Lighting outside the tank

JohnnyRedd · 09/15/2013, 10:10 PM

Haven't managed to exterminate anything yet except for a CBS making a sextapalegic out of our anemone crab. Yes, I am sure it was the banded coral. I walked in on the end of it. The CBS is in time out.

We are discovering the joys of bring algae with the 58 presently but have come up with something new to keep us up at night. A hell of a deal on a functional 180 with 39 gallon sump. Three metal halides (four fans in the canopy), moonlighting, drilled, a very nice set up for just a little more than just the tank would cost.

The problem is where to put what. Our entryway is 20 by 8. It has only one window that has a curtain on it. (front door) We would like to move the 58 into the Den. Uncovered bay window. A lamp across the room (20 feet) with a low wattage CFL that runs 24/7 per the wife. Three fixture ceiling fan light that is on most nights until 11 or 12.

Is that too much light for too long? No matter what schedule the tank lights are on? The freshwater is in the corner of the entryway and gets a little of the light from the ceiling fan but it's indirect. It's been there for 11+ years now with no issues but this would be more in the path of the light from the fixture. I can put it more towards the entryway into the room but it would still be in the light.

We could put the 180 in the entrance into the den. It may even be better suited there as it may over power the entryway but again the lights in that room being on from 6 to 11 or 12 is my concern.

Thanks in advance!

thegrun · 09/16/2013, 08:12 AM

Would either tank get direct sunlight? That can lead to issues with both algae and temperatures, but even direct sunlight can be dealt with. I have a friend that has one of his mixed reef tanks (50 gallon) in direct sunlight for about 2-1/2 hours a day and it looks great. He does have to run a chiller on the tank during the summer, but other than that he doesn't have any issues. You may need to adjust your metal halide lighting timers so the lighting comes on sooner than you may want as far as viewing time of the day goes, but indirect light should not be a big issue. My main tank gets a lot of indirect light in our living room. I run the main lighting from noon to 7pm without issues. As far as the 24/7 CF lights you might want to switch to something like a blue moon light in the evening hours to allow the fish and corals better rest.

JohnnyRedd · 09/18/2013, 10:40 PM

Neither tank will get direct sunlight. It will be part of the way behind an L shaped wall and that room is never in direct sunlight.
I will argue the cfl light point with the wife. She's taken an interest in this but I don't think it is as strong as her fascination with having parts of the house lit up 24/7.

Ckyuv · 09/19/2013, 06:42 AM

I can't imagine it would be that big of a deal. I have room mates so my tank that is in the living room will get lights from when I wake up (6am) till my room mates go to bed (4am) the corals still extend polyps and fish go to sleep at night when the tank lights go out and they don't seem bothered. Just think of it like you already have moon lights! Maby you could put a lower wattage bulb in there and she won't notice

thegrun · 09/19/2013, 07:37 AM

The blue moon light idea is what I would propose. It should give your wife enough light to walk around the room and still not overpower the fish and corals allowing them to rest.

09/15/2013, 10:10 PM	#1
JohnnyRedd Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Southaven, MS Posts: 267	Lighting outside the tank Haven't managed to exterminate anything yet except for a CBS making a sextapalegic out of our anemone crab. Yes, I am sure it was the banded coral. I walked in on the end of it. The CBS is in time out. We are discovering the joys of bring algae with the 58 presently but have come up with something new to keep us up at night. A hell of a deal on a functional 180 with 39 gallon sump. Three metal halides (four fans in the canopy), moonlighting, drilled, a very nice set up for just a little more than just the tank would cost. The problem is where to put what. Our entryway is 20 by 8. It has only one window that has a curtain on it. (front door) We would like to move the 58 into the Den. Uncovered bay window. A lamp across the room (20 feet) with a low wattage CFL that runs 24/7 per the wife. Three fixture ceiling fan light that is on most nights until 11 or 12. Is that too much light for too long? No matter what schedule the tank lights are on? The freshwater is in the corner of the entryway and gets a little of the light from the ceiling fan but it's indirect. It's been there for 11+ years now with no issues but this would be more in the path of the light from the fixture. I can put it more towards the entryway into the room but it would still be in the light. We could put the 180 in the entrance into the den. It may even be better suited there as it may over power the entryway but again the lights in that room being on from 6 to 11 or 12 is my concern. Thanks in advance!

09/16/2013, 08:12 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Would either tank get direct sunlight? That can lead to issues with both algae and temperatures, but even direct sunlight can be dealt with. I have a friend that has one of his mixed reef tanks (50 gallon) in direct sunlight for about 2-1/2 hours a day and it looks great. He does have to run a chiller on the tank during the summer, but other than that he doesn't have any issues. You may need to adjust your metal halide lighting timers so the lighting comes on sooner than you may want as far as viewing time of the day goes, but indirect light should not be a big issue. My main tank gets a lot of indirect light in our living room. I run the main lighting from noon to 7pm without issues. As far as the 24/7 CF lights you might want to switch to something like a blue moon light in the evening hours to allow the fish and corals better rest.

09/18/2013, 10:40 PM	#3
JohnnyRedd Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Southaven, MS Posts: 267	Neither tank will get direct sunlight. It will be part of the way behind an L shaped wall and that room is never in direct sunlight. I will argue the cfl light point with the wife. She's taken an interest in this but I don't think it is as strong as her fascination with having parts of the house lit up 24/7.

09/19/2013, 06:42 AM	#4
Ckyuv Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 88	I can't imagine it would be that big of a deal. I have room mates so my tank that is in the living room will get lights from when I wake up (6am) till my room mates go to bed (4am) the corals still extend polyps and fish go to sleep at night when the tank lights go out and they don't seem bothered. Just think of it like you already have moon lights! Maby you could put a lower wattage bulb in there and she won't notice

09/19/2013, 07:37 AM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	The blue moon light idea is what I would propose. It should give your wife enough light to walk around the room and still not overpower the fish and corals allowing them to rest.