Natural Sunlight on Reeftank - Page 2

Lost_N_Space · 05/25/2006, 06:05 PM

It works great for the ocean!

reefnewbie54321 · 05/25/2006, 06:21 PM

natrual sunlight is in the 5000k range and gets to the 20,000k range from having to penatrate many feet of water where the corals grow. Algae favors the 5000k range and will run wild ... this also might make the algae inside your corals grow to fast making them brown. It would speed uo growth alot though.

iCam · 05/25/2006, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefnewbie54321
natrual sunlight is in the 5000k range and gets to the 20,000k range from having to penatrate many feet of water where the corals grow. Algae favors the 5000k range and will run wild ... this also might make the algae inside your corals grow to fast making them brown. It would speed uo growth alot though.

Wouldn't the fact that there are halides on the tank as well sort of negate that,though?

I have seen some beautiful tanks with very colorful corals that have a lot of natural sunlight supplimentation.

reefnewbie54321 · 05/25/2006, 08:00 PM

Yes the halides would counteract the natural sunlight. I have seen many people with growout tanks with 6500k Halides and then once grown to correct size spend about a month in a actinic only tank.

It all depends on the Kelvin of your halides as well, someone with 10,000k bulbs and minimal actnics might not have enough blue spectrum to counteract the yellow spectrum from the natural light.

I think natural sunlight is a great idea though ... After my kitchen gets remodeled I plan to turn my 120 into an in-wall tank and utilize a series of solar light tubes for natural sunlight that will be supplemented by heavy actinics and a pair of 20,000k halides.

cvonschl · 05/25/2006, 08:42 PM

You beat me to it - I was going to post the same idea.

My plans for a new in-wall design include utilizing solar tubes and 20k Kelvin MH, as well as moonlight LEDs.

05/25/2006, 06:05 PM	#26
Lost_N_Space Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico - USA Posts: 22	It works great for the ocean! __________________ The more I learn the more I realize I don't know.... Current Tank Info: 115 Gal Reef Tank

05/25/2006, 06:21 PM	#27
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	natrual sunlight is in the 5000k range and gets to the 20,000k range from having to penatrate many feet of water where the corals grow. Algae favors the 5000k range and will run wild ... this also might make the algae inside your corals grow to fast making them brown. It would speed uo growth alot though.

05/25/2006, 08:00 PM	#29
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	Yes the halides would counteract the natural sunlight. I have seen many people with growout tanks with 6500k Halides and then once grown to correct size spend about a month in a actinic only tank. It all depends on the Kelvin of your halides as well, someone with 10,000k bulbs and minimal actnics might not have enough blue spectrum to counteract the yellow spectrum from the natural light. I think natural sunlight is a great idea though ... After my kitchen gets remodeled I plan to turn my 120 into an in-wall tank and utilize a series of solar light tubes for natural sunlight that will be supplemented by heavy actinics and a pair of 20,000k halides.

05/25/2006, 08:42 PM	#30
cvonschl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 15	You beat me to it - I was going to post the same idea. My plans for a new in-wall design include utilizing solar tubes and 20k Kelvin MH, as well as moonlight LEDs.