gone solar

[8BALL_99]

As far as how much the tubes save per month. I'm not really sure exactly how much mine save me.. Our bill bounces around a lot since we have a lot of animals couple kids Koi pond ect. I run less lighting for a shorter amount of time. I've also noticed that there is a TON less heat. Right now that hasn't really been a good thing since my heaters have been kicking on in the middle of the day, But my guess is it will even out in the summer since my fans won't kick on as much and the rooms AC won't have to work as hard. I installed the tubes cause I figured I'd get more light for less money. At the same time its natural light that in my mind is probably better for the corals? I have no idea really just something I was able to do so I wanted to try. A couple months into it even in winter time I'm still glad I installed them. Really the only debate is how long before you break even. These things have a 10 year warranty. By my very rough numbers I have the break even at 15-24month mark with me still using Mh for night time viewing. Even if it takes longer I'm cool with that. Sooner or later they will pay for them selves and at the same time its natural light so win win. I do wish mine put out a little more light But I installed as many as I could and I can't really make the sun shine more in the winter sooo. I get what I get haha

 

[hobogato]

looks like most of my new fish list will be in by the end of this week.

since my long term goals for the tank include a couple of anemones, i made these covers for the seios

on the inside

here are a few of the new fish that are already in the tank - most of those damaged corals in the background have been pulled because they didnt make it

as far as the lighting goes, the amount of light coming in now is far less than it was in august. i will probably change out some of my supplimental T5 actinics for higher par bulbs when i can afford it.

 

[jdhuyvetter]

I just got a PAR meter. What were your before and after PAR readings (solar tubes vs. MH). What are your readings now?

FYI, with all lights on, I am around 1200 directly below the MH at the water level.

 

[maxxII]

Is this the Ritteri that caused your issues? If so, it looks pretty good after all of that. It still looks like tis acclimating, so be careful with it. I would not feed heavily, as you'll stress it out.

Nick

 

[hobogato]

no, that was a second (and last) try. it did well for a week and then closed up, moved under the rock and died. will not be getting another one for a long time if ever again.

 

[melev]

I like your pump guard boxes. That looks better than seeing the pump too.

 

[hobogato]

thanks marc, i agree - looks much cleaner than the exposed pump and mounting brackets.

 

[maxxII]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13921481#post13921481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hobogato
no, that was a second (and last) try. it did well for a week and then closed up, moved under the rock and died. will not be getting another one for a long time if ever again.

Sorry to hear that man....


Nick

 

[bbl_nk]

Great job going green. I starting looking at this thread back when you first posted it. Would love to use this along with solar panels to run the electrical for the tank and then some geothermal cooling/heating and get a really green setup.

Sorry about the losses my friend, they all suck and some more than others!

 

[hobogato]

well, took some new pics today, not alot of sps, but the rest of the tank is doing pretty well and the fish are settling in....

sections

random fish

 

[jnarowe]

wow, great pics Ace. The system looks really good. :thumbsup:

 

[salty joe]

Is that an eel at the bottom of the first pic?

 

[hobogato]

thanks jonathan. yes joe, that is a 3' zebra moray.

 

[jnarowe]

must be well fed! :lol:

 

[klondike4001]

OMG Ace, that picture of your center island made me sick to my stomach..... Major props to you for continueing forward...

 

[gmatta]

hobo, do you like the radiant wrass ? I want one. It, 2 clowns, flame angel, firefish, and 2 banghai cards in my 75 w/55 sump do you think thats acceptable? or does it need more space and I wait till upgrade

 

[hobogato]

so far, the radiant wrasse seems to be the most eager to eat the AEFW that fly off of the acro when i hit em with a powerhead. it also stays out all the time, not like some of the other wrasses.

 

[jdhuyvetter]

Do you have any PAR numbers for the solatubes?

 

[sfsuphysics]

Any updates?

I'm contemplating my next tank, and sizing depends upon placement, on one hand I want to put it near the back simply to have the option of solar tubes in the future, on the other hand the other location makes for a nice clean closed up "in wall" look with built in back access.

 

[hobogato]

ok, here is an update. after battling black ich with my new fish and losing almost all of them, i was ready to make this tank into a cichlid tank. i decided to try one more thing first....

i got rid of all sps to make sure to get rid of the AEFW - was planning on getting a few pieces again down the line.

i got rid of all complicated equipment including calcium reactor, kalk reactor, chiller, two of the four seio pumps and half of the t5 lighting. i also got rid of the clam tank (this is why i was able to get rid of the chiller)

i took the tank to more a a truly mixed reef including lots of lps, and softies.

a friend of mine decided to sell some of his sps, so i have added a few, and probably will not add many more sps if any.

once i am sure the remaining fish are healthy, i will begin the hunt for fish again.

here are some pics of the tank right now.

this is what the tank looks like to my eyes right now (9pm when i took all of these pics) with just actinics and no sunlight coming in:

the rest of these are with the camera correcting the white balance. i think it does a pretty good job (glad i finally figured out that function )

as far as the lighting, since we are past the winter solstice, intensity seems to be increasing already a bit in the middle of the day. it is nice to be excited about the tank again