SolaTubes for reef tanks

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15259693#post15259693 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vincent843
this is what I have been wordered how do you deal with algea, like most of tanks have algea problem because get direct sun light from the window.
I've had zero algea problems with my tubes.
 
The light doesn't "cause" the algea growth. Increasing the light (solar tubes or a bigger more powerful light) will fuel algea growth IF there are nutrients present for the organism to feed on.....
 
Question: The dome said UV protection, this protection is for the dome not to be cracked in time, or it intent to block the UV from the sun? Eventually, what I want to know is do we need the UV come in? thanks.
 
If it's natural levels of UV it shouldn't be a problem. If it's a bulb that's throwing higher than natural levels, that could be detrimental.
If you're exposing corals to a system like this that have been in captivity under artificial lighting for a long time it might be a problem. It would be something akin to changing your whole lighting rig.
I plan to use sola tubes in the future and figured that I would add corals in the winter months so they would be able to acclimate to the shorter days and have the intensity increase slowly over a course of months.
I live in a sub tropical area approximately equivalent to Lord Howe Island's distance from the equator. I would think this would be sufficient to raise most species of coral. Especialy captive strains.
 
I plan to use sola tubes in the future and figured that I would add corals in the winter months so they would be able to acclimate to the shorter days and have the intensity increase slowly over a course of months.
Good to know. How others do tranfer their corrals, what is your process? thanks.
 
OK. I've been having fun. After figure where the tank location, loose a little bit here and there, I found the position of the tank.
Now, I come up with another problem, the joist is 16" center, the raffter is 24" center, the heigh from the ceiling to the roof is only 20". Where the tubes location straigh up will hit the raffer (off 2"). So with that short 20" heigh, how can I twist the tube to accomplish that 2" off?
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Let me clear the pic a little, the tubes wil be off 2" from left to right respect to the slope of the roof. Can I cut the joist , installed the tube straigh then re joist with another piece of 2x6?
BTW, the total length from top of the flashing to the ceiling will be 30", the shortest distance that the tube can twist is 10"(14" tube).
 
Dont they make adjustable angle pieces of extension tube? Looks like HVAC ducting, with 3- 45 degree pieces that you can twist to the correct position.
 
Well, I typically run an update around spring time, when the sun gets a little higher in the sky and the tubes fill up with natures rays ;)

It's been almost 4 years of having these installed over my reef and a couple observations:


1.) 10" tubes are probably a bit undersized for thsi application. I would design 14" or larger diameter tubes into a future build if I were to do it over.

2.) It is tough for me to get a real good definative answer on whether or not my little Science experiment with Solar Tubes in Richmond, VA over a reef tank is a flying success due to all the other requirements of reef keepeing (Water Flow, Chemistry, Temps). There are so many vairables that what appears to be a light issue could very easily be masked by a excessive nutrient issues, lack of flow issue, low Alk issue, pest issue, etc. ;)

3.) There is no doubt in my mind that all my reef inhabitants love the natural sunlight. The biggest issue for me is the late fall and winter months when I get very little light through them, so I must have some supplimental light. For me it is (04) 54 watt t5's and (02) Led Par 38 spots.

So enough chat... Here are some updated photos of my reef. Granted not perfect, but growing. I did recently add a sulpher denitrator after finding out my Nitrates had climbed up to excessive levels (Greater than 25 :( ) Reason I mention this is that I hope my next update will sow some real nice improvement.

Pictures next thread...
 
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Here are some updated pics of my reef

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Thanks,
Jim
 
Lookin' good...how about a full tank shot.
2-10" tubes over a 90g?

Yep.. (02) 10 Tubes on a 90 gallon. My travel distance from the dome on the roof to my tank is approximately 10 feet. I'll post a full tank shot tomorrow when the lights turn back on around 11 am ;)

Jim
 
Wow, huge growth since last time! Great Pics! Thanks for the update JMB.

Lot of asterinas there!
 
In the winter months are you having to supplement with natural spectrum t5s? then go actinic for summer? i want to try and do this and want much more info before cutting holes in my roof =) but this is soo sweet. is algae much of an issue?
 
In the winter months are you having to supplement with natural spectrum t5s? then go actinic for summer? i want to try and do this and want much more info before cutting holes in my roof =) but this is soo sweet. is algae much of an issue?

I supplement with (04) 54 Watt T5's (3 Ati Blue Plus and 1 Blue Spezial). I also added (02) Par 38 LED's 10K for added shimmer during the winter months. I don't switch out the bulbs in the summer, just run them in the evening when I want to look at everything ;)

I have no algae issues (well, no more than you would run into with running all halides or T5's) as algae must feed on organics. Keep them in check and you won't have any probs.

FYI.. If you designing these, I highly recommend using the largest tubes you can possibly fiut into your design. While the 10" tubes over my 90 gallon reef are good, I think (02) 14's would have been much better, and given my reef even more natural light, and possibly reducing the amount of supplemental light I need to run. Also note, I am in Richmond, VA so you'll need to take into effect your geographic location and the angle of the sun, etc..

later,

Jim
 
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