Natural light from a nearby window

[symont]

Hi to all,

For the past few weeks, I've been an anonymous assiduous reader learning the basic knowledge to start a marine tank. I am now puzzled with this dilemma:

My three local fish stores (I know, I know, this is why I am here all seems to agree about one thing, that I should not install a tank nearby a window. Direct sunlight will cause the uncontrolable growing of bad algua. But none of them have a good answer to my legitimate questionning of this "fact".

- From what I learned so far, bad algua is more the result of a deficient in the "quality" of the water.
- Also, with all the "most natural" light we are trying to provide to the tank, how can real natural light be a danger for the thank. I understand that it is not a stable source but, isn't is the same in nature? Can it only be one source among the other forged sources on top of the thank?

And if you agree that this piece of advice from my local "expert" is a good point indeed, is it then a matter of distance? Or does it exclude putting the thank in a well natural illuminated room but without any direct sunray?

Thank you for your time,
symont

 

[abeard]

This months tank of the month has the morning sunlight come into his tank every day. It seems to be working for him.

 

[geekreef_05]

My 60 gallon is in direct sunlight. Pretty strong sunlight actually. And when the sun hits the BTA it opens up WAY more than under the PC lights.

Ive had two of my three reefs in direct sunlight. I think its a good thing. Im sure that algae blooms are NOT caused by sunlight. Dont be afriad of the light; I say use it. Its natural and free.

I think all this fear of sunlight is coco-bananna's.

happy reefin'

 

[abeard]

same with my RBTA.

 

[symont]

Thank to you all for your time and happy reefing.

 

[WilllisTooL]

As a constant lover of biology i must say that i agree with the sentiments expressed above about natural algea. Even though i dont have a lot of experience with marine tanks, i just dont see how natural sunlight would cause algea growing that your lights wouldnt. Ofcourse you have to remember that many wavelengths of light are blocked by glass but still any photosynthetic plant by a window seems to enjoy it, i just know that from reptile experience that some of the wavelengths that are important to reptile health are blocked by glass. But what do i know...

 

[tsutherland]

Mine gets sunlight about 6 hours a day on top of my PC's and I don't have a problem with algea, but I also use RO/DI water and can control the sun time it gets with blinds.