p4ck37p1mp
Premium Member
Tagging along, very interesting concept. Waiting for a house that I might be able to do it.
SolaTubes for reef tanks
- Thread starter 440cudaman
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I'm still planning on adding solatubes to my addition for my tank
Just a matter of where it will be located
Just a matter of where it will be located
@AJT, yup they are the solatube brand. There is an acrylic dome on the roof with a mirror attachment to catch most of the days sun. Apart from that the tubes are hollow and I'm not using any of the deflector plates on the end of the tubes. That being said, in the next few months I am going to have to clean the domes on the roof and give the tubes a light dusting as the spider webs are starting to build up, and nothing is allowed to block the sun over my reef! :lol:
:cheers:
:cheers:
tinyreef
New member
just build a sunroom. that's what i'm planning (wishing). a gigantic 2000g+ cube tank, viewable on all sides (sunlight on 3-sides, 4th being the house).
i'm building it shortly after winning the lottery. any day now. any day. yup, any day... :sad2:
oh yeah, this is my back-to-reality 2.5-gallon sunlight pico-tank.
:sad2:
i think the sola-tubes is more applicable to a house/structure already built and defined. if you're building from scratch, a series of skylights or a sunroom is probably a better option imo.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=553495#post553495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SAT
The light meter in my camera indicates that a high percentage of the light hitting the top of each tube is coming out the bottom. Not a very precise measurement, but good enough to make me very happy.
Maybe sometime you can take a meter reading from an 18% gray card at the water surface and if the shutter speed is the recipricol of the film speed @ f16 it would be roughly eqaul to full sunlight in intensity, it will likely be less from some loss but with the number of stop or stops to open up it could be SWAGed pretty close.
Would be very interesting to know what the meter says, an incident light meter would negate the need for a gray card, so if anyone has access to a flashmeter like a Minolta Flashmeter IV or V AND a light tube maybe post the results.
SAT sorry about the query I saw your gray card post on page 5, long thread been all over this one.
The 20% difference on a scale would be markedly reduced in a sensistive flashmeter that will show 1/10th stops.
Thanks for info, impressive that the outside reading is same as inside on card.
The 20% difference on a scale would be markedly reduced in a sensistive flashmeter that will show 1/10th stops.
Thanks for info, impressive that the outside reading is same as inside on card.
I will never build a tank again without using the sun as the main source of light. I am so stoked I took the plunge. even on overcast days it looks good.
Next tank I might just build it outside, above the house so there is no shadow, with a ladder to get up to the viewing platform! Kinda like a castle tower, but with a fish tank.
:cheers:
Next tank I might just build it outside, above the house so there is no shadow, with a ladder to get up to the viewing platform! Kinda like a castle tower, but with a fish tank.
:cheers:
JMBoehling
Premium Member
Updated Pics - May 2, 2006
Updated Pics - May 2, 2006
As promised, some updated pics.. Things are really starting to take shape...
Will update as things continue to grow 
Later,
Jim
Updated Pics - May 2, 2006
As promised, some updated pics.. Things are really starting to take shape...
Will update as things continue to grow
Later,
Jim
kmacartney
New member
Wow, that is a great looking tank. Do you have any supplimental lighting?
kmacartney
New member
Oops. i see that you do. Can you post a pic of how you have the tubes arranged with your lights?
pvtschultz
New member
A quick trip to his gallery gives this picture:
He's got a bunch of others in there too for ya.
Great updates though, I definately need to take advantage of the sun for the next tank setup...
He's got a bunch of others in there too for ya.
Great updates though, I definately need to take advantage of the sun for the next tank setup...
kmacartney
New member
Cool setup! Is the veiwing done from the other side of the wall?
JMBoehling
Premium Member
Thank you! Yes the viewing is from our Great Room.. The previous photo is from the Mudroom side (Very convenient for doing water changes
)Later,
Jim
Lordhelmet
Active member
well I'm sold on them. the tank is really starting to look great.
onetrickpony
Premium Member
great setup
what brand are you using and size
I am thinking of trying the 24"
what side of the house are they on /orientation to the sun n-e -s =w
what do you think
thanks
ken
what brand are you using and size
I am thinking of trying the 24"
what side of the house are they on /orientation to the sun n-e -s =w
what do you think
thanks
ken
JMBoehling
Premium Member
Brand is Gordon from Home Depot. (02) 10" tubes with approx 12 ft. of extensions. I do not have the diffusers mounted.
The tubes are positioned that I get perfect, unobstructed sunlight from approx 9 am to 3 pm.. At this very moment I am getting max sunlight.
Iabsolutley love the natural light, but you do need supplimental light like T5's or VHO's to get the purples, etc out of your SPS...
Thanks again for the kind words!
Later,
Jim
pvtschultz
New member
I would consider the tube lights to be similar to MHs: one for every 24" of tank. If you go with 10" units, you can probably go with four if you desired, two on each side of the center brace. I am thinking that I will be using two 14" tubes over my 90 AGA (48x18x24, LxWxH). The 14" tubes should fit between the rafters snug.
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