Solar powered aquarium from Italy

[sfsuphysics]

100kW of solar power? WOWZER!! I think you went too small on your tank then

I did something similar, city of San Francisco and all it's lovely tax paying residents managed to fund most of my solar panels (Federal tax payers funded almost the entire other chunk too ), however mine is a meager 3.26kW it does do a number to take a chunk out of the electric bill though.

 

[kinlayan]

what does a solar system of that size cost?

 

[Paolo Piccinell]

wow very nice build, how thick is the glass ?
Is it going to remain rimless ?
Superb work, is their much of a bow on the front screen ?

19mm, starfire.
It will remain rimless, a piece of art from a leader workshop.
Bow on 200 screen is 2 mm

what does a solar system of that size cost?

300.000 euros, kind of 420.000 dollars.

My bank gave me money, as the government will pay very good incentives

 

[zaheda]

My friend has the exact size rimless starfire tank. Check out Amfynn tank in the Large Tanks section.

 

[Crazy_Beaver]

You are off to a great start neighbour!!!!!!!!!!You ve done some amazing preparations there!


Your tank is a masterpiece!However i am always getting very confused on what thickness glass is used to each tank!I mean you can see tanks half your volume using 19mm glass.

If you have experience I would like to hear your comment on that!

Tagging along anyway and waiting for the next update!!!!!!!Please take a lot of pictures of evry work caried out in the tank!!!!!!!!



best of luck amigo!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Paolo Piccinell]

Well... it depends from artisan experience.

My tank has been assembled using top quality glue and reinforcing bottom joints with an extra profile 15mm thick.
Seals are perfect.

I paid a lot, but it does worth.

Today I mounted and filled the calcium reactor (Ocean Life) with 18 Kg of coral sand plus some magnesium granulate (see picture).

I also received the circulation pumps (New Jet 6000).

 

[Paolo Piccinell]

My friend has the exact size rimless starfire tank. Check out Amfynn tank in the Large Tanks section

I know... it was an inspiring piece! ;-)

 

[Crazy_Beaver]

Well... it depends from artisan experience.

My tank has been assembled using top quality glue and reinforcing bottom joints with an extra profile 15mm thick.
Seals are perfect.

I paid a lot, but it does worth.

Today I mounted and filled the calcium reactor (Ocean Life) with 18 Kg of coral sand plus some magnesium granulate (see picture).

I also received the circulation pumps (New Jet 6000).

What brand if I may ask?

 

[Paolo Piccinell]

Brand for the tank?

Local shop in Milan, "Malberti acquari":

http://www.acquari-malberti.com/

 

[prop-frags]

Inspiring!
400g rimless.....this will be a stunning display!
Given your dedication to low environment impact with the solar panels, why not go with all LEDs for the tank?

 

[Paolo Piccinell]

400g rimless.....this will be a stunning display!

I hope so!
Thanks.

why not go with all LEDs for the tank?

Good question!
Well, I prefer metal halide for different reasons.

First of all, having a 1-metre-large tank is challenging... I will use just 3 lamps keeping them 50 cm high on water to illuminate all the sand bottom without spots and shadows; too many leds to cover all reaching the same impact.

Then, I made some calculations... given the climate here, during winter the energy saved using leds is spent by heaters, so energy balance is more or less the same.

Last, but not least, led lighting is very expensive and for my tank I need a custom made lighting.
For the moment my pockets say "non money, no funny"!!!

 

[Crazy_Beaver]

Brand for the tank?

Local shop in Milan, "Malberti acquari":

http://www.acquari-malberti.com/

No I ment the glue!!!!!!trying to gather information on going diy on my new tank and resources are very limited in Greece considering rimless aquariums!!!!

 

[Paolo Piccinell]

It's an industrial secret, but I think they used DOW CORNING 781 or similar.

 

[octoreef]

No I ment the glue!!!!!!trying to gather information on going diy on my new tank and resources are very limited in Greece considering rimless aquariums!!!!

Hi Crazy_Beaver, try to find Dow Corning 881, one of the most strenght silicon adesive for this type of applications. It's sell in Italy for + or - 8 € per 330 ml

http://www.utensileriaonline.it/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=24

 

[Paolo Piccinell]

Finally the tank is filled to the top and alive!!!:beer:


...still waiting for Vortech MP 60 pumps...

 

[Paolo Piccinell]

Sump update...

One of the two NJ6000 has been changed with a NJ4500... there was too much flow!:crazy1:

I measured 5000 litres per hour, that means 3 times the tank volume each hour... more than enough I suppose.

I positioned and activated the calcium reactor (no dioxide for the moment) to clean coral gravel and verify pipelines and leaks.
I adjusted internal sump water passages to direct flow on the heater and to avoid noises and bubbles (and consequent salt mist).

Hopefully tomorrow I will receive vortech MP60 and a PVC frame to hold the drain lines in place with their filter bags.

...a couple of pictures:

 

[Crazy_Beaver]

Hi Crazy_Beaver, try to find Dow Corning 881, one of the most strenght silicon adesive for this type of applications. It's sell in Italy for + or - 8 € per 330 ml

http://www.utensileriaonline.it/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=24

thank you very much!i ll look for it.

Finally the tank is filled to the top and alive!!!:beer:


...still waiting for Vortech MP 60 pumps...

Thats a dsb!!!!!

 

[Bax]

very nice set up so far. The solar pannels are cool!

 

[Vanpire]

19mm, starfire.
It will remain rimless, a piece of art from a leader workshop.
Bow on 200 screen is 2 mm


300.000 euros, kind of 420.000 dollars.

My bank gave me money, as the government will pay very good incentives

Is this 420 thousand dollars for a solar system?

 

[TJQ]

Great setup! Could you show us some pics of your drains and returns? I noticed you did not use an overflow.