Make it rain!

by | Mar 8, 2016 | Advanced Aquarist | 0 comments


Make it rain!


Angelo Garcia’s planted “rain tank”

Note: Video playback in this article requires Adobe Flash

The soothing pitter-patter of raindrops.  The dramatic effects of lightning and thunder.  A few adventurous aquarists have been able to successfully recreate storm effects (including simulated raindrops) over their aquariums, both freshwater planted and saltwater reef.

A Rain Forest Comes Alive


This is Angelo Garcia’s lush 55 gallon planted tank.  His tank is gorgeous by itself, but adding simulated rain and lightning really puts this aquarium in a league of its own.  At the time of the video (September 2014), Angelo was using a gravity system to produce the rain effect, with plans to switch a more practical pump-based system.

Angelo disclosed there’s a touch of special effects in this video; the thunder sound was added in post process.

 

For further inspiration, we share this remarkable tropical thunderstorm reef we first published back in 2011.

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 


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

 

reefraintank.jpg

    This is likely one of the most elaborate LFS tank you will ever see.  The folks at HPAquaristik (Germany) uploaded a series of short videos of their new main reef display.  Suffice it to say, we are in awe of the incredible storm-simulation system for their massive system.

    We’re not just talking about random cloud cover simulation using LED lighting (ho-hum nowadays).  We’re talking about a full blown storm simulation system with beautifully simulated ambient lights and “lightning strikes”… plus real 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 fanciest evaporation top-off system we know.

    Unless you’re a serious malcontent, there’s no way these videos do not inspire you.  First, a walk-around video of the massive reef system:

    Simulated thunderstorm, complete with rainfall!

    Above-the-tank view of the simulation in action:

    The simulated cloud cover effect:

    • Leonard Ho

      I'm a passionate aquarist of over 30 years, a coral reef lover, and the blog editor for Advanced Aquarist. While aquarium gadgets interest me, it's really livestock (especially fish), artistry of aquariums, and "method behind the madness" processes that captivate my attention.

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