John's sunlight, 300g build

[psychedelic]

The build idea started a few weeks ago, when I decided to remodel my patio. I got a great deal on four large sky lights and seven windows. so I'm converting my patio into my tank room. To save on electricity costs, the tank will be natural sunlight, supplemented with LED.

The rooms air conditioner, will be linked with a temp controller, so not only the fish will benefit from the nice summer temps, my family will also.

The two tanks will be linked with one large bulkhead for water input from frag tank to display tank. a long over tank bridge will return water to the plumbed frag tank.

The tank will be a lot of trial and error, experimenting with natural light, using cheap trash coral as lab rats.

I plan on stalking the tank with primarily tangs, (to control the hair algae from the natural light, I'll probably get a few more koles.)

Here's current pics of the builds humble beginnings (looks way cooler in my minds eye)

Feel free to ask questions and throw your 2 cents in please.

 

[Digitalfreq]

Looking good John! I'll be following to see the progress!

 

[BigDaddyStar]

Holy #@$% man...no wonder I havent heard from you in a while

 

[BeanMachine]

Planning on getting that jacuzzi going? How many heaters you planning to run?

 

[Digitalfreq]

I have a question though.. Wont that room get really hot with all those skylights? The AC is going to be going constantly.

 

[reefsUP]

That's gonna look like some MTV crib scene

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I never understood natural sunlight tanks. Maybe someone can explain. I thought in the ocean many of the corals that we keep in our tanks are deep down..like 30ft+..thats why we use alot of Actinic lighting because alot of the red,yellow etc spectrum doesnt reach down that far. but in a tank that is 2ft deep, the corals will be getting lots of (what i assume is) unwanted spectrum...IDK if that makes sense...tried to explain it the best i could...someone help me out on this! I know alot of people today talk about full spectrum LEDs, but that is mainly for pleasing our eyes and in the wild corals really only get blue,and a little white spectrum...???? cool build by the way!

 

[psychedelic]

Holy #@$% man...no wonder I havent heard from you in a while

Haha, like you were saying..."the saltier our hands get" lol. I'll have to take a walk up sometime with Alison, when you guys have some free time.

Planning on getting that jacuzzi going? How many heaters you planning to run?

the hot tub will be up and running. No heating during the summer, and next winter I may hook the tubs main heater to a temp controller in the tank.

I have a question though.. Wont that room get really hot with all those skylights? The AC is going to be going constantly.

you're right man, the room will get hot during the summer, however, I will insulate it a lot (2x6 construction). And all windows and Skylights are dual-pane.

That's gonna look like some MTV crib scene

MTV cribs "unemployed reefer special" lol

I never understood natural sunlight tanks. Maybe someone can explain. I thought in the ocean many of the corals that we keep in our tanks are deep down..like 30ft+..thats why we use alot of Actinic lighting because alot of the red,yellow etc spectrum doesnt reach down that far. but in a tank that is 2ft deep, the corals will be getting lots of (what i assume is) unwanted spectrum...IDK if that makes sense...tried to explain it the best i could...someone help me out on this! I know alot of people today talk about full spectrum LEDs, but that is mainly for pleasing our eyes and in the wild corals really only get blue,and a little white spectrum...???? cool build by the way!

Thanks man! Its going to be a lot of trial and error,I know the ora green houses just look like regular glass windows with no actinic tint. I'm hoping for the same effect, but I may have to add actinic filter tint later on. I'm sure many people here, can chime in with some good answers to your question.

 

[evad1]

thats dope!
keep the pics/updates coming

 

[jbaeza83]

Thanks man! Its going to be a lot of trial and error,I know the ora green houses just look like regular glass windows with no actinic tint. I'm hoping for the same effect, but I may have to add actinic filter tint later on. I'm sure many people here, can chime in with some good answers to your question.

You should take a look at Steave Garrets setup, he has it pretty much down to a science. Althogh he is doing this on a really large scale, its pretty much the same principle. Im sure if you ask him for tips he would be glad to help, he's a really nice guy.

Also, I think Cylix has an outdoor tank that is using natural sun light too, not really sure as I have not seen it in person, but maybe someone else can chime in.


http://www.garretts-acropolis.com/

 

[psychedelic]

You should take a look at Steave Garrets setup, he has it pretty much down to a science. Althogh he is doing this on a really large scale, its pretty much the same principle. Im sure if you ask him for tips he would be glad to help, he's a really nice guy.

Also, I think Cylix has an outdoor tank that is using natural sun light too, not really sure as I have not seen it in person, but maybe someone else can chime in.


http://www.garretts-acropolis.com/

Wow, looking at some of the pics on the site,I wish I could have made the last field trip to his place, once my system is a little farther along I'm gonna have to try and buy some frags from him (just as an excuse to check out his operation and pick his brain a bit lol)

 

[Confuse]

This is relevant to my interests!!

Looking forward to the progress on your build!!!

 

[El Dude]

You should take a look at Steave Garrets setup, he has it pretty much down to a science. Althogh he is doing this on a really large scale, its pretty much the same principle. Im sure if you ask him for tips he would be glad to help, he's a really nice guy.

Also, I think Cylix has an outdoor tank that is using natural sun light too, not really sure as I have not seen it in person, but maybe someone else can chime in.


http://www.garretts-acropolis.com/

+1

Garret has it locked down! Even compensated for tectonic activity!

 

[lbstateofmind]

i can dig it!