A n    I n d o o r    T r o p i c a l    T h u n d e r s t o r m !

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Aquarium: 120″ x 80″ x 24″ (950 gallons) | 200 x 300 x 60 cm (3600 liters)
Lighting: 12 x 100 watt LED (equivalent 12 x 250 Watt HQI)

This is probably the most elaborate LFS tank you will ever see.  The folks at HPAquaristik recently uploaded a series of short videos of their new main reef display.  Suffice it to say, I am in awe of the thought that went into the storm-simulation system of their massive system.

The LED lighting system (minus rain system)

We’re not just talking about random cloud cover simulation using LED lighting (ho-hum application these days).  We’re talking about a full blown storm simulation system, with beautifully simulated ambient lights and “lightning strikes”… and actual rainfall!  Freshwater is fed into an irrigation system suspended over the tank;  Each day, a simulated thunder and rain storm showers the main display with freshwater for a couple of minutes.  This is without a doubt the most elaborate evaporation top-off system I know.

It’s far from my place to offer constructive criticism on this awesome system, but integrating pump programs with the lighting system could create an even more spectacular simulated storm.

Unless you’re a serious malcontent, there’s no way these videos do not inspire you:

A full walk-around of the 950 gallon (3,600 liter) reef display

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udwr8SMBP7A

Simulated thunderstorm, complete with rainfall!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh5pfP27VGE

Above-the-tank view of the simulated rainstorm

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

A short video demonstrating simulated cloud cover

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26nfC0p33SQ