skylight tunnels

[sumthingfishy]

i've always wondered about these skylight tunnels for lighting an aquarium.

how would they work for any aquarium or indoor ponds? no expessive light bills for most of the day and natural light.
i would like to know everyones opinion on this...
http://www.wisementrading.com/building/suntunnels.htm

here's a better site... with modern technology
http://www.solatube.com/homeowner/Introduction.php

read the Get the Facts http://www.solatube.com/homeowner/faq_general.php

 

[mike dunagan]

Solatube products block all UVB and UVC radiation, and greater than 95% of UVA. We block everything below 380 nm, and only transmit 20% @ 400nm.

* UVA is 315 nm to 400 nm
* UVB is 280 nm to 315 nm
* UVC is 100 nm to 280 nm
does this matter at all

 

[sumthingfishy]

Solatube products block all UVB and UVC radiation, and greater than 95% of UVA. We block everything below 380 nm, and only transmit 20% @ 400nm.

* UVA is 315 nm to 400 nm
* UVB is 280 nm to 315 nm
* UVC is 100 nm to 280 nm
does this matter at all

i'm sorry, i have no idea what this means...
don't know what the 'A','B','C', on the uv or the 'nm' means

 

[mike dunagan]

well my turtles require it, and if you block it, how would that help... not sure if fish lights contain them.

 

[Scatocephalus]

I think that for simply lighting a tank it would be perfectly fine. In fact, I suspect you better have a healthy algae crew because it's going to be intense.

 

[WeeNe858]

i think what mike is trying to say is - whats the point in natural lighting when your filtering out all the essential elements. if you use the skylight then all you will be receiving is light to see the fish with. but since the sun is up during the day, you already have ambient light to see the fish.

 

[AJordan]

this link gives a quick run down of PAR (light that plants can use for photosynthesis).

http://www.sunmastergrowlamps.com/SunmLightandPlants.html

It would appear that blocking light with a wavelength less than 400nm wouldn't be too bad for plants. I'm not sure if you are even considering plants come to think of it.

They look like neat products though, I wonder if you could DIY them or something similar somehow...

 

[salty joe]

Well, SolaTubes and other brand light tunnels as well as skylights are a hit with reefers. I think it would be great for a planted tank. Algae control would be a must. IMO, a two part strategy is critical. 1) Plecos etc. to eat & poop the nutrients back into the water. 2) Then an algae filter to actually export waste, illuminated with maybe a 70 W HIP on a reverse lighting cycle to stabilize PH. I don't know if this is commonly done with freshwater. I know if I were setting up any kind of tank, algae filtration would be involved. It is very staightforward.
HTH
Joe

 

[johnptc]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127437



they are great...........i have seen a 1000 done that way.......

 

[salty joe]

If the tank was heavily planted, agressive regular pruning would be an effective export. I say use the sun. Lower utility bill and likely better lighting.