Has anyone heard of or seen a SolaTube in use?

[tribalturtle2]

Has anyone heard of or seen a SolaTube in use? Just thinking ahead of if and when I get a house. The video below explains it a little bit. I haven't looked at their site yet. But was interested on how many tubes would you need to light up certain size aquariums. Then if you have reptiles does it let in UVA and UVB lighting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKjNyvPaU2w&list=UUCzKPoHKV7TZal7Hf2aEGCA

SolaTube's website
http://www.solatube.com/?_kk=solatu...6986d28e1b9a&gclid=CIDnurb4qLYCFfA-Mgod5xYAnQ

 

[jm23]

http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/lar...our-400-gallon-wall-natural-sun-lit-reef.html

It might work down south, but up here in Chicagoland you will probably need to supplement the lighting in the winter and all the cloudy days we have. Great idea, but sadly I don't think it would work around here. I could be wrong, hopefully others will chime in.

 

[jm23]

http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/ree...91071-sun-lit-reef-tanks-anyone-have-one.html

Here is another link I found doing a quick search.

 

[tribalturtle2]

Thank you, looks like the Noon time par readings are pretty high. 1.5 times stronger than the sun. Maybe have to put a screen on it to dim it down and use another light source for darker days like in the winter time. I'd probably go LED for those days and just program them to come on for a full days light.

Heres a build from ReefCentral
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1561945

SeaEscapes in Elgin on Silver Glen rd and Randall Rd has some of there frags outside in a green house with LED PAR 38 bulbs hanging above the bins/frag tanks. Wonder what kind of readings SeaEscapes has in their green house since the sun light has to go through the glass.

 

[edsbeaker]

I have three SolaTubes in my house. It's hard to tell from my photos, but they bring in some intense light on sunny days, but when it is cloudy, not so much. View attachment 13320View attachment 13321View attachment 13322

 

[jm23]

If you read the last page of his thread that you posted, he doesn't recommend them anymore.

 

[Greg]

I wish I could have them over my tank. THey definitely wouldn't be my only lighting though.

 

[tribalturtle2]

On the SolaTube website they have more than several different end covers for inside the home where the light enters the room. Wonder if each one of those has different light levels that come through.