SolaTubes for reef tanks
- Thread starter 440cudaman
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electric130
Active member
thread started 2 years ago, now 10 pages, so many people say they're using these, but still no pics????? come on! lets see some pics. i went through every page and some people made posts saying "here's the right side" and stuff like that, but there's no pics there. what's up?SAT said:
electric130
Active member
reflectors or sunlight, lets see some pics!!!
Solatubes
Solatubes
Hi Guys,
I am Building a 10x2.5x2.5 this year and am going to be using solatubes for my main lighting.
Everyone wants pictures...So here is a link to a guy on the East Coast (of Australia!) that has used them.
:rollface:
http://home.iprimus.com.au/jmfaz/index.htm
http://home.iprimus.com.au/aurorabridal/Doc1.htm
http://home.iprimus.com.au/aurorabridal/massa.htm
and the thread with info
http://www.masa.asn.au/rtaw/showfla...Old=allposts&Main=64961&Search=true#Post70579
Enjoy.
Solatubes
Hi Guys,
I am Building a 10x2.5x2.5 this year and am going to be using solatubes for my main lighting.
Everyone wants pictures...So here is a link to a guy on the East Coast (of Australia!) that has used them.
:rollface:
http://home.iprimus.com.au/jmfaz/index.htm
http://home.iprimus.com.au/aurorabridal/Doc1.htm
http://home.iprimus.com.au/aurorabridal/massa.htm
and the thread with info
http://www.masa.asn.au/rtaw/showfla...Old=allposts&Main=64961&Search=true#Post70579
Enjoy.
Nice to see some pics. I'm going to be adding my 1st Solartube in my house. It's going in a 2nd floor bedroom/extra room. I'm removing 1 window (of 2) so I'm hoping the solatube will brighten up the room.
Dependingh upon the results I may add 3 more when my addition is built; which will house a 180g or larger tank
Dependingh upon the results I may add 3 more when my addition is built; which will house a 180g or larger tank
Herpervet
New member
Jumpstart this thread
Jumpstart this thread
I am currently planning a 560 gallon reef 7.5' X 4' X 30in with natural lighting.
The lights I chose are by natural light company out of arizona. They have a unique square (instead of tubular) light that comes in 4' X 4' square sizes.
These are unique in that they have an active tracking system that uses a set of mirrors to focus light down into the light well. This is supposed to result in more intensity throughout the day.
The plan is to place two of these over the tank. There will be a small overhang into the filter room.
Here is a link for the manufactur:http://www.daylighting.com/active_daylighting.htm
And a photo of the mirror system:http://www.daylighting.com/images/ABCO ROOF.htm
The other cool feature is they already have T5 lighting systems to supplement. There is some shadowing concerns but apparently it isn't a big deal. I would rather have some 20K metal halides mounted inside the light well but I am going to try this first since they already have the kinks worked out.
I plan on adding 58w T-5 actinics from sunlight supply to effect so that I get enough blue for my taste.
Jumpstart this thread
I am currently planning a 560 gallon reef 7.5' X 4' X 30in with natural lighting.
The lights I chose are by natural light company out of arizona. They have a unique square (instead of tubular) light that comes in 4' X 4' square sizes.
These are unique in that they have an active tracking system that uses a set of mirrors to focus light down into the light well. This is supposed to result in more intensity throughout the day.
The plan is to place two of these over the tank. There will be a small overhang into the filter room.
Here is a link for the manufactur:http://www.daylighting.com/active_daylighting.htm
And a photo of the mirror system:http://www.daylighting.com/images/ABCO ROOF.htm
The other cool feature is they already have T5 lighting systems to supplement. There is some shadowing concerns but apparently it isn't a big deal. I would rather have some 20K metal halides mounted inside the light well but I am going to try this first since they already have the kinks worked out.
I plan on adding 58w T-5 actinics from sunlight supply to effect so that I get enough blue for my taste.
Shoestring Reefer
New member
Herpervet-will yours have a diffuser on the bottom?
Herpervet
New member
Mike, Dennis:The installed price is $1500 but I am not sure of the breakdown (i.e. how much of the cost is a result of the tracking system)
No question this is WAY more than standard tubular skylights but the tracking system may result in no need for any other supplementation other than the built in T5's.
So we will be spending approximately $3500 or so on the lighting system. Now the hard part is determining the QUALITY of the light. The proof will be in the pudding(I hope). If we assume that an equivalent lighting system was 1500watts run for 12 hours a day for 365 days a year then one year of power use comes to about $657 at $.10 per KW hour. So the units pay for themselves in electricity in 5.4 years. If you factor in the cost of bulb replacement then thats another 3 to 500 plus per year. This drops the break even point to 3 years or so.
Obviously this based on some major assumptions since the intensity and coverage of light remain to be seen but a Quantum (PAR) meter will be used to get some factual data and I will let you guys know.
Unfortunately the tracking system only comes with the 4 X 4 unit. They have passive systems (same as a solatube or any other tubular skylight) also in different sizes and they can make them to order. But I see nothing special about their systems when you take away the tracking system and I would probably go with a different brand if it they didn't have this thing.
Shoestring: I am not sure how I am going to handle the diffusor issue. I may go with a clear acrylic lens to allow max light transmission and still keep moisture out of the light well. If I to this route, I am going to try to get the UV transmitting type (CYRO industries is one of the MAJOR plastic manufactuerers and they carry one that transmits 70% of the UV.
The problem with this approach is that the light comes out of the well in very acute angles since it is bouncing down the tube/light well. The result is that the light doesnt just shine down on the tank but some will exit the front viewing window (and all other walls also).
In other words the EDGES of the light well or tube are where the point source of light comes from and it is at some weird angles. A diffusor fixes this problem. On the otherhand the irregular beams of light are a cool feature also.
This makes for some neat effects but I am afraid it will also result in issues with focal growth of algae in areas that get hit with these stray beams of light.
Also: I spoke with the manufacturer and they are going to custom make the light wells so that the last 2 or 3 feet telescopes into itself so I can put the lens as close to the tank surface as possible and then raise it up for access when needed.
If they are going to be THIS helpful I am also going to hit them up and see if they will custom make a dome out of the UV transmitting type acrylic. The main problem I am concerned with is that the UV inhibitors help preserve the plastic and this type might degrade a lot faster.
No question this is WAY more than standard tubular skylights but the tracking system may result in no need for any other supplementation other than the built in T5's.
So we will be spending approximately $3500 or so on the lighting system. Now the hard part is determining the QUALITY of the light. The proof will be in the pudding(I hope). If we assume that an equivalent lighting system was 1500watts run for 12 hours a day for 365 days a year then one year of power use comes to about $657 at $.10 per KW hour. So the units pay for themselves in electricity in 5.4 years. If you factor in the cost of bulb replacement then thats another 3 to 500 plus per year. This drops the break even point to 3 years or so.
Obviously this based on some major assumptions since the intensity and coverage of light remain to be seen but a Quantum (PAR) meter will be used to get some factual data and I will let you guys know.
Unfortunately the tracking system only comes with the 4 X 4 unit. They have passive systems (same as a solatube or any other tubular skylight) also in different sizes and they can make them to order. But I see nothing special about their systems when you take away the tracking system and I would probably go with a different brand if it they didn't have this thing.
Shoestring: I am not sure how I am going to handle the diffusor issue. I may go with a clear acrylic lens to allow max light transmission and still keep moisture out of the light well. If I to this route, I am going to try to get the UV transmitting type (CYRO industries is one of the MAJOR plastic manufactuerers and they carry one that transmits 70% of the UV.
The problem with this approach is that the light comes out of the well in very acute angles since it is bouncing down the tube/light well. The result is that the light doesnt just shine down on the tank but some will exit the front viewing window (and all other walls also).
In other words the EDGES of the light well or tube are where the point source of light comes from and it is at some weird angles. A diffusor fixes this problem. On the otherhand the irregular beams of light are a cool feature also.
This makes for some neat effects but I am afraid it will also result in issues with focal growth of algae in areas that get hit with these stray beams of light.
Also: I spoke with the manufacturer and they are going to custom make the light wells so that the last 2 or 3 feet telescopes into itself so I can put the lens as close to the tank surface as possible and then raise it up for access when needed.
If they are going to be THIS helpful I am also going to hit them up and see if they will custom make a dome out of the UV transmitting type acrylic. The main problem I am concerned with is that the UV inhibitors help preserve the plastic and this type might degrade a lot faster.
Last edited:
Herpervert, where are you located?
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