Solar Fish Tank Music

First constructed in 1996, this is a fish tank whcih has solar panels on the bottom. The panels are connected to a 9v electronic noise generator (the same stuff found on the inside of any toy gun or game boy). When the light hits the panels, they generate the sound. Normally, the pitch would be constant, according to the intensity of the light received -- but when the fish are introduced, the swim over the panels, casting shadows, and ultimately controlling the pitch of the noise you hear. The fish are actually creating the sounds, depending on where they swim. This is probably about 3 minutes too long...

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Video
• Art
• fish
• tank
• experimental
• conceptual
• solar
• panel
• sound
• art
• installation

[flashofpink]

This is such a cool concept! But those fish are extremely cramped in that tank; it's inhumane. I hope you didn't leave them in there permanently. It doesn't even look like there's a filter.

[seaoharewhy]

@flashofpink I can tell you, in all sincerity, that was my biggest dilemma with this project, was how to keep the stress on the fish as minimal as possible. You'd laugh if I told you the whole story, which involved sort of 'renting' them from a pet store where they were for sale anyway, and then only keeping them in the tank for a short period of time. I am a vegetarian, and i don't even kill bugs -- so you don't have to worry about the fish -- they were fine ;)

thanks for inquiring though

[seaoharewhy]

its actually the solar panel which acts as a battery to power a small electronic noise generator. normally, if a battery were used, it would just make one sound -- a single pitch, like a dialtone. but because the power source (the light) is blocked by the fish, it causes a fluctuation in the power, and thus, the sound. hope that explained it :-)

[flashofpink]

@seaoharewhy

That's great to hear! :) 

[WWpictures100]

If this is the music you play in your house I bet the fish last three days then you have to get new ones. Statement made lets move on with our lives!

[broowser]

IM waiting for the drop....... !?

[Rand0mZebra]

Scary.....

[hhazawat]

DO YOU KNOW HOW FRIGGIN ENOYING THE MUSIC IS?!?

[milakitty]

:( I only hear those kind of noises in my nightmares!! I would freak out if I kept hearing them over and over..like a splash between an alien whale abduction ..

[Dirtboy101]

It sounds creepy. i don't want that thing in my room. cool idea though.

[duesdiavlo]

killer idea. can you make scale this up? noise out of a room of people perhaps?