gone solar

[jdhuyvetter]

As for the cost difference....The HD price works out to about $428 per tube (14"). Includes 3 foot extension (not enough) and does not include sales tax. I'm going to need about 6-7 feet of extension.

Other guy was $699 installed, all inclusive. I described it over the phone and that was his price. I still told him to come by to look anway before giving it to me in writing. I'm not moving the tank to allow for easier access!!!!

So, when you factor in sales tax (6%) and extra extensions, the cost difference is significantly less than $800.

 

[jdhuyvetter]

Another consideration is coral acclimation. The way my roof joists are oriented and tank location (both are oriented east-west), in the summer months the tank will have direct overhead sun for a little bit each day. There will be a direct line of site from the solar tubes to the sun almost the entire day (basically, from about 0.5 hours after sun rise to about 2 hours before sunset). No trees on that side of the house. solar tubes will be almost at the peak of the roof and the house behind me is a single story and sits off to the side (north) and not directly between my house and the sunrise. Vacant lot across the street (west) with a couple of very tall pine trees that partially filter the evening sun.

If I do this, I'll have the installation done in December to allow the corals a more "natural" aclimation period to the intense month.

I'm also toying with putting a light filter (something very light blue) to try to eliminate some of the yellow appearance.

 

[ektor]

If I missed it please forgive me. What about hail damage? Always concerned with this due to my location.

 

[8BALL_99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13415116#post13415116 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdhuyvetter
As for the cost difference....The HD price works out to about $428 per tube (14"). Includes 3 foot extension (not enough) and does not include sales tax. I'm going to need about 6-7 feet of extension.

Other guy was $699 installed, all inclusive. I described it over the phone and that was his price. I still told him to come by to look anway before giving it to me in writing. I'm not moving the tank to allow for easier access!!!!

So, when you factor in sales tax (6%) and extra extensions, the cost difference is significantly less than $800.

Holy crap lol.. Just go to Homedepots website and order them.. The kits run 269 for the 14" Your getting ripped paying 428.00 Inless that with install The sola Tube brand runs about 385 per 14" kit.. I found them for 365 if you buy 4 or more.

 

[8BALL_99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13412486#post13412486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GUILLO1
are you sure? Did you check their website for local dealers? You could also check companies that sell roof supplies, it seems like they all sell some kind of tubes. If you look at the solatubes you will buy it because it is so much brighter. I looked at a solatube and a velux side by side and the solatube blows it away. Solatube dealers also have the reflective samples of all the different tubes.

I already set up 3 flahings for an in wall tank that I'm doing. I am going with 3 14" solatubes.

So you have seen both and really think the solaTubes are with the extra 100 or so bucks over the Velux tubes?

 

[jdhuyvetter]

Keep in mind, those are installed costs. I want a warranty on the kit and the installation. It rains a lot here.

The solatube installer just left. He has a 10 year warranty on parts and a 5 year warranty on installation.

As for hail damage, usually not a problem here. More flying debris during rainy season (i.e. hurricanes)

Now that I've seen both, I think that the extra for solatubes is money well spent for a reef tank. If I was just doing it to light a room, I would probably go with the HD brand.

 

[GUILLO1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13415850#post13415850 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 8BALL_99
So you have seen both and really think the solaTubes are with the extra 100 or so bucks over the Velux tubes?

yes I've seen both and in my case it was only like $50 bucks more. I got 3 14" tubes for about $300 each. It is very much worth the 50 bucks more. Call the solatube toll free number and ask them who sells them near your area. If you just input your zip code on there website it only gives a few results. When I tried the zip code deal I only got 2 dealers, one was 60miles away and the other about 20. So I called solatube and they gave me like a half dozen places that sell the tubes with in 10miles from me.

 

[8BALL_99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13417224#post13417224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GUILLO1
yes I've seen both and in my case it was only like $50 bucks more. I got 3 14" tubes for about $300 each. It is very much worth the 50 bucks more. Call the solatube toll free number and ask them who sells them near your area. If you just input your zip code on there website it only gives a few results. When I tried the zip code deal I only got 2 dealers, one was 60miles away and the other about 20. So I called solatube and they gave me like a half dozen places that sell the tubes with in 10miles from me.

Yeah there is a trick to that I called them about it.. If you go to their site don't go under Homeowner go under professional its gives you any dealers in your area.. The Homeowner side only shows premium dealers. I found 3 with in 50 miles of me.. One as close as 9 miles.. But they don't have any 14" tubes instock and don't seem to know to much about them. They can order them though.

 

[jdhuyvetter]

hobogato

Do you have the diffusers on the ends of the tubes?

Jeff

 

[hobogato]

jeff, my tubes have the polycarbonate dome on the top, but no diffuser on the inside. i tried them at first but they took out too much light

 

[8BALL_99]

You could just replace the plastic in the diffuser with clear Acrylic to keep the tube clean.. The dealer told me he had a few clear diffusers used for displays. But that it was just a Diffuser with a piece of acrylic stuck in it.

 

[pitbullguy]

Did you put these in or did you have it done? Just wondering how much of a job it is.

 

[saintperez]

Jeff, I'm in South Florida, so I'm just curious what your guy said about Hurricanes? Is there a way to replace the dome with a metal plate or something pre-Hurricane?

 

[GUILLO1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13418560#post13418560 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saintperez
Jeff, I'm in South Florida, so I'm just curious what your guy said about Hurricanes? Is there a way to replace the dome with a metal plate or something pre-Hurricane?

I believe they sell a special dome for hurricane pron areas.

 

[jdhuyvetter]

The dome I looked at had an inner "shock" dome. I guess you could pull the top off and put a metal cap on.

 

[Adrianvh]

great thread, really detailed and informative. Well done!

 

[hobogato]

the ones i used are from a company in florida and the domes are hurricane tested.

 

[hobogato]

small update - i have continued to have some recession on the bases of a few corals. i noticed my three stripe damsels picking on the corals, but could never tell if they were eating because the coral was dieing or if they were eating healthy coral. then, i caught two of them picking on my tulip mille which is very healthy and they were picking at it right in the middle. so, i had to take nearly everything out of the tank to get rid of em....

i tried an acrylic fish trap for a few hours, but they wouldnt even get close

here is the tank after about 4 hours of work

here it is around midnight reassembled - changed the rock work a bit to give the vlamingi even more swimming room and prolong the inevitable finding him a new home

i posted this to show why i will not be taking coral pics for a few weeks - they all have browned a bit and many tips were broken off. i will resume comparison pics in about two weeks and continue them on a monthly basis.

 

[Elliott]

thanks again for sharing so much with us

you have a bit more energy than me, I would have found a lazier way to catch those fish

 

[jnarowe]

Hey Ace, that's a sign of acro-eating flatworms. I would start a detailed inspection stat.