Sun Powered Reef

[Blindmelonbob]

Congrats on the awesome natural reef and your beautiful baby girl, Vitor!

[dan934]

Great setup. I envy those of you that are so close to the ocean. Looking forward to seeing how your system progresses.

I wonder if you have considered adding a solar panel or two to run your equipment. Since your costs are so low it may not be a big cost benefit, but it would be cool to be 100% powered by the sun.

[davidryder]

I would like something like that maybe where 20" rose above the ground... seems it would be a little limiting to see it from the top only... nice setup though!

[skydancer]

Very nice set up, but I agree with david ryder. ...it would be very nice to have a top and side view, as a "lot of things" can't be view just looking from the top...

IMO, the ideal set up would be "solar tubes" and a two story set up (or one story and basement) where you bring the sunlight in from "as close to the roof as possible" and have a side view from the first floor or basement... very innovative though. Kudos to you for getting us all thinking..

[skydancer]

BTW davidryder, if my girlfriend reads your quote I'm toast... thanks for the help...

[DrBegalke]

Originally posted by blkdrgn
We were at the Waikiki Aquarium and they had an outside tank just like yours except it did not have a cover. The water would overflow over all sides. Next time I go there I will ask how they maintain their tank such as salinity. The water was crystal clear. I noticed that you cleaned up the wires. What about making another shed to cover the refrigerator? Great looking setup!

More then likely the continuously pump new filtered saltwater in from the nearby ocean...

[Rafiq]

Hi Vitor,

I love your concept, good work and good looking.

I too am doing a similar set-up but in my sunroom (north facing down here :-). I have also modified the roof and used clear poly carbonate (not ideal as it attentuates some UV but allows infra red through causing heat) roofing sheets for this. I am less than a month away from 'going live' on the system.

Anyway what I wanted to know was do you acclimate the corals to the intense sunlight? The PAR measurements I have taken here often go BEYOND the 1500micro moles per second mark(certainly beats the crap out of any metal halide :-) and this even at the very bottom of the tank.
Did this not cause a problem for you? I am going to some effort to try and attentuate the light. Granted, I am closer to the equator at 23 degrees south (Johannesburg, South Africa. so no NSW for me :-( ) compared to your 40 degrees north. Anyone else at an equavalent / similar latitude that can comment?

Kind Regards,
Rafiq

[corivus]

I like the setup the way it is, I wouldn't mind doing this but in Arizona I'd prob. experience some serious heat issues.

[JayKalk]

Thanks alot for sharing. I've always wanted to totally use the sun but were too scared. Anyways, NICE system love the color your getting out of em'. THANKS again, Jay

[JayKalk]

Thanks alot for sharing. I've always wanted to totally use the sun but were too scared. Anyways, NICE system love the color your getting out of em'. THANKS again, Jay

[markjd]

A lot of reefers are looking at ways of reducing electrical usage, not only for financial, but also environmental reasons. You have put a lot of time into designing and implementing an innovative outdoors aquarium that not only gives your tank inhabitants lots of light and clean water, but also uses less electricity to do so. May you enjoy many years of watching your sun powered reef grow and prosper

Congrats on your tank and thread of the month, Vitor

[Acolin]

Great thread, great pics, love to see the progress! An in ground reef pond is a great idea that I dream about here in Southern Florida (number one American destination for European tourists).

Yes, the earth can buffer (smooth out/help ease) the summer high and winter low temperatures. Some aquarists here use water coils deep in the earth to provide geothermal cooling and temepaerature stability. However, I wonder much it can buffer the display tank when it seems so shallow.

Also Vitor, you put insulation around the tank, which isolates the tank from the earth’s temperature buffering. I can see the need for some cushioning material to allow for expansion and contraction of the tank and the surrounding earth – so that the tank does not crack, but too much insulation may reduce the buffering effect. Howe did you know how much insulation to put for safety, but not too much for insulation?

What is the display tank made of?

Why isn’t the glass top removable – what benefit do you gain? Why isn’t the top simply an inch wider so that it rests across the top of the reef pond?

Of course, with so much sunlight, did you consider biological filtering with an algae refugium?

Which brings up another question – are you feeding the Tangs algae, algae flakes, dried nori seaweed or fresh macro-algae from the ocean?

Have you thought about connecting the system to a small display tank in the house? There you could shelter and observe new species?

[Marsfrogie]

Very cool idea. I like how you didn't run a thread for months with cad drawings, etc... and just jumped right into it and made it work.

If you had to do it again is there anything you would change? Also, do you foresee this being a long term tank or do you think that you might one day go a completely different route with the same idea?

[Byk Doc]

Vitor,
My thanks for giving me a new look at something I have spent many years playing. You seem to have taken everything I had ever wanted in a Aquarium and made it work. My hat is off to you and may you continue in your quest. A very noble and green alternative to the wattage wasters many of us have right now.
Congrats
Michael

[fishstick41]

lol nice tank =] i like how u put ur rock fromation =]



lol can i have a frag out of ur tank lol jking =]

[trae]

Every thing about this tank makes sense. Well thought out. I love the pics.

[Cuby2k]

Hey this is a very cool project. Kudos! Please keep us up to date.

[afo2046]

Like everyone before me has already stated this tank is awesome! Great Job!

[Johan Susanto]

Nice set up, nice picture.
good idea to avoid crazy electric bill by this hobby.
thanks for sharing.

[edwinn]

nice setup victor

[jnb]

dp - sorry

[jnb]

darnit

[jnb]

awesome idea(s)

you don't worry about animals or birds looking for prey with the top open? - just a thought as a friend of mine has a terrible problem with his pond - one day you may find a seagull swimming around


For exemple, on the Winter time because of the rain, the tank as the cover alltime, but in the sump house i have it open, in the summer time i take both of the covers out, nigh and day.

Regards

Vitor Pestana [/B][/QUOTE]

[on3ofak1nd]

I have a question about your Acreichthys Radiatus...
Nice for aptasia control but I am curious if you've seen him nip at coral polyps at all?
Additionally where did you obtain this specimen?

Awesome tank!
Thanks!

[Steve1714]

Awesome and original idea!
Just watch out for those diving sea birds might end up crashing into the glass panel on top.
I had a problem with a King fisher trying to eat my flamingi tang when there was only shade cloth covering my outdoor system.

Steve G