natural sunlight

[beachbreak]

My tank is near a 35' long wall of glass and in the morning for about two hours it gets direct sun pouring into the front and side of the tank. Is this a potential problem? Or should I consider it free photons and encourage it? There is a hedge and tree I could trim up and lower that would allow even more direct light in but I want to make sure it's desirable before I do it.

Thanks!

[nbelohlav]

I have heard alot that it will cause algae problems and that a tank should not be near doors and windows cause it may cause temp fluctuations... no expert here just my two cents.

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[anbosu]

You might get some extra algae growth, but it's not going to harm your tank.

[Ron Reefman]

If you don't have a chiller on the system, I'd keep a close eye on the water temp during that 2 hours. If you have a chiller, you should be OK as far as temps go.

[ejdustin]

I actually just got a cyano bloom only where a small bit of light hits my tank from a window. I have always had more algea in that corner also. Last night I blocked the window I'm sick of it and I have to do a lights out session to get rid of the cyano :/

[beachbreak]

Thanks guys - I'll keep an eye and it then and see what happens.

[beachbreak]

double post

[aleonn]

I don't mind siphoning out a little bit of cyano if I get free light for corals

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

IMO, my tank looks its best when sunlight is shining onto it. It really makes certain colors pop, like green chromis.

[beachbreak]

my fish do seem to congregate in areas that are lit up by the sun in the morning. Teal turaki looks awesome in NSL. I'll try and get some shots of stuff tomorrow

[IslandCrow]

I'm certainly all for natural sunlight. The half of the office tank I used to have that got sunlight from the nearby window had spectacular coral growth. I really don't subscribe to the theory that natural sunlight causes algae blooms. Algae blooms are the result of poor husbandry. The extra light is going to encourage the growth of anything photosynthetic. If conditions are ripe for algae, then you'll get an algae bloom. If they're ideal for your corals, that's where you'll see the growth. But as Reefman said, you will want to make sure it doesn't transfer too much heat to your tank. Personally, I haven't had an issue there. . .even with a nano tank.

[garygb]

Sunlight is the best light.

[ejdustin]

Originally Posted by IslandCrow

I'm certainly all for natural sunlight. The half of the office tank I used to have that got sunlight from the nearby window had spectacular coral growth. I really don't subscribe to the theory that natural sunlight causes algae blooms. Algae blooms are the result of poor husbandry. The extra light is going to encourage the growth of anything photosynthetic. If conditions are ripe for algae, then you'll get an algae bloom. If they're ideal for your corals, that's where you'll see the growth. But as Reefman said, you will want to make sure it doesn't transfer too much heat to your tank. Personally, I haven't had an issue there. . .even with a nano tank.

Algae blooms can occure from a number of things not necessarily poor husbandry. I personlly have just had a cyano bloom as I said and my husbandry is anything but poor. That being said in another post I did mention I had poor flow in that area due to my 18" haddon carpet moving and blocking that section ( I had to add a small pump). I believe it was a combo of stray light being refracted to my tank through my basement window (only have cyano where the light hits and it hasnt spread farther) and the flow issue.

I do agree though that pure sunlight would clearly be the best as it is natural and there are a few people who run tanks solely with sunlight. I would think it depends greatly on how the sun is hitting the tank (angle) and what it is going through as certain windows or medium will allow certain wavelengths to penetrate more than others. Anyhow just my 2 cents and experience.