Skylight or Solatube
- Thread starter DGlove904
- Start date
alpine
New member
Your going to get what I install in your roof buddy! lol,j/k David.
To be honest I dont think the skylight will work out well at your house.Your also going to end up spending more money to get the light focused down into the tank.
Reefski here on RC did a skylight and he lined the tunnel with reflective aluminum.Personally I think the solatube will be easier to install,and focus light better into the tank.I could be wrong though,hopefully someone with experience will chime in.
To be honest I dont think the skylight will work out well at your house.Your also going to end up spending more money to get the light focused down into the tank.
Reefski here on RC did a skylight and he lined the tunnel with reflective aluminum.Personally I think the solatube will be easier to install,and focus light better into the tank.I could be wrong though,hopefully someone with experience will chime in.
It really depends. If you have to go through lots of stuff the sola tube will work better. If it is a short distance to the roof a skylight will work well.
The sola tube will direct the light into the tank as long as some sun light goes into top, a normal skylight will only put indirect light into the tank unless the sun is directly inline from the tank to the skylight.
Kim
The sola tube will direct the light into the tank as long as some sun light goes into top, a normal skylight will only put indirect light into the tank unless the sun is directly inline from the tank to the skylight.
Kim
boxfishpooalot
Active member
If you have a big enough skylight it will produce much more light than the solatubes do. I looked at the solatubes relfectivity and it seems its not as strong as sunlight. IIRC its will bring in something like 5000 lux, while full sunlight at noon on the reef is 150,000 lux. So I thought well its not as strong as full sunlight and does not put out much light as a skylight would. However, the skylight may not give you a constant light source as solatubes will. I think any sunlight is better than none though. But If i had the money to put up a skylight big enough to get light all day, I would do that. But the tubes are a good choice too. With the skylight you can also get sunlight into your house wich is good for you, the tubes will not give that effect.
hllywd
Premier World Traveler
See if these help... I took these at about 2:00PM in NW Ohio. This is a 10" Sola Tube. We're happy with it for this purpose and I have two more in the attic I had intended to put over a tank about where the thermostat is in the pics. Plans changed and the tank is downstairs where Sola Tubes won't work. I don't know what you plan to keep but I question the intensity even with two of them over a 4' tank. I like these better than a sky light though because of how directional a plain skylight is. I think Sola Tubes catch a little more early and late light and focus it into the house. The Sola Tube uses spectral aluminum material which is in the high 90s percent wise for reflectivity.
With flash and open blinds.
No flash.
Visually you get something that is between the two "no flash" pics.
I've installed some of the 14" Velux tubes with the flexible tube and I think these direct more light inside, but with a larger tube you might be able to add supplemental lighting in the form of a 150W SE MH in the center of the tube without obstructing the tube too much...
Tim
With flash and open blinds.
No flash.
Visually you get something that is between the two "no flash" pics.
I've installed some of the 14" Velux tubes with the flexible tube and I think these direct more light inside, but with a larger tube you might be able to add supplemental lighting in the form of a 150W SE MH in the center of the tube without obstructing the tube too much...
Tim
DGlove904
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13416682#post13416682 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hllywd
See if these help... I took these at about 2:00PM in NW Ohio. This is a 10" Sola Tube. We're happy with it for this purpose and I have two more in the attic I had intended to put over a tank about where the thermostat is in the pics. Plans changed and the tank is downstairs where Sola Tubes won't work. I don't know what you plan to keep but I question the intensity even with two of them over a 4' tank. I like these better than a sky light though because of how directional a plain skylight is. I think Sola Tubes catch a little more early and late light and focus it into the house. The Sola Tube uses spectral aluminum material which is in the high 90s percent wise for reflectivity.
With flash and open blinds.
No flash.
Visually you get something that is between the two "no flash" pics.
I've installed some of the 14" Velux tubes with the flexible tube and I think these direct more light inside, but with a larger tube you might be able to add supplemental lighting in the form of a 150W SE MH in the center of the tube without obstructing the tube too much...
Tim
Wow thats amazing thanks for sharing
alpine
New member
Hey David we still up for tomorrow?You see where the votes are headed on this right?I see you dont trust my recommendations huh/ J/K.
Hey call me when you get the chance.We are going to have to settle on a light design before we proceed with the canopy build.Its the reason why I decided to wait on building it.It will give you a chance to make up your mind on what you want to do as far as lighting goes.
Hey call me when you get the chance.We are going to have to settle on a light design before we proceed with the canopy build.Its the reason why I decided to wait on building it.It will give you a chance to make up your mind on what you want to do as far as lighting goes.
JMBoehling
Premium Member
I've got (02) 10"s on my 90. If you can fit 14" tubes into your design then go for it.
I installed the tubes on my own a few years ago with no issues.
Here's a video of the light in my tank:
Good luck with your project
Jim
I installed the tubes on my own a few years ago with no issues.
Here's a video of the light in my tank:
Good luck with your project
Jim
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