gone solar
i have posted all of this in my build thread, but i thought i would post here as well since the tank is 80% sps. about three weeks ago i took out the 5 MH lights from my 240 and installed 3 solar tubes. i kept the 580 watts of T5 actinic, and redid the configuration of the top of the tank. first, ill post a few before and after pics of the work i did, and then i will post weekly coral comparison pics to document the changes.
here is the way i did the tank originally: front http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...cts/tank12.jpg back http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...cts/tank22.jpg here is what it used to look like inside the "canopy" http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/PDRM3661.jpg now, here is what it looks like front http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/PDRM3675.jpg back http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/PDRM3676.jpg from above (i have covered the T5 lights with acrylic covers since this pic) http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/PDRM3677.jpg here is a comparison of the lighting in the tank: http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...40/compare.jpg here are hourly progression pics on a sunny day - left side is with the actinics off and right side is with them on http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...olartubes2.jpghttp://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...sactinics2.jpg tank was without lights for two days while i did all of this, and within a week of installing the sundome tubes, everything was a nice shade of brown. the first coral pics i took were at that one week stage. i will try to take the same pics of the same corals weekly to show color and growth progression.... |
Interesting, how do you know it is going to be enough light? What happens if it isn't? Would you put the halides back in? How did you decide to change over? I am not being critical, I am genuinely interested about your thought process of the whole thing. I really like the idea, I hope it works.
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Wow, very impressive....and very green. Aren't you going to miss the high electric bill? Wish that was an option for me. Here in NE Ohio the sun only shines 3 months a year :)
I would bet you will see significant growth from the change. Keep us posted. |
B&B A. efflorescens 8-10-08
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/bbefflo1.jpg ATL tulip A. millepora 8-10-08 http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ulipmille1.jpg same from back of tank 8-10-08 http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...lipmilleb1.jpg same top down 8-10-08 http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...pmilletop1.jpg AKM yellow A. sp. table 8-10-08 http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...yelloacro1.jpg same top down 8-10-08 http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...loacrotop1.jpg |
Corals look pretty happy. I am betting that is more sufficient light. Be interested to see that verified with a par meter. My guess is you are getting better par now.
Worst case, you could throw some T5's or VHOs to supplement in the winter. |
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Wow that is amazing, the corals look great. Amazing how intense the light gets, hows the heat from the lights? The colors look like they improved a lot, really noticeable with the ATL tulip A. millepora. Also any effect on algae?
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Not sure if you care to divulge, but what is the ballpark price of getting solar tubes?
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there is virtually no heat coming in from the tubes - my chiller almost never kicks on now - as far as algae, i cleaned the glass four times in three weeks (a little less often than i had to with the halides) no new algae, and one nice surprise with an existing algae........more on that later :)
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i think even in the winter time there should be enough light, but i can always change some of the actinic out for 6500k in the t5 fixtures if needed
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Who makes solar tubes?
Do you have a link? |
the ones i used came from a place in florida called sun dome
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Looks awesome! I've been running them on my reef for a couple years now. Man I wish I had a tank big enough for three 14" tubes.
Way to go! Jim |
how about some pics jim?
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whoa, looks like your corals love their new light..kinda wish i can do that..
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looks good. would like to try it myself but the home owner association probly wouldn't allow it.
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hmm... not sure they would even notice, here is what it looks like on the roof
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/DSC02479.jpg here it is at night when the actinics are still on (looks like im calling aliens :) ) http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/DSC02481.jpg |
That's really cool looking. I can't believe they transfer light that well!
Do they heat up the tank a lot less than the halide lights? |
great pix. great thread.
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Just think on a new system the ROI is less, if you are building a new system and consider that a good ballast,good reflectors, and bulbs will run about $300. So really, you are only paying a premium of $130 per light. ROI is now less than 3 months, you are positive in the 4th...Wow I think when I do my upgrade I will be doing the tubes.
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well, i did sell my old halide setups for $100 each (good deal for the people that bought em - electronic ballast with home made lumenarc mini type reflector and reeflux 12K bulb), so i really only paid $800 out of pocket.
almost no heat from these - my chiller is hardly kicking on now :) Quote:
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This is a really good idea. Please keep us posted on how the corals respond in growth. How do you think your growth is so far?
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