gone solar

[hobogato]

Paletta A. lovely 8-7-08

ora blue tip stag 8-7-08

greenmako A. meridiana 8-7-08

cpreefguy A. florida 8-7-08

b&b shiny A. sp. 8-7-08

b&b A. efflorescens 8-7-08

atl tulip A. millepora 8-7-08

same from the back 8-7-08

akm yellow A. sp. 8-7-08

i also posted some random corals in my build thread (little red house)

 

[miwoodar]

Looking good HG - thanks for the detailed picture updates!

Any luck finding a PAR meter perchance? I'm definitely interested in knowing more. I bet your numbers are huge. If true, I wonder what other solar tube applications could be possible. My tank is on a north facing wall with 20' ceiling. It doesn't seem like a good solar tube candidate but depending on how high your numbers are.....never say never.

 

[hobogato]

i have a friend who has a lux meter, so i should get some numbers soon.

i really want to get a par meter of my own as well.

 

[justlopin]

I am fixing to move to a new house and am interested in doing this to my 160 can you please post a link to the build thread so I can see how you did this? Thanks!

 

[jnarowe]

Sweet thread Ace. Very nice before and aflter! :thumbsup:

 

[Bigben7]

Congrats on Thread OTM. As an ecologist, and a believer in all things green, I think that this type of forward thinking is a great thing for the hobby.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Nice pictures Ace. I'm really curious to how those colors were turn out in the long run. I'm REALLY tempted to poke a hole in my house when I get my "last tank ever" tank (whenever that may be) simply to trade of on electricity used to heat the tank vs light it.

 

[hobogato]

here is the small build thread on my local forum. it really is very simple to do, so there wasnt a need to document much...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13312343#post13312343 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justlopin
I am fixing to move to a new house and am interested in doing this to my 160 can you please post a link to the build thread so I can see how you did this? Thanks!

thank jonathon, we were really pleased with it as well. hopefully the corals and fish will continue the trend too.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13313201#post13313201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Sweet thread Ace. Very nice before and aflter! :thumbsup:

i agree, i teach environmental systems, so i try to keep those ideas in my brain as well

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13313277#post13313277 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bigben7
Congrats on Thread OTM. As an ecologist, and a believer in all things green, I think that this type of forward thinking is a great thing for the hobby.

me too it is a little nerve racking at first, but once you start cutting, it isnt too bad

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13313445#post13313445 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sfsuphysics
Nice pictures Ace. I'm really curious to how those colors were turn out in the long run. I'm REALLY tempted to poke a hole in my house when I get my "last tank ever" tank (whenever that may be) simply to trade of on electricity used to heat the tank vs light it.

 

[jnarowe]

The first hole is always the hardest! Then I seem to get carried away. :shock:

 

[liv]

Absolutely stunning.. keep the pics coming!
thanks for sharing with all of us this amazing tank and setup.

Cheers!

 

[acrodave]

Ok this thread is killing me...hobogato.your tank is nuts..You about have me cutting a hole in my in my apt. I live on the top floor maybe they wont know..lol

 

[hobogato]

thanks, its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission - besides, you are improving the condition of the apartment by bringing in natural sunlight! :lol:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13315691#post13315691 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acrodave
Ok this thread is killing me...hobogato.your tank is nuts..You about have me cutting a hole in my in my apt. I live on the top floor maybe they wont know..lol

 

[Reefski's]

bad advise. that is great if it's your spouse and that new coral you just bought without discussing it.

as much as it is an improvement it is still not your building and some owners are weird.

i would clear it with the owner first. if i was the owner and you were to pay for it i would say "go for it". but then some of you have seen what i did.

probably grounds for eviction.

Carl

 

[hobogato]

forgot that it is hard to tell when someone is joking on the internet

thought the laughing face was enough, but just to clarify....

i was joking.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13319076#post13319076 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefski's
bad advise. that is great if it's your spouse and that new coral you just bought without discussing it.

as much as it is an improvement it is still not your building and some owners are weird.

i would clear it with the owner first. if i was the owner and you were to pay for it i would say "go for it". but then some of you have seen what i did.

probably grounds for eviction.

Carl

 

[Lowredranger]

Wow that is awesome I think that is the best way anyone could light a tank. I have been sitting hear thinking how would i could do this at my house and at the moment unless i have the tubes running up the side of my house i unfortunately do not think it is possible.

I have great sun down in Orlando FL but i live in a tri level house so my current small tank is on the small ground floor and our bedroom is above it and the wife probably wouldn't agree to tubes running up the middle of the bedroom. I do not think the raised floors will support the tank without sufficient support at least when I upgrade tanks.

Has anyone considered going up an outside wall?

Another question would be I see in all the pics the dome sits right on top of the roof, could you extend the tube further past the roof line to be even with the peak of your house so that you get more sun?

Jason

 

[acrodave]

I know it was all a joke..my post was a joke .other than he has a sweet tank

 

[Reefski's]

ok, sorry.

 

[Cheekymonkey]

I'm with Lowed on there... Up the outside possible?

What is the max distance that this stays reasonably useful.

 

[sfsuphysics]

I'm sure you can do up and outside, however considering each riser costs on the order of 50' it'd get expensive, not to mention the longer it travels the less light you'll get. If you're losing 1% reflectivity "per bounce" (just guessing at 99% efficient at reflecting) then it'll add up.

However if your tank is on the south part of the house you can simply poke through the wall, and make a faux mini- roof to have the proper pitch.

 

[hatfielj]

This is just plain awesome! My wife and I own a condo unit downtown now so we can't do this on my current tank. However, in the future (probably 5-6 yrs) when we move and buy a building of our own, this will definitely be on the agenda! The best thing about it is that you are doing something good for the environment, saving yourself money, and giving the corals the most natural set up possible. Its a winning solution.
Great work!