gone solar
- Thread starter hobogato
- Start date
8BALL_99
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13531999#post13531999 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
I knew that. I didn't mean to be so negative, sorry.
You need a back up sun for those evening guests. Or light some candles.
I stuck two 250w Mh pendants between my Tubes for night time viewing or just if we have a couple of cloudy days in a row.. I'm thinking about sticking a photocensor outside so once it gets dark enough they kick on instead of doing them by timer. That way they would come on when its very cloudy and I wouldn't have to adjust for the changing seaons..
8BALL_99
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13612661#post13612661 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
You would need a timer and a photo sensor, or they would be on all night.
I would leave them connected to my Aqua Controller so all the lights on all the tanks still cut off together. The photo sensor would just go between them.. Set the Controller to cut on early like at 5pm and place a relay controlled by the Photo censor between them to only cut the lights on when it was dark outside. You seen my old build thread you know I don't use timers:rolleye1:
The delay timer wouldn't be a bad idea. But also to most photo censors aren't that sensitive. It would depend a little on placement too ofcourse.
Here is my 4'x4' with 2 new 14" solatubes.
I am happy witht he natural white light. At the moment I dont plan to use T5 actinics to supplement.
I plan to build a canopy to house the tube, lined on the inside with highly reflective aluminium.
Thanks to hobogato for the inspiration. I am really happy with them.
I am happy witht he natural white light. At the moment I dont plan to use T5 actinics to supplement.
I plan to build a canopy to house the tube, lined on the inside with highly reflective aluminium.
Thanks to hobogato for the inspiration. I am really happy with them.
8BALL_99
New member
Few new shots since the tank is filled now.
Here is the tank at 12pm with only the tubes
Shot of the tank around 2pm with Tubes and Blue plus T5s. Just to give you and idea that tank in the corner has 400Watt Mh in a lumarc 3 reflector
And last a shot of the tank at night with Mh and T5s on.
Here is a shot of what the inside of the Canopy looks like
Here is the tank at 12pm with only the tubes
Shot of the tank around 2pm with Tubes and Blue plus T5s. Just to give you and idea that tank in the corner has 400Watt Mh in a lumarc 3 reflector
And last a shot of the tank at night with Mh and T5s on.
Here is a shot of what the inside of the Canopy looks like
sfsuphysics
Active member
man... I'm really regretting planting that redwood tree in my backyard now .... although I'll have to see what the light does this winter, it's not so much an issue in the summer.
.... although I'll have to see what the light does this winter, it's not so much an issue in the summer.
Darkstar22
New member
That is amazing! We have over 300 sunny days a year here...sounds like I need to research this.
Thanks guys.
Yes the roof was a pain. Thankfully I was at work while the solatube guy took 4 hours to install them.
Reefski the tubes are only around 4 foot long. The distance from the ceiling to the roof is very short at that part of the house.
Funny thing is we are in serious drought in Melbourne and have had our driest Spring for nearly 100 years, so lots of sunny days!
But since I've had the tubes its been cloudy or raining almost every day! Even so, the coral seems to love the full spectrum light, even through the cloud.
Yes the roof was a pain. Thankfully I was at work while the solatube guy took 4 hours to install them.
Reefski the tubes are only around 4 foot long. The distance from the ceiling to the roof is very short at that part of the house.
Funny thing is we are in serious drought in Melbourne and have had our driest Spring for nearly 100 years, so lots of sunny days!
But since I've had the tubes its been cloudy or raining almost every day! Even so, the coral seems to love the full spectrum light, even through the cloud.
Reefski's
Active member
some have complained about the look of the full spectrum light of my setup, not blue enough. i like the way it looks. since winter is approaching here i have set up a couple of 400 watt lights on a light mover to cover the 8 feet of my tank. they are only on for three hours a day into the evening. it gives a different look with the halides. i like it too! and we can watch the tank while we watch TV in the evening.
but now the natural light looks better to me, even if the corals are not fluorescing so much. the colors do show up more in the evening with the halides.
but now the natural light looks better to me, even if the corals are not fluorescing so much. the colors do show up more in the evening with the halides.
hobogato
New member
this just isnt a good month for my tank.....
yesterday, a large (12"+) anemone was sucked into one of my seios and killed almost all of my fish. the only fish that are still alive this morning are the eel, marine beta and radiant wrasse. all of the sps were covered with anemone bits, so i dont think any of them will make it - i have already pulled out 6 small colonies. all other corals are stressed, but will probably make it.
hard to single out any fish that will be missed more than others since they have almost all been with us for 5 years or more. however, the 12"+ vlamingi tang, who was full of personality, will likely be the one that stings the longest.
yesterday, a large (12"+) anemone was sucked into one of my seios and killed almost all of my fish. the only fish that are still alive this morning are the eel, marine beta and radiant wrasse. all of the sps were covered with anemone bits, so i dont think any of them will make it - i have already pulled out 6 small colonies. all other corals are stressed, but will probably make it.
hard to single out any fish that will be missed more than others since they have almost all been with us for 5 years or more. however, the 12"+ vlamingi tang, who was full of personality, will likely be the one that stings the longest.
