High Solar Gain Low E Glass Windows (Sunroom)

If you use true 12 layer Low E on double pane glass meaning 24 layers, it should have a green tint to the glass. Then you will be reducing 90-95% of the UV-A and the UV-B rays. I sell this type of window and plants do not grow when sitting on the window sill.
 
I'm not planning on using 12 layer low E double pane glass.

I picked AZURIA particularly because of its high UV penetration with a reasonable reduction in solar heat gain (IR).

What you're describing is exactly why I started this thread, and I was looking for input from anyone who's used a greenhouse for plants as a proxy to what I'm doing.
 
 
 
Last edited:
Found out that laminated glass is not hard - just need to connect the glass vendor to the laminate supplier.

Here's the latest view with the collapsible glass doors and the wider spacings. This also includes the water cooled LED frames:

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/0_zpshpfc0ixe.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/0_zpshpfc0ixe.png" border="0" alt=" photo 0_zpshpfc0ixe.png"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/1_zps8ad264of.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/1_zps8ad264of.png" border="0" alt=" photo 1_zps8ad264of.png"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/2_zpspzowkupf.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/2_zpspzowkupf.png" border="0" alt=" photo 2_zpspzowkupf.png"/></a>

The tank room is immediately behind it.

The biggest variable is the orientation of the house and the back yard. In the northern hemisphere, the back yard must be south facing with at least 100ft of unobstructed sky.
 
found a number of farmers and hobbyists who've been doing something like this successfully:

This one is with solartubes, but it's so beautiful...
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IufiOrZy-x4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here's one from the 90s with supplemental lighting
lightupper364272.JPG

http://www.garf.org/news23p2.shtml

4536452526_c47ffed0f6.jpg


and another one
http://www.hrrc.us/topic/6783-new-greenhouse-pics/

and a pro setup
Greenhouse.jpg

http://pacificeastaquaculture.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post.html

and another
Main_system1.jpg

http://www.garretts-acropolis.com/

one more
coraltease_t210.jpg

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/mar/06/colonies-of-color/
 
Good luck with your project. Like you, I have been planning on building a sunroom to house my reef tank for the past 5 years (sun-lit, geothermal cooling, surge, etc). From my discussion with others, heat and the seasonality of the sun will be the biggest issue. Check out Adee's build if you have not seen it already:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1838193

Dionae
 
Thanks. Living in TX is a good start. Flat terrain, lots of big blue skies and mostly clear and sunny.

The orientation of the greenhouse matters a lot. The heat and spectrum is important, that's why I started this thread.

I have found that the greenhouse and sunroom manufacturers are a bit snobby and elitist though. Very disappointing. So far, I've found two kinds based on my research:

The first are looking to charge 3-5x what it should cost and any request outside of stock doubles the price. If I mention value or cost, they stop talking = overpriced with no value.

The second are ultracheap (half what I expect it should cost) and usually sell temporary structures marketed as permanent greenhouses. These are not customizable with special glass or films unless I DIY. These have terrible ratings and leak.

I thought the biggest challenge was going to be engineering or technology. That was resolved. The real problem is finding the right partner/vendor...
 
Dionae said:
Good luck with your project. Like you, I have been planning on building a sunroom to house my reef tank for the past 5 years (sun-lit, geothermal cooling, surge, etc). From my discussion with others, heat and the seasonality of the sun will be the biggest issue. Check out Adee's build if you have not seen it already:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1838193

Dionae
Click to expand...

Wow!! That's exactly what I'm going for. Same idea and the growth is ridiculous. Thanks for the link...

http://youtu.be/iBxu0v_9Lqg
 
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iBxu0v_9Lqg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d1vlOXksMtY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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