Solar Lighting

[SoulFish]

Thinking of installing 3 x 13 (Width)" Solar tubes to light my 180. Seen one post from a guy in TX that did this and he says he gets about enough light to keep SPS (each tube say's it equivilant to 400-500 watts)

The guys using it says the tube run must be straight up, no curves and the glass domes extend about 12" off the angled roof top. And he took off the 4 metal halides he used before for his 240 gallon.

anyone tried this or thought about going truely solar?

 

[Gomer]

THere is a large and extensive thread on this on RC that might be worth your read (I don't recall the link but it used solar tubes)

 

[SoulFish]

Thats the one I saw.. just wondering if any Bay Area locals have tried this yet. Our sun is slightly less than the guy in San Antonio, TX

 

[sfsuphysics]

I saw the Texas thread too, really got me thinking a bunch. Not ready to pull the trigger yet, however I am planning my next tank in a position that if I wanted to I could shoot them out of the side of my house. However now it'll take a major BUFU from PG&E for me to go that route

However I think you misunderstood something, you can have curves, its just each bend in those solar tubes lowers the amount of light that gets to the end (more reflections).

 

[Dyngoe]

I also looked into this option when my wife and I were looking at a new house. From all I read it "could" be done but not without extra lighting. So, I figured they'd be the primary lighting in the summer and I'd have to get MH for the winter.

 

[pixelpixi]

I was looking into this too but I haven't done it. I think it's an awesome idea!

 

[SoulFish]

luckly where I I'm putting the tank I can run a straight shot up and out. Long run though 16' little more than 2 floors. But my wife is fussing about our PG&E bill with all my other tanks and my 220 takes alot to heat it where it is, especially since I keep that one at 80 degrees.

So I think that if I go larger the only footing I'd have with teh wife is making the monthly expenses go down. I'm 90% there just have to get the money together to do it and move the 100 gallon fish only tank into a temp position till this one get established.

 

[iani]

[quote author=Dyngoe link=topic=6011.msg76034#msg76034 date=1232508336]
I also looked into this option when my wife and I were looking at a new house. From all I read it "could" be done but not without extra lighting. So, I figured they'd be the primary lighting in the summer and I'd have to get MH for the winter.
[/quote]

Also don't forget all the actinics you would need to run to balance out the sunlight.

 

[pixelpixi]

[quote author=iani link=topic=6011.msg76055#msg76055 date=1232519742]
Also don't forget all the actinics you would need to run to balance out the sunlight.
[/quote]

Or you could just put blue gels over the skylights.

 

[SoulFish]

Already thought of that! Think a trip to the photography store will be needed to balance the light.

 

[tuberider]

My corals turn brown during the summer when they get a ton of sunlight.

 

[SoulFish]

It should be easy to limit the light if need be. Always easier to cut back then to try to get it to produce more light.

 

[sfsuphysics]

One of my biggest fears would be that you'd toss in light that's more favorable towards algae where as the bluer bulbs we typically use (14K + ) are usually not

 

[SoulFish]

should be able to change the color with Gels which should go a ways towards helping that out.

Found this color temp chart too. Intresting

http://www.filmandvideolighting.com/roecopagec.html