gone solar
- Thread starter hobogato
- Start date
hobogato
New member
i think it has coloration similar to an H. malu, but it doesnt have the radial pattern on the tentacles and they are too short. also, the entire tentacle is purple not just the tip. there is also no orange or yellow coloration on the foot - instead, it is light blue/lavender with light purple verrucae. i am no expert, but a couple locals who know much more than me agree that it is S. gigantea. like you said tho, it is nice and as long as i can keep it alive, that is all that really matters to me 
SirVilhelm
Member
Awesome thread! I am going to be going the solar route when I move into my new house.
How many tubes do you suggest for a 72" x 24" x 25" tank?
How many tubes do you suggest for a 72" x 24" x 25" tank?
conorwynne
New member
You tank is fab. Qustion, what lighting do you have over your mangroves?
I've only chaeto in my fuge currently, with 2x 11watt aquapods (arcadia) with 65K PC bulbs. I imagine this won't be sufficient lighting for mangroves, but I'd like to remove my skimmer and plant mangroves in its stead. I was considering using a 10K 150w halide I have spare. Seems a bit OTT though -- waste of energy and all that.
What say you?
I've only chaeto in my fuge currently, with 2x 11watt aquapods (arcadia) with 65K PC bulbs. I imagine this won't be sufficient lighting for mangroves, but I'd like to remove my skimmer and plant mangroves in its stead. I was considering using a 10K 150w halide I have spare. Seems a bit OTT though -- waste of energy and all that.
What say you?
Reefski's
Active member
ya, i thought of that but i don't think there is such a thing. you would need it to stay off for a certain length for the halides to cool off even though it was just a passing cloud.
so on those days you just turn on the lights.
it can be cloudy and rainy in the tropics for many days at a time also.
i think it may be the short days that are of more concern than the rainy ones.
i love the sunlight though as it plays around the tank throughout the day.
so on those days you just turn on the lights.
it can be cloudy and rainy in the tropics for many days at a time also.
i think it may be the short days that are of more concern than the rainy ones.
i love the sunlight though as it plays around the tank throughout the day.
The reefkeeper elite has a timer to keep the halides off so they cool before turning them back on, so that problem wouldnt be a concern.
As for finding a photo cell that i could program to the controller, I think that would require programming language and alot more tech stuff than Im able to do!
I guess I could just look at the forecast, and set my controller to 2 diff types of days. 1 for overcast and one for sun. Overcast day setting would turn everything on, sun setting would just run actinics.
More nonsense for me to think about!
8BALL_99
New member
I've thought about doing a photo sensor with my tubes.. It wouldn't be hard just connect the sensor into the digital connections. Its just a open closed circuit.. Should be very easy. I haven't worried with it cause I run MH for night time viewing. So even on cloudy days my tank still gets enough light as is.. If I ever have to cut back on my lighting period cause of an outbreak or something I might try it..
Reefski's
Active member
my car knows how to do it, it can turn the lights on when i go in a parking lot and it gets darker or on a cloudy day, and then turn them off again when it gets brighter. the technology is there.
now if only one of the controller manufacturers would incorporate it in their product it would be worth having for me. right now i don't see the benefits of an expensive timer.
maybe we should all post in the manufacturers forums so they know there is interest in this idea.
i did post months ago in the RKE forum and did not seem to get any interest from them.
Carl
now if only one of the controller manufacturers would incorporate it in their product it would be worth having for me. right now i don't see the benefits of an expensive timer.
maybe we should all post in the manufacturers forums so they know there is interest in this idea.
i did post months ago in the RKE forum and did not seem to get any interest from them.
Carl
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Reefski's
Active member
i just posted the following in several sponsors forums
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my reef tank is lit by a skylight shaft the footprint of the tank.
i have a couple of MH on rails over the tank for evening viewing, winter time use, rainy day use.
controlling when the lights come on based on time of day is easy.
i want a controller that can incorporate the light intensity into the equation.
my car knows how to do it, it can turn the lights on when i go in a parking lot and it gets darker or on a cloudy day, and then turn them off again when it gets brighter. the technology is there.
this would be a module that would take reefkeeping to the next level for me and many others who are using solartubes and other natural means to mostly light their tanks.
more and more people are going green. this is not a green hobby but if i could have a controller like this i would buy one.
our tanks could be better and we could save money too.
i volunteer to be the test tank.
------------------------------------------------------------
my reef tank is lit by a skylight shaft the footprint of the tank.
i have a couple of MH on rails over the tank for evening viewing, winter time use, rainy day use.
controlling when the lights come on based on time of day is easy.
i want a controller that can incorporate the light intensity into the equation.
my car knows how to do it, it can turn the lights on when i go in a parking lot and it gets darker or on a cloudy day, and then turn them off again when it gets brighter. the technology is there.
this would be a module that would take reefkeeping to the next level for me and many others who are using solartubes and other natural means to mostly light their tanks.
more and more people are going green. this is not a green hobby but if i could have a controller like this i would buy one.
our tanks could be better and we could save money too.
i volunteer to be the test tank.
Maybe Im overthinking, but its not a simple circuit is it if your using a controller?
A photo cell isnt a big deal, Tunze uses them for their nightmodes etc.
The problem comes in that you actually need the controller to see the photo cell and then have seperate lighting modes for it to switch to based on the status of the photo cell no?
If you were just making a simple circuit that would turn on and off with a photocell and turn all of your lights on/off, it would be alot easier
A photo cell isnt a big deal, Tunze uses them for their nightmodes etc.
The problem comes in that you actually need the controller to see the photo cell and then have seperate lighting modes for it to switch to based on the status of the photo cell no?
If you were just making a simple circuit that would turn on and off with a photocell and turn all of your lights on/off, it would be alot easier
8BALL_99
New member
Exactly I was just going to do off/on.. IE connect the photo cell to one of the digital unputs on my AC3.. Program the controller to turn mh on during xtime to xtime if photo cell sensor closed. IE if its dark during the day turn mh on. Not very hard to do with existing stuff. A photo cell cost like 2 bucks. I've already got one infact.. No real need for a controller to add the feature its already there.. Just like the waterbug floor sensor.. Detects water on the floor. The controller companies dont' offer it. Its made for leak dictions in homes. But its very easy to just plug it into a ACs Digital inputs..
