventually)
Matt
matona
New member
...my only complaint at this point is that the light is yellowish which I hope to correct with filters of some type. This is by far the best option I've seen for lighting a tank in my opinion. Thanks again for sharing your info Hobogato so that I would feel confident in going this route for my tank! I had been thinking about it for quite a while, but when I saw this thread I went out and did it the next day.
hobogato
New member
Ok, here is this week’s update….
First â€"œ a full tank shot with bright sun
Just the tank with a small cloud passing
Some tank sections
I have finally started to add clams back into the clam tank as well â€"œ it has been over six months since my total loss of all clams to perkinsus (these are in the clam tank btw â€"œ not in the main tank under the solar tubes)
So far I have two large T. squamosa â€"œ one is about 7†and the other is about 11â€Â
Little one
Big one
Together
First â€"œ a full tank shot with bright sun
Just the tank with a small cloud passing
Some tank sections
I have finally started to add clams back into the clam tank as well â€"œ it has been over six months since my total loss of all clams to perkinsus (these are in the clam tank btw â€"œ not in the main tank under the solar tubes)
So far I have two large T. squamosa â€"œ one is about 7†and the other is about 11â€Â
Little one
Big one
Together
hobogato
New member
Now for the comparison pics â€"œ not much change over last week, a few corals are really starting to add lots of new growth tips. Hopefully they are all acclimated to the changes now.
A. valida 8-7-08
ultimate frag best stag ever 8-7-08
supposed to be tyree lime in the sky 8-7-08
texreefer green stag 8-7-08
texreefer A. chesterfieldensis 8-7-08
texreefer blue tip stag 8-7-08
seaworld sa blue tip teal stag 8-7-08
pink jade 8-7-08
A. valida 8-7-08
ultimate frag best stag ever 8-7-08
supposed to be tyree lime in the sky 8-7-08
texreefer green stag 8-7-08
texreefer A. chesterfieldensis 8-7-08
texreefer blue tip stag 8-7-08
seaworld sa blue tip teal stag 8-7-08
pink jade 8-7-08
