CaptainK Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 So I have been out of the hobby for a year but I now live in a house instead of an apartment. I was thinking about setting up a tank with Solar Tube lighting with supplemental LEDs. I was wondering if anyone is currently running a tank with this form of lighting? I would be using a 12" solar tube over a 45 or 60gallon cube tank. Any advice or info would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 Welcome back Captain! I know nothing of solar tubes but I bet a little research will yield some info to help you make a decision. Main things to consider are par values, being able to maybe put a filter over the light to have it more of a spectrum you'd appreciate instead of the harsh yellow light, and like you mentioned, supplemental lighting to make it more pleasing to the eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainK Posted September 2, 2017 Author Share Posted September 2, 2017 Yea just wondered if someone local was using them since they are location specific based on amount of sunlight we get here in Austin. Also wanted to see if anyone already got par readings from a tank with solar tubes. I don't mind less blue light and I can always ramp the k up with leds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 Maybe Timfish will chime in. I think he was using natural sunlight on a tank, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 I'm dealing with roughly a 4' x 12' vertical picture window so I get a fairly intense amount of sunlight even with the change between summer and winter solstices. I doubt a 12" solar tube will provide enough light but I've never measured one to see what the intensity is. I'd suggest either finding someone local with a solar tube to measure or looking online and seeing if someone close to our same latitude has posted PAR or lux values. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 I have a solar tube in my master closet. [emoji1] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainK Posted September 6, 2017 Author Share Posted September 6, 2017 Measure it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 17 hours ago, FarmerTy said: I have a solar tube in my master closet. you would *lol* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Measure it!I'll need to borrow a par meter. I don't have one. There was a guy in Reefcentral who used solar tubes. I'm sure he has par data for it. you would *lol*I bought the house this way! Hater! [emoji12] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 20 minutes ago, FarmerTy said: I'll need to borrow a par meter. I don't have one. There was a guy in Reefcentral who used solar tubes. I'm sure he has par data for it.I bought the house this way! Hater! suresure... just admit you like seeing your skin sparkle like in those movies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 suresure... just admit you like seeing your skin sparkle like in those movies.I have no idea what you're talking about...#teamedwardforlife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gig 'em @ NDstructible Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 If I remember correctly, someone in San Antonio had a tank with three solar tubes over it. I remember reading his thread on RC probably 7-10 (+/- 5 lolz) years ago, so not sure if it's still up and running. San Antonio is close enough to Austin to get similar results though. I would search that thread out and see what you can learn! I'd be interested in what you find since I have always been curious about supplementing a tank with natural light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 The fall equinox is in a couple weeks Ty, good time to get some readings during the day to get max intensity and an idea on how intensity ramps up and down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 The fall equinox is in a couple weeks Ty, good time to get some readings during the day to get max intensity and an idea on how intensity ramps up and down.In the name of science, I need a par meter stat![emoji4] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rprew Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 I think the guy in San Antonio was Ace. His screen name on maast is hobogato. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainK Posted September 9, 2017 Author Share Posted September 9, 2017 Ok the bad news is solar tubes are susceptible to oxidization especially when near a saltwater tank. So the par levels are likely to drop. But depending on how much, I could always ramp up an led. I don't know if this issue still occurs in the new models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gig 'em @ NDstructible Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 What part of the solar tube oxidizes? How close to the tank water are you planning on putting it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainK Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 I was thinking 1.5-2ft. The reflective coating inside the tube can deteriorate. For normal use this isn't noticeable unless you use a par meter. I thought the tubes were sealed off but I'm not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted October 28, 2017 Share Posted October 28, 2017 I found 3 tubes and tested around 1:00 PM them 1 week and 2 weeks after the fall equinox. 2 were 8" and 1 was 14". On a cloudy day I got 1 and 2 PAR. On a sunny day it went up to 3 and 5. They all had a frosted lenses closing off the tube in the ceiling and ceilings were 10'. PAR meter was held at shoulder height. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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