Going green forum group

[jschulzpt]

I thought I was the only one, but there are a number of others that have posted in "The Think Tank" about topics with greener keeping of the hobby, maybe not specifically for an environmental cause, but non-the-less more responsible reefkeeping. Any thoughts on making a Environmentally Friendly group?

[Fat Tony]

I like this topic... good idea.

It would be a first for sure on the www marine enthusiasts forums methinks

[James Robert]

I been only useing what lighting needed for coral, and using low wattage pumps. Dont use any heater on tanks, just for cooking lr i use a small one.Anyone got any others , please share, JRL

[jschulzpt]

JRL, I do the same with my lighting. But with our thinking caps on, and keeping our eyes open for new products like solartubes maybe we can bring this hobby even further forward. Another thought that has been proposed was the idea of using a small solar panel with a bare bottomed tank underneath.

As an aside I like the idea of solar tubes, but am wondering if the light intensity would be sufficient, also with the cost of the initial set-up being around $500 for only several feet of piping if you had a 2 story home and wanted to place the tank on the first floor this may be a VERY pricey idea. But green nonetheless.

I'm not an engineer, and will admit that I wouldn't know how to do all of the number crunching to determine the logistics that some of the senior members are better at.

[Siberman]

I live in NorthEast Texas so I feel reasonably confident that a solar tube would work (with the addition of some actinics to tone down the "yellow" ) but what to do on those cloudy days ? This past summer was the rainiest in my or my parents' memory and we had several weeks' worth of cloud cover.

I suppose you could keep some lighting as a back-up but the hood would be getting pretty crowded.

I rarely use my heaters as I have central. I don't know if a "stuck on the bottom" (like those used in reptile tanks) heater would be any more efficient. I'm sure it would be cheaper to run as a solar but then again there's the cloud cover problem. I can see one of the large systems that store hot water in vats and circulate it under the floor tiles / through the walls as being used in this application. A pipe carrying the hot water could be submersed in the sump (kind of like a reverse chiller) and the temperature could be controlled via flow valves.

(Excuse me while I call the patent office. )

[jschulzpt]

My question mainly is how intense would the light be coming in from the solar tube? Would the decreased light on cloudy days make a more realistic environment for the coral?

Nice idea on the heating system, work on a energy efficient and cheap cooling system and I will bow to you for summer tank health.

[fihsboy]

The biggest problem with solar tubes is if you live too far north....your not going to get as much light as needed. And if you get too much light....then your going to get a lot of unwanted algae growth. But it is a good idea, and with refinement would be awesome! But look into plasma bulbs....they are a lot easier on the environment....and they are twice as bright as halides.

[jschulzpt]

I will look into the plasmas.

[Fat Tony]

Anyone who is using a fluorescent bulb is essentially using a gas arc plasma bulb

Just thought that I would share.

[jschulzpt]

This is kind of random but I just bought the maxi-Jet 106GPH powerhead, using I think 5W (approx) threw on the modification kit and now was able to eliminate 2 pumps in the tank. I have to suggest it for anyone with a 55G tank or larger. A nice substitution for pumps and if a enductor if it is not compatible with your system.

[fihsboy]

If you ran the solar panel under a barebottom system.....and hooked it up to two maxijets with mods on them...you would be able to power your flow system with your lights. Then when night came......it would be a lot calmer... hows that!

[jschulzpt]

That's exactly what I'm talking about, anyone know how to hook that all up?

[MikeAtJax]

How are you going to keep the bottom of your BB tank clean? Actually the best source of alternative electricity wind/sun is outside your house. Lots of kits that can be found to hook it up to your tank equipment.

For me going green meant getting a controller like an aqua JR first. It gives you a lot of if this then that which saves some electricity. The more I think about it, my SPS tank is not going green. I may change this soon to a LPS tank. There is something wrong when the tank you have may affect the corals in the wild.

[jschulzpt]

Why would you SPS tank be more green than a LPS?

[fihsboy]

I know its reef central........im sorry. But it was the best thing I could fine with SOLAR TUBES! If your in the right area.......and your using supplement lighting, it will work.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1457056