my 240
- Thread starter hobogato
- Start date
hobogato
New member
thougt about it every time i saw a thread about it, but didnt think it was possible being on first floor of a two story house. once i realized they would only cost us 18" of closet space, there was no looking back.
lots of pros - no heat, better light spectrum, no electricity to run em
cons - cant turn on your halides at midnight to show your reef to visiting reefers
hobogato
New member
here is what i have been working on for the last couple of days - decided to do away with the canopy all together and go open top. still a little finish work to be done, but you get the idea
front
back
top (the t5 racks will get an acrylic cover painted gloss white tomorrow)
front
back
top (the t5 racks will get an acrylic cover painted gloss white tomorrow)
hobogato
New member
thanks bax
chris, it has only been four days since the switch, but i havent noticed any bleaching. some of the rusty brown colors seem to be turning more red/pink already and a couple of corals are showing new growth tips already. there was some stray light until i added the flared ends, and that seemed to take care of it.
chris, it has only been four days since the switch, but i havent noticed any bleaching. some of the rusty brown colors seem to be turning more red/pink already and a couple of corals are showing new growth tips already. there was some stray light until i added the flared ends, and that seemed to take care of it.
hobogato
New member
well, it seems i have my first casualty from the solar tubes
bryopsis i have had this stuff for years, managing it by pulling it occasionally. now, it is just vanishing! the most problematic areas were in the highest light areas - and they were the first to thin and then disappear.
bryopsis i have had this stuff for years, managing it by pulling it occasionally. now, it is just vanishing! the most problematic areas were in the highest light areas - and they were the first to thin and then disappear.
hobogato
New member
lol, i have heard this kind of comment before..... one of the local reef guy's wife told him he wasnt allowed to play with me anymore :lol:
hehe, they are plastic planters that i cut and painted. the inside is painted with chrome paint and the outside with gloss white plastic paint. the tube end is about 22" above the water but the bottom of the bell shape is about 16" above
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13117896#post13117896 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCurry
WOW! I love it and my wife hates you now. Because I'm trying to figure out how to do this in our house, Dear we really don't need the upstairs lardy area do we?!?
hehe, they are plastic planters that i cut and painted. the inside is painted with chrome paint and the outside with gloss white plastic paint. the tube end is about 22" above the water but the bottom of the bell shape is about 16" above
Hi very nice setup and interesting thread. Couple questions if you have a minute. So after having your solar Tubes for over a month now are you 100% happy with them? are you happy with the size you went with? why did you choose that size and not larger like 21" they dont seem much more expensive. would having a couple MH between them be a good idea for when you want to suplament not really for daily use. or would you say skip MH's all together. I would have dimable t5 actinics and LED moons built in a floating frame with either. Thanks
hobogato
New member
hogall- what size tank are you goint to put under that tube?
jmarko - i have only had them just under 2 weeks, so not a drastic change yet. some of the corals browned and are now shifting to more pink/purple coloration, others havent changed color. i chose that size because i didnt want to cut floor/ceiling joists or roof joists. i am going to try without metal halide, but remember i have 580 watts of T5 actinic supplement.
ebolii- actually, i have cleaned the glass 3 times in two weeks - maybe even a little less often than i used to. the small patches of bryopsis that i was battling thinned and ultimately disappeared. the sand is still white - no cyano. all this and i found my RODI tds at about 80 the other day!! who knows how much better it will get now that i have fixed that
ill try to snap some pics today or tomorrow of the full moon effect on the tank and the outside domes on the roof.
jmarko - i have only had them just under 2 weeks, so not a drastic change yet. some of the corals browned and are now shifting to more pink/purple coloration, others havent changed color. i chose that size because i didnt want to cut floor/ceiling joists or roof joists. i am going to try without metal halide, but remember i have 580 watts of T5 actinic supplement.
ebolii- actually, i have cleaned the glass 3 times in two weeks - maybe even a little less often than i used to. the small patches of bryopsis that i was battling thinned and ultimately disappeared. the sand is still white - no cyano. all this and i found my RODI tds at about 80 the other day!! who knows how much better it will get now that i have fixed that
ill try to snap some pics today or tomorrow of the full moon effect on the tank and the outside domes on the roof.
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
AWESOME SET-UP hobogato!
I really like your clam end-table as well! Hmmmm....your giving me ideas.......
I keep angels so I haven't risked clams, but now.....
I really like your clam end-table as well! Hmmmm....your giving me ideas.......
I keep angels so I haven't risked clams, but now.....
