There are many ways to integrate solar energy into your home design, from south-facing windows to skylights to Trombe walls. Incorporating your marine pets is just another option, albeit one you may find a little strange. The basic design, that is, a water wall, is nothing new. Water walls themselves provide quick and efficient heat exchange that can save up to 90 percent in heating and cooling. That being said, there is no reason why a fish tank couldn’t be integrated into that water wall, providing style and entertainment.

Rule number one of the passive solar fish tank is to purchase fish that can stand the heat. You’ll need a certain amount of education on this one. We do not want to needlessly kill off fish. Furthermore, there are some design considerations beyond those inherent in water wall construction. For one, access to the tank will be necessary for cleaning the tank and feeding the fish. So there are some challenges here, for you and your architect, but the solar fish tank is a most definite possibility. (more…)

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