Sun Powered Reef

vitor pestana · 04/11/2007, 05:05 PM

Hello Friends.

The dream of every reeffer is to replicate the most natural elements of nature into our homes, the reffers nightmare ...the electrical costs... $$$$$$$$

Natural and Cheap was the goal to me.

I came about e check all the factors:

Temperature

I live in Portugal, a temperate contry, not to hot, not to could.

Sunlight

Portugal as lots of sunlight during all year, matter afect the world grate solar panels industrial power plant unit is in Portugal.

Location

Portugal has two borders, the spanish border, and the atlantic ocean border... lots of natural sea water... bye bye to artificial salt $$$$$

I just have to add this:

Plus this:

And this:

To this:

Something was allmost born but a higher problem came to me... The cold of the night and the heat of the day... how to preserve and mantain the water temperature about 25Âº whith low electrical consumptions... the anwser was very simple, if the tank stays inside the earth the problem whould be solved, minimal temperature lost.

Other problem... if the tank was inside the earth how could i see the live stock?

Simple, whith a descending cover glass, all the bubles would rise and came to the surface:

Plus Sump:

All in place:

Sump house and DIY Refrigerator:

Seen from above:

From the ground:

vitor pestana · 04/11/2007, 05:06 PM

First fase was done, now with a 1,5 month old with a new rock layout.
This photos wore taken today, the sky was cloudy, latter on it was raining:

Allways snifing:

Plumbing:

Isolation:

Sump + Isolation

vitor pestana · 04/11/2007, 05:07 PM

Inside photos:

vitor pestana · 04/11/2007, 05:08 PM

Temperature controller + Ph meter:

Temperature controller + ORP Controller:

I still have LOTS of work to do, this are only the first pictures, some things are only temporary, like the electric cables, reactors, etc, etc.

Tomorrow i'll try to take some pictures with sunlight.

Best Regards

Vitor Pestana

dragon_slayer · 04/11/2007, 05:22 PM

I've ran outside marine 'ponds' and always found salinity issues due to rain and evaporation to be a problem. with your glass cover i'd think algae growth would be a real problem. (on the glass, blocking the light)

kc

vitor pestana · 04/11/2007, 05:31 PM

Hello

If you look close, the tank is completely water profe, inside and outside.

That parte is completely tested, 100%

I don't have any algae, the growth is the same like an ordenary aquarium, nothing that a floating magnet could not clean.

Regards

Vitor Pestana

dragon_slayer · 04/11/2007, 05:35 PM

i did notice the all sealed display, but on my 100g it has a 12" wide center brace of glass that touches the water line, it's very aggravating about algae growth even with daily swiping with a magfloat.

kc

vitor pestana · 04/11/2007, 05:47 PM

Hi Dragon!

That don't worries me... i have about 300 snails in the tank allways hungry just for the places i can't get, but like i said, algae growth is not a problem.

Regards

Vitor Pestana

Grunt · 04/11/2007, 06:05 PM

Very nice setup. I like when the rock were piled up together, looks more natural then the atoll ring type thin. Thanks for sharing vitor.
Cheers

invincible569 · 04/11/2007, 06:31 PM

Very cool!! Does it flood in your area?

vitor pestana · 04/12/2007, 03:17 AM

Hi!

No, it dosen't flood, my house is in a higher place, and the garden as a descending plane, all the rain water is automatically drain by gravity.

regards

chris wright · 04/12/2007, 05:29 AM

g'day vitor,

Mate that set up is truely breath taking. I like your reasoning for your set up, why pay for anything if you can get it for free

I hope you continue your posts, its good to see something different like what you have done.

Have you had any problems with your set up?, Id imagine that heat would be more of a concern than anything else, but might not be.

Well Done.

Chris.

TIMMYE · 04/12/2007, 11:16 AM

This is great, cant wait to see more. I was thinking of trying an outside just for fun this summer. I was thinking a kidde pool and some soft coral that can grow like weeds then give them to my local group if it works out. GOOD LUCK with this!!!

vitor pestana · 04/12/2007, 02:47 PM

Hi.

Toke some pics with sunlight today, take a look:

Reef:

Back side:

Clowns:

Fugia:

Growing frag:

Check this 2 movies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGiHlLbSQNY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdE7pJZXQd0

Regards

Vitor Pestana

zurk666 · 04/12/2007, 03:24 PM

Vitor,

Great Idea.
Your reef pool looks great.
Can you tell us a little more, about that reef pool ?
Dates ? Measurings ? Pumps ?
The lay-out is great.
Hope to see more pictures soon.

ZRK

RRodrigues · 04/12/2007, 04:02 PM

Hi Vitor,

Very nice reef, congratulations!

How do you have access to the inside of the tank?

Regards

vitor pestana · 04/12/2007, 04:23 PM

Hi Zurk666

"reef pool"

I like that name!

This idea came to me because of electrical costs... i was fed up with the electrical bills, now accounting all pumps, controllers and reactores, i have about 100Watts of power.

cold

For the water heat i have 300Watts, this only work about 8 hours a day in the winter time.

heat

For the heat of the day i have a DIY chiller with 200Watts that only works 2 hours a day.

These 2 are guide by a temperature controller, with 1ÂºC diferencial.

Pumps

I have a 2000lt/h and a 3000 lt/h pumps from the sump to the tank, the last pump is use also to feed the skimmer (1000lt/h).

About the layout, is my intention to completely fill all the live rock with sps and lps

Ricardo, doing god?

I access to the tank by taking the cover, is the rectangular box you see, this has a 1500mm x 300mm wide, plenty of room for me to get in and take a bath... just a joke.

Best Regards

Vitor Pestana

cheeks69 · 04/12/2007, 04:26 PM

Vitor magnifico my friend !
I can't believe you don't have a thread at RF, very ingenious...BRAVO

dgasmd · 04/12/2007, 04:36 PM

This is one of the coolest projects I have seen in a while. Very very nice.

blkdrgn · 04/12/2007, 05:33 PM

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!

vitor pestana · 04/12/2007, 05:42 PM

Hi.

I'm working on that part of the chiller cover now... baby steps.

I've seen that tank, it's a very nice ideia, but some issues trouble me, for exemple the feading time, cleaning the algeas from the glass, and the temperatures losses at night.

Regards

Vitor Pestana

Bax · 04/12/2007, 07:17 PM

WOW! Just fantastic! I can't wait to see you're reef pool develop over time!

B.friend · 04/12/2007, 11:13 PM

That is awesome, Thats not going to be happening here in oregon but I wish. Good job for doing somthing new

vegaskid11 · 04/13/2007, 12:23 AM

Very Cool

CurvBall · 04/13/2007, 09:40 AM

Very cool, very cool indeed.

04/11/2007, 05:05 PM	#1
vitor pestana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 143	Sun Powered Reef Hello Friends. The dream of every reeffer is to replicate the most natural elements of nature into our homes, the reffers nightmare ...the electrical costs... $$$$$$$$ Natural and Cheap was the goal to me. I came about e check all the factors: Temperature I live in Portugal, a temperate contry, not to hot, not to could. Sunlight Portugal as lots of sunlight during all year, matter afect the world grate solar panels industrial power plant unit is in Portugal. Location Portugal has two borders, the spanish border, and the atlantic ocean border... lots of natural sea water... bye bye to artificial salt $$$$$ I just have to add this: Plus this: And this: To this: Something was allmost born but a higher problem came to me... The cold of the night and the heat of the day... how to preserve and mantain the water temperature about 25Âº whith low electrical consumptions... the anwser was very simple, if the tank stays inside the earth the problem whould be solved, minimal temperature lost. Other problem... if the tank was inside the earth how could i see the live stock? Simple, whith a descending cover glass, all the bubles would rise and came to the surface: Plus Sump: All in place: Sump house and DIY Refrigerator: Seen from above: From the ground:

04/12/2007, 11:16 AM	#13
TIMMYE Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Central Wisconsin Posts: 857	This is great, cant wait to see more. I was thinking of trying an outside just for fun this summer. I was thinking a kidde pool and some soft coral that can grow like weeds then give them to my local group if it works out. GOOD LUCK with this!!! __________________ Honey, can I have a bigger one please? This is the last time I will upsize, I promise!

04/12/2007, 03:24 PM	#15
zurk666 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Barreiro - Portugal Posts: 21	Sun Power Vitor, Great Idea. Your reef pool looks great. Can you tell us a little more, about that reef pool ? Dates ? Measurings ? Pumps ? The lay-out is great. Hope to see more pictures soon. ZRK

04/12/2007, 04:02 PM	#16
RRodrigues Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cascais - Portugal Posts: 260	Hi Vitor, Very nice reef, congratulations! How do you have access to the inside of the tank? Regards __________________ "The natural world is, and probably always will be, complicated far beyond human understanding." J.E.N. Veron

04/12/2007, 04:36 PM	#19
dgasmd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: US Posts: 3,402	This is one of the coolest projects I have seen in a while. Very very nice. __________________ Arguing with ignorant people is an exercise in futility. They will bring you down to their level and once there they will beat you with their overwhelming experience. Current Tank Info: Currently out of the hobby, but considering a Comeback V 2.1!

04/11/2007, 05:06 PM	#2
vitor pestana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 143	First fase was done, now with a 1,5 month old with a new rock layout. This photos wore taken today, the sky was cloudy, latter on it was raining: Allways snifing: Plumbing: Isolation: Sump + Isolation

04/11/2007, 05:07 PM	#3
vitor pestana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 143	Inside photos:

04/11/2007, 05:08 PM	#4
vitor pestana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 143	Temperature controller + Ph meter: Temperature controller + ORP Controller: I still have LOTS of work to do, this are only the first pictures, some things are only temporary, like the electric cables, reactors, etc, etc. Tomorrow i'll try to take some pictures with sunlight. Best Regards Vitor Pestana

04/11/2007, 05:22 PM	#5
dragon_slayer Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Location: South East Alabama Posts: 7,853	I've ran outside marine 'ponds' and always found salinity issues due to rain and evaporation to be a problem. with your glass cover i'd think algae growth would be a real problem. (on the glass, blocking the light) kc

04/11/2007, 05:31 PM	#6
vitor pestana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 143	Hello If you look close, the tank is completely water profe, inside and outside. That parte is completely tested, 100% I don't have any algae, the growth is the same like an ordenary aquarium, nothing that a floating magnet could not clean. Regards Vitor Pestana

04/11/2007, 05:35 PM	#7
dragon_slayer Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Location: South East Alabama Posts: 7,853	i did notice the all sealed display, but on my 100g it has a 12" wide center brace of glass that touches the water line, it's very aggravating about algae growth even with daily swiping with a magfloat. kc

04/11/2007, 05:47 PM	#8
vitor pestana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 143	Hi Dragon! That don't worries me... i have about 300 snails in the tank allways hungry just for the places i can't get, but like i said, algae growth is not a problem. Regards Vitor Pestana

04/11/2007, 06:05 PM	#9
Grunt Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 1,038	Very nice setup. I like when the rock were piled up together, looks more natural then the atoll ring type thin. Thanks for sharing vitor. Cheers

04/11/2007, 06:31 PM	#10
invincible569 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5,715	Very cool!! Does it flood in your area?

04/12/2007, 03:17 AM	#11
vitor pestana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 143	Hi! No, it dosen't flood, my house is in a higher place, and the garden as a descending plane, all the rain water is automatically drain by gravity. regards

04/12/2007, 05:29 AM	#12
chris wright Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Orange Australia Posts: 835	g'day vitor, Mate that set up is truely breath taking. I like your reasoning for your set up, why pay for anything if you can get it for free I hope you continue your posts, its good to see something different like what you have done. Have you had any problems with your set up?, Id imagine that heat would be more of a concern than anything else, but might not be. Well Done. Chris.

04/12/2007, 02:47 PM	#14
vitor pestana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 143	Hi. Toke some pics with sunlight today, take a look: Reef: Back side: Clowns: Fugia: Growing frag: Check this 2 movies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGiHlLbSQNY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdE7pJZXQd0 Regards Vitor Pestana

04/12/2007, 04:23 PM	#17
vitor pestana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 143	Hi Zurk666 "reef pool" I like that name! This idea came to me because of electrical costs... i was fed up with the electrical bills, now accounting all pumps, controllers and reactores, i have about 100Watts of power. cold For the water heat i have 300Watts, this only work about 8 hours a day in the winter time. heat For the heat of the day i have a DIY chiller with 200Watts that only works 2 hours a day. These 2 are guide by a temperature controller, with 1ÂºC diferencial. Pumps I have a 2000lt/h and a 3000 lt/h pumps from the sump to the tank, the last pump is use also to feed the skimmer (1000lt/h). About the layout, is my intention to completely fill all the live rock with sps and lps Ricardo, doing god? I access to the tank by taking the cover, is the rectangular box you see, this has a 1500mm x 300mm wide, plenty of room for me to get in and take a bath... just a joke. Best Regards Vitor Pestana

04/12/2007, 04:26 PM	#18
cheeks69 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 418	Vitor magnifico my friend ! I can't believe you don't have a thread at RF, very ingenious...BRAVO

04/12/2007, 05:33 PM	#20
blkdrgn Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 250	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!

04/12/2007, 05:42 PM	#21
vitor pestana Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 143	Hi. I'm working on that part of the chiller cover now... baby steps. I've seen that tank, it's a very nice ideia, but some issues trouble me, for exemple the feading time, cleaning the algeas from the glass, and the temperatures losses at night. Regards Vitor Pestana

04/12/2007, 07:17 PM	#22
Bax Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,619	WOW! Just fantastic! I can't wait to see you're reef pool develop over time! __________________ 150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz

04/12/2007, 11:13 PM	#23
B.friend B.Friend Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 143	That is awesome, Thats not going to be happening here in oregon but I wish. Good job for doing somthing new __________________ " Me and the boys were talking about what to do with all this xtra coin,and I was like im renting a clown And I did Bo Bo Here And I really Underestimated the creepyness" Current Tank Info: RIP 200 Gallon , New Tank 124 Gallon Rimless Cube , Glass,

04/13/2007, 12:23 AM	#24
vegaskid11 vegasreefers.com Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 742	Very Cool

04/13/2007, 09:40 AM	#25
CurvBall Triton Lagoon Carer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: an hour outside London, UK Posts: 293	Very cool, very cool indeed. __________________ _Cerven NanoReefBlog - the small side of reef aquariums. Current Tank Info: Triton Lagoon. 45G SPS reef.