Ambient light

Rottmn · 10/25/2012, 01:48 PM

I'm just wondering what effect the ambient lighting from the rest of the house has on my tank? I know there must be other people that have tanks set up in high profile areas of their homes... Does having light on for up to 16 to 18 hours a day have any effect even though it's not directly on the tank??

bnumair · 10/25/2012, 02:43 PM

in my case my tank is setup in wall in a main hallway with tank sitting in the garage. But there is a light in the hallway directly above the tank. if i use that light at nite for few hours everynite. i notice a film of algae on the glass in the same area right below the light. if i dont use the light then no algae.

sponger0 · 10/25/2012, 02:44 PM

Depends on how much ambient light we are talking

sucker_fish · 10/25/2012, 03:20 PM

ambient light from the room doesnt affect my algae growth too much, my poor fish are swimming about all hours of the day/morning before and after the lights on the tank go out or come on though.

Rottmn · 10/25/2012, 05:17 PM

It's not a ton of light & none of it is direct lighting like Bnumair says he has, but I was just wondering if it does contribute to algae or if it stresses my fish... It does seem that there is more algae on the front glass when the lighting is on longer, but that may also just be my imagination.

10/25/2012, 01:48 PM	#1
Rottmn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Land of the Sooners Posts: 66	Ambient light I'm just wondering what effect the ambient lighting from the rest of the house has on my tank? I know there must be other people that have tanks set up in high profile areas of their homes... Does having light on for up to 16 to 18 hours a day have any effect even though it's not directly on the tank??

10/25/2012, 02:43 PM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	in my case my tank is setup in wall in a main hallway with tank sitting in the garage. But there is a light in the hallway directly above the tank. if i use that light at nite for few hours everynite. i notice a film of algae on the glass in the same area right below the light. if i dont use the light then no algae. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

10/25/2012, 03:20 PM	#4
sucker_fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Covington, TN Posts: 441	ambient light from the room doesnt affect my algae growth too much, my poor fish are swimming about all hours of the day/morning before and after the lights on the tank go out or come on though. __________________ <------- Have you ever seen tortoises playing leapfrog? Current Tank Info: 40 B w/ T5's and tunze 9002 skimmer. no sump. 90 gal. mixed reef, 36"x16"x16" sump/fuge, reef octopus xp2000 skimmer, water blaster hy5000 return.

10/25/2012, 02:44 PM	#3
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Depends on how much ambient light we are talking

10/25/2012, 05:17 PM	#5
Rottmn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Land of the Sooners Posts: 66	It's not a ton of light & none of it is direct lighting like Bnumair says he has, but I was just wondering if it does contribute to algae or if it stresses my fish... It does seem that there is more algae on the front glass when the lighting is on longer, but that may also just be my imagination.