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RE: solar tube skylights?

w3tw0rx — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:27:38 GMT

A 14" solatube can easily have peak outputs higher than that of a 400 watt halide, so you can run much more than a 40B with it. Where do you live? Perhaps thats a good place to start.

RE: solar tube skylights?

w3tw0rx — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:25:40 GMT

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56125

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=09eea58222944f50b405d7421edc8a05&threadid=1354345

Two very good threads you should see about solatubes.

RE: solar tube skylights?

gpodio — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:08:54 GMT

That's what Dr Mac Corals uses over one of the troughs:

http://www.drmaccorals.com/Aquaculturefacility.aspx

RE: solar tube skylights?

scubanoah — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:32:00 GMT

i have a 20 sump. it is in a small room in my garage built for my frag tank so it has a pretty decent exaust fan in the ceiling of the room too.

RE: solar tube skylights?

dhnguyen — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:27:05 GMT

That would help though honestly I have never seen solar tube used on a 40g, do you have a sump for this? The extra water volume will help with the heat as well

RE: solar tube skylights?

scubanoah — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:18:21 GMT

so if heat will be that big of an issue, do you think if i didnt put it inside the canopy and just had it above the tank lets say 2 feet and had a fan blowing across i would be ok?

RE: solar tube skylights?

dhnguyen — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:01:23 GMT

Penetration is very good so you should be ok there but heat maybe an issue as natural sunlight can heat up the water a lot.

I would use a 14 inch (diameter) tube for that tank.

RE: solar tube skylights?

scubanoah — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:45:22 GMT

any idea how far down they work? i was thinking of running it directly in to the canopy. how big of one would i need for a 40 breeder (18 wide 36 long)? any heating issues? i live in ohio but i can supplement lighting when needed. thanks

RE: solar tube skylights?

dhnguyen — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:11:21 GMT

Yes it works assuming that you have sufficient sunlight where you live.

solar tube skylights?

scubanoah — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:43:42 GMT

Has anyone here used anything like this to light up a frag tank? I read somewhere Anthony Calfo had some experience with these so hopefully he will see this. i was looking at the tube skylights you can buy at home depot and lowes. seems like it would work fine. i am looking to put it over a 40 breeder with mainly softies. any info would be appreciated. thanks!