sunlight

[kochu]

if we can keep out heat and can regulate the amount of light is not sunlight the best option for a large wall to wall reef tank?
I live in teh tropics in India.

 

[delbeek]

It all depends on how reliable the sunlight is and what angle your tank is situated with respect to the path of the sun. You can not keep out the heat per se ... since sunlight is radiant heat, even if you blocked out the heat from entering the room from outside, the sunlight striking any object indoors will cause it to heat up. Hence, you will need a method to keep the water cool.

Although you live in India, I assume you have a monsson season as well? What will you do for light during these times?

We have natural sunlight on the majority of our displays at the Waikiki Aquarium here in Hawaii, but we also use artificial light since the sun does not shine directly on all the tanks all day long due to the path of the sun and the walls of the building. Also, we have functions at night when we would need light and also cloudy days. We use either a cool water source or chillers to keep the temperatures under control.

Yes you can use sunlight to light your tanks, but you should also have some artificial light since I assume you would also want to enjoy you tank in the evening hours when you and your family are at home.

Aloha!
JCD

 

[kochu]

The three issues that are raise are attempted to be answered here.
1. No!! it is not DIRECT sunlight thats contemplated. It is through the Solatube. The specifically mention no heat transmission. But in any view cooling will be required and provided.
2. Reliablity of Sun light in Sunny Kerala is hgh. But I will be providing alternate lighting including moonlight. Monsoon does not mean that sunlight gets cut off completly. In any view because of monsoons the top cannot be open to the sky because of the possiblity of rains.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to reply. Its a mega project expected to spread over 2-3 years as I am now away. The work will go on so that when return permenantly the great thing will be there.
As a person who first mastered pearl culture (independent of technologies available in India, I also plan to put a lot of seeded abalores/oyesters in teh tank and forget about them. Maybe some day I will get a mega pearl. Maybe my children will reap the benifit from that :evil:

 

[delbeek]

The SolaTube will transmit light but not a very high % of it ... and then there is the issue of changing angle of the sun during the day and year. if you plan to grow coral you most likely will need additional lighting.

Good luck!

Aloha!
JCD