sunlight on tank

ruarox · 03/30/2008, 07:36 AM

is sunlight on your tank bad. i remember reading somewhere that it causes algae.

ihopss · 03/30/2008, 07:50 AM

That & heat.

ruarox · 03/30/2008, 07:55 AM

why is it bad is that not what natural reefs use

wiscsaltwater · 03/30/2008, 08:02 AM

It can make your tank heat up, its great for the ocean cause its not directed on 75 gallons or so in a glass heating box, its alot easier to heat 75 gallons than it is an entire ocean, also it can cause your algea to bloom out of control and sunlight you cant exactly turn the timer down on to control it, you can put curtains up but Its easier to set up away from sun than it is to tear down and move the setup once its full.

I have heard of people successfully incorporating natural sunlight into their reef tank but most are very experienced and run large chillers and all the right equipment to do it.

jackets22 · 03/30/2008, 08:29 AM

Natural light I would think would be great for the tank. Just like anything else in reefing I am sure moderation is the key.

memorysan · 03/30/2008, 08:48 AM

Well, one issue would be if you use aquarium lighting and have natural sunlight hitting the aquarium...lots of extra light...algae blooms...heat...

If you are using only natural light...it would be hard for you to control.

I'm sure natural light could be done...but be careful.

inachu · 03/30/2008, 08:51 AM

I have read that some people put film on their window that filters out the infrared so only light and no heat goes into the tank.

wiscsaltwater · 03/30/2008, 09:04 AM

any light creates heat

seapug · 03/30/2008, 09:05 AM

Look at this thread-- pics of sunny tanks:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1343849

ruarox · 03/30/2008, 03:30 PM

sun only shines through windows for half day directly since it faces west so really only direct rays for few hours would that not be like adding stronger lighting

tony45power · 04/10/2008, 07:41 PM

tell the cat to stop ****ing in the tank!

Toddrtrex · 04/10/2008, 07:51 PM

As long as your water is in check you won't get an algae bloom. Need both light and nutrients in your tank to get a bloom, if you don't have excess nutrients there won't be a bloom.

As for heat, that is a possibility but each tank/house is different so can't say for certain if you will have heat issues.

Now that spring is here, half of my 75 gets hit with sunlight from a skylight, and I love it. The colors are amazing. I don't have heat and/or algae issues from it.

ruarox · 04/10/2008, 08:12 PM

seapug your tank looks great how do you take pics so good?when i do it never seems to come out good

ruarox · 04/10/2008, 08:15 PM

it was'nt it was swimming

03/30/2008, 07:36 AM	#1
ruarox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: bayshore Posts: 165	sunlight on tank is sunlight on your tank bad. i remember reading somewhere that it causes algae.

03/30/2008, 08:02 AM	#4
wiscsaltwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 429	It can make your tank heat up, its great for the ocean cause its not directed on 75 gallons or so in a glass heating box, its alot easier to heat 75 gallons than it is an entire ocean, also it can cause your algea to bloom out of control and sunlight you cant exactly turn the timer down on to control it, you can put curtains up but Its easier to set up away from sun than it is to tear down and move the setup once its full. I have heard of people successfully incorporating natural sunlight into their reef tank but most are very experienced and run large chillers and all the right equipment to do it. __________________ I have a 10g tank, how many tangs can i keep in it? Current Tank Info: 550g salt, 55g salt, 29g salt

03/30/2008, 08:29 AM	#5
jackets22 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 277	Natural light I would think would be great for the tank. Just like anything else in reefing I am sure moderation is the key. __________________ Jon __________ Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed Reef

03/30/2008, 09:04 AM	#8
wiscsaltwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 429	any light creates heat __________________ I have a 10g tank, how many tangs can i keep in it? Current Tank Info: 550g salt, 55g salt, 29g salt

03/30/2008, 09:05 AM	#9
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Look at this thread-- pics of sunny tanks: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1343849 __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

03/30/2008, 07:50 AM	#2
ihopss Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Gilmer,tx Posts: 751	That & heat.

03/30/2008, 07:55 AM	#3
ruarox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: bayshore Posts: 165	why is it bad is that not what natural reefs use

03/30/2008, 08:48 AM	#6
memorysan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yokosuka, Japan Posts: 177	Well, one issue would be if you use aquarium lighting and have natural sunlight hitting the aquarium...lots of extra light...algae blooms...heat... If you are using only natural light...it would be hard for you to control. I'm sure natural light could be done...but be careful.

03/30/2008, 08:51 AM	#7
inachu Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland, metro area Posts: 1,219	I have read that some people put film on their window that filters out the infrared so only light and no heat goes into the tank.

03/30/2008, 03:30 PM	#10
ruarox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: bayshore Posts: 165	sun only shines through windows for half day directly since it faces west so really only direct rays for few hours would that not be like adding stronger lighting

04/10/2008, 07:41 PM	#11
tony45power Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: islip ny longisland Posts: 401	tell the cat to stop ****ing in the tank!

04/10/2008, 07:51 PM	#12
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	As long as your water is in check you won't get an algae bloom. Need both light and nutrients in your tank to get a bloom, if you don't have excess nutrients there won't be a bloom. As for heat, that is a possibility but each tank/house is different so can't say for certain if you will have heat issues. Now that spring is here, half of my 75 gets hit with sunlight from a skylight, and I love it. The colors are amazing. I don't have heat and/or algae issues from it. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

04/10/2008, 08:12 PM	#13
ruarox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: bayshore Posts: 165	seapug your tank looks great how do you take pics so good?when i do it never seems to come out good

04/10/2008, 08:15 PM	#14
ruarox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: bayshore Posts: 165	it was'nt it was swimming