Has anyone put Solatubes over their tank?

beth2002 · 02/27/2012, 08:12 AM

If you have, how do you like them and would you be willing to post photos? Thanks!!! Beth

nemosworld · 02/27/2012, 11:57 AM

while solartubes safe on electricity (atleast that is what they are suppose to do) they do not look appealing, and you will have to suppliment them with some other source of light to get the color in your tank you like. even if it's a fish only tank, a warm looking tank is just not good looking. so i say take the money that you would invest into them and get you a nice custom led system. either build it yourself or have one built. or just buy ready made systems.

If you can find some nice filters for the tubes that can bring out a nice white to your tank then go with the tubes. how big is your tank?

skunkmere · 02/27/2012, 12:01 PM

someone on here had problems with the tubes oxidizing out.

007Bond · 02/27/2012, 12:15 PM

There is a thread on a fellow from Israel, who uses them in his wholesale coral business. He has a lot of them in his warehouse facility, and with the desert sun they help in his energy costs. He has a lot of pics of his set up, but as stated they do not give a look you would be happy with in your DT.

skunkmere · 02/27/2012, 01:18 PM

i think it may be better to use a skylight. its cheaper to make and maintain,

sirreal63 · 02/27/2012, 03:00 PM

The search function will show every time the word solatube has been used in a thread. It will let you see those people who, for whatever reason, do not post here much. :-)

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/se...archid=7562565

PistolShrmp · 02/27/2012, 03:18 PM

Hobogato did this similar idea, I'd perform a search on his name.

beth2002 · 02/28/2012, 07:49 AM

I am a complete novice and doing a bunch of research on the front end. I love the idea of using natural light any way I can. Thank you all so much for your helpful comments!

der_wille_zur_macht · 02/28/2012, 08:47 AM

I would do it in an instant if I didn't live miles from the cloudiest city in the US.

I'd suggest you seek out firsthand information from people who have actually used them longterm. There are been a few very good, very long threads on this forum, but most of them were several years ago, at least.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube

gbru316 · 02/28/2012, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by der_wille_zur_macht

I would do it in an instant if I didn't live miles from the cloudiest city in the US.

I'd suggest you seek out firsthand information from people who have actually used them longterm. There are been a few very good, very long threads on this forum, but most of them were several years ago, at least.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube

Shouldn't matter, calfo greenhoused it up outside of Pittsburgh... And still needed to shield his tanks.

02/27/2012, 08:12 AM	#1
beth2002 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2	Has anyone put Solatubes over their tank? If you have, how do you like them and would you be willing to post photos? Thanks!!! Beth

02/27/2012, 11:57 AM	#2
nemosworld Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,411	while solartubes safe on electricity (atleast that is what they are suppose to do) they do not look appealing, and you will have to suppliment them with some other source of light to get the color in your tank you like. even if it's a fish only tank, a warm looking tank is just not good looking. so i say take the money that you would invest into them and get you a nice custom led system. either build it yourself or have one built. or just buy ready made systems. If you can find some nice filters for the tubes that can bring out a nice white to your tank then go with the tubes. how big is your tank? __________________ Felix Nice to meet you! Current Tank Info: 60 Gallon Cube

02/27/2012, 03:00 PM	#6
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	The search function will show every time the word solatube has been used in a thread. It will let you see those people who, for whatever reason, do not post here much. :-) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/se...archid=7562565 __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

02/27/2012, 03:18 PM	#7
PistolShrmp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Posts: 320	Hobogato did this similar idea, I'd perform a search on his name. __________________ Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. Current Tank Info: Work in Progress..

02/28/2012, 08:47 AM	#9
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	I would do it in an instant if I didn't live miles from the cloudiest city in the US. I'd suggest you seek out firsthand information from people who have actually used them longterm. There are been a few very good, very long threads on this forum, but most of them were several years ago, at least. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...light=solatube __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

02/27/2012, 12:01 PM	#3
skunkmere Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 6,434	someone on here had problems with the tubes oxidizing out.

02/27/2012, 12:15 PM	#4
007Bond Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sylvania,Ohio Posts: 1,925	There is a thread on a fellow from Israel, who uses them in his wholesale coral business. He has a lot of them in his warehouse facility, and with the desert sun they help in his energy costs. He has a lot of pics of his set up, but as stated they do not give a look you would be happy with in your DT.

02/27/2012, 01:18 PM	#5
skunkmere Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 6,434	i think it may be better to use a skylight. its cheaper to make and maintain,

02/28/2012, 07:49 AM	#8
beth2002 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2	I am a complete novice and doing a bunch of research on the front end. I love the idea of using natural light any way I can. Thank you all so much for your helpful comments!