SolaTubes for reef tanks

[RedEyeReef]

Don't forget that the red end of the light spectrum is quickly absorbed by depth of water and most reef tanks are between 18" - 36". Say your coral in your tank sat in 15' of water in the ocean and in our tank it is in 2', now in the ocean the coral never saw red light but in our reef with a solar tube or sky light it is seeing red or atleast more red then it use too.

Just a thought to add. I still like the idea of using the sun and would try it myself if my reef was not in my basement.

 

[yoh]

so how much would it cost for these to light a 75 gal. acro tank?

 

[baja_01]

First figure out the size of tube you want to use.

Then figure out how many you can/want too use.

Then figure out the brand that you want to go with and the labor cost asociated with it.

It will be expensive, but a MH system isn't all that cheap, and the differece after a few years of bulb replacement and electricitycan would be very small.

 

[Fursphere]

It will be expensive, but a MH system isn't all that cheap, and the differece after a few years of bulb replacement and electricitycan would be very small.

...and we are still waiting for someone to actually do this and give us some results.

 

[Shoestring Reefer]

The links for some pics are on page 10. It's an australian tank with solar tubes AND MH.

 

[Fursphere]

Ya, I saw them. Nice pics. Zero information.

 

[Shoestring Reefer]

Nothing on tubes, but I found a quote from this site about sun light and NO bulbs. Keep in mind he's in AU, which is why he recommends the tank be by a north-facing window.

atm while i am just holding my anminals while my tank gets done, i am using NO's with sunlight, the only corals are a hammer, while loves it, you can tell the difference, if its a cloudy day he wont open HEEPS, he will still extend, but nothing like when the sun is out fully, when the sun is out the christmas trees worms on him are out of sight cos the tentacles extend about 4 inches, probably more, but you just have to make sure the window is face north, and i wouldnt reccomend it for long term, just from a holding point of view, i also have a favite that was a hitch hiker that has shown nice growth but not as much as the hammer as it isnt in direct sunlight.

 

[dpieroni]

Picture of your solatubes

Picture of your solatubes

Can you give me some pics? I have see that you post pocs but I canÃ"šÃ‚´t see them? can yo u send to me via email?
thanks
diego

Blue,

I like my tubes. It sounds like it wouldn't be too hard for you to install. However, don't expect them to be a replacement for your main lighting. I think during the summer (April through August) a 21" tube is approximately equal to a 250W MH bulb. In December, even in Arizona, it's probably equal to a 40W NO fluorescent lamp (the angle of the sun is what matters, not the brightness).

If you do install it, yes you should push the output down as close to the water as you can manage.

 

[Joe Damone]

I would like to read that where can I find it

Joe

 

[lucubrator]

Just a thought about the spectral losses down the water column. If you're really concerned about getting rid of the reds, then you could try making a 10' column of water in the tube. Sure, you would lose a great deal of the light intensity, but you'd get the spectra you want. The only concern here would be that you need to keep things from growing in it. That shouldn't be too hard, provided that you can seal it immediately after autoclaving. The other thing to note with this, though, is that at depth, red fish and animals are camouflaged against the background. Do you really want those pretty, bright reds you paid so much for to not show up?

 

[Joe Damone]

where can I find this article.I need to cut costs and by cheaper lower ctemp bulbs but hate the yellow look

jd

 

[Shoestring Reefer]

Joe-

What article?

 

[salty joe]

I am considering two large skylights installed next to each other. The footprint of the proposed tank would be about two thirds the footprint of the skylights. A reducing plenum made of polished aluminum would connect the skylights to the tank. There will be about 7 feet between the top of the tank and the skylights. I am also kicking around the idea of installing one skylights on the south panel of the roof and right around the corner on the west panel installing another skylight. The roof will probably have somewhere between 5/12 and 9/12 slope.


Does anyone know how to calculate how many degrees south or Southwest will yield the most sunlight given a latitude and longitude?

 

[lead]

I have read this posting for awhile. wow, I am amazed at how long post is. There was a post sent a little while back about using a 10' water column to block out the red spectrum of light. You really do not need to use water. All you would need is tinted piece of glass. There are films out there that will block out certain spectrums.
lead

 

[chask]

salty joe wrote:
I am considering two large skylights installed next to each other. The footprint of the proposed tank would be about two thirds the footprint of the skylights. A reducing plenum made of polished aluminum would connect the skylights to the tank. There will be about 7 feet between the top of the tank and the skylights.

I am kind of leaning towards a skylight or two also, though what I am looking at will only have 2-3' from the top of the tank to the skylight. It will be lined with something highly reflective like salty joe's.

Are solar tubes a better deal or would a skylight be better? For solar tube or skylight, how do you determine what your lighting is going to be based on lattitude/longitude so that any auxilliary lighting can be planned for? I also have an issue with the tank sitting with about 40% of it on one side of the ridge.

Thanks
Charles

 

[H20ENG]

I would say that you get WAY more light with a skylight than just the tube. The only thing that sets the tubes apart is the reflective tube. So you will get the most bang per buck with a regular skylight, lined, as you mentioned.

 

[Shoestring Reefer]

That makes sense, H2O. The whole reason why they sell solar tubes it to get the light through an attic or an upper story, so if someone has a roof above the tank then a skylight might be a better way to go.

 

[Ryan]

The tubes install much easier than a traditional skylight, at least the seal!
I have done both, a tube in the bathroom, and a traditional in the kitchen. The traditional was a pain in the rear...Leaked until I got it sealed just right. The tube was installed and never needed another thought after two hours.

 

[salty joe]

Are solar tubes a better deal or would a skylight be better? For solar tube or skylight, how do you determine what your lighting is going to be based on lattitude/longitude so that any auxilliary lighting can be planned for? I also have an issue with the tank sitting with about 40% of it on one side of the ridge

Why not install a skylight on either side of the ridge? You might get a really natural sunrise to sunset effect. You could build one plenum to incorporate both skylights.

 

[chask]

It is obvious that a skylight would provide more light to the tank, particularly a large one. I have seen some solar tubes with tracking or sataionary reflectors that might help get light down into the tank. Without some information on where the sun is throughout the year it is hard to tell. And then there is the sealing issue. Smaller means less to seal and less to leak.

salty joe,

I had thought of that too. My skylight (if that's the way I go) would run with the long dimension N-S, Not much for sunset affects, at least direct, but should be better for general lighting. And I was planning on one plenum or tunnel for both skylights with a structural beam or two running through.

I am too ignorant of the terminology to do a proper search so I have got to again ask your question:

Where do you find the data that will give you an estimate of the lighting based on longitude and latitude?

Thanks
Charles