tank in front of window

[tuckrule]

I was going to post this in another forum, but decided to do it here, because I figured I would get personal feedback from people I respect.
I was always under the assumption that you had to keep you're blinds closed and not let in any sunlight, because it would adversely effect you're tank. I have been thinking about this awhile and have seen pics of outdoor tanks. I have been experimenting with leaving blinds open and shining right on the tank. I have been doing it for a couple of months now. I figured what the heck since most of us are always trying to achieve the best lighting possible.
I don't grow macro, but I do have a really good filtration system. I run a G2 and run carbon and GFO. I have not really seen any negative effects as far as an algae standpoint.
I was just curious if anybody else out there does this, or if they have tried and failed, or if I should be aware of anything. Thanks in advance for input.

 

[jfl14609]

I woiuld think the light would be good but it may cause your tank to heat up a little faster

 

[Conesus_Kid]

I know from reading Gary M's posts that he intentionally has natural sunlight striking his aquarium.

Think of it as free MH lighting!

 

[oceanparadise1]

i have my tank so it gets lots of sunlight i love it helps the growth IMO plus my windows are open alot so i get a more stable Ph reading

 

[tuckrule]

Good point Jeff about the heat. That is something I over looked. I'll have to monitor it tomorrow.
Free MH lighting yes, but I'm not killing the ones I have in it thats for sure..

 

[oceanparadise1]

clear ur pm box tuckster

 

[markeo99]

algae dont grow if there are no nutrients for it to grow if it becomes an issue beef up the cleaning crew and add some macra

 

[block head]

i've read that it can cause a algea prob sometimes. it also seems to cause tank parameters to fluctuate. there is guy using solar tubes to light his tank, he seems really happy with it, and is getting great par values and growth.

 

[tuckrule]

James I remeber you telling me about that. Do you have a link to that by any chance?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

this topic comes up a lot. Incredibly enough, people still routinely post that sunlight is bad for a reef aquarium.
Remember this: the big greenhouses growing corals rely on sunlight.
Incidentally, some of my best pix were taken using sunlight as a source of light.

 

[block head]

sorry, i really suck with computers. it's in the lg reef forum , 700 g how i spent my daughters inherintance thread.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

one of my favs sits by a window:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/totm/index.php

here's the one block head mentioned:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1154644

 

[block head]

gary, hate to disagree with u but, sunlight could wipe out my tank, without even trying. i think it really depends on your tank. i think letting sunlight hit your tank is a big crap shoot. kind of a gamble ,with not much of a pay off.

 

[oceanparadise1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13181643#post13181643 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by block head
gary, hate to disagree with u but, sunlight could wipe out my tank, without even trying. i think it really depends on your tank. i think letting sunlight hit your tank is a big crap shoot. kind of a gamble ,with not much of a pay off.

just wondering why you think this? not saying its wrong just wondering the reason behind it. i would think it cant do any damage just for the fact the oceans dont have Mhs or t5s or pcs.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13181643#post13181643 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by block head
gary, hate to disagree with u but, sunlight could wipe out my tank, without even trying. i think it really depends on your tank. i think letting sunlight hit your tank is a big crap shoot. kind of a gamble ,with not much of a pay off.

no doubt everything depends on the tank. Stick a nutrient laden aquarium under any source of intense lighting and you'll have an algae bloom. It's no crap shoot. Not a gamble either. Get nutrients under control and payoff can be huge. Don't get a grip on tank nutrients before lighting it up and the resulting algal growth will. (This is sometimes referred to as an algae scrubber filter )

 

[tmz]

I have my display tanks in a room with a sky light and a large bay window. The corals seem to like the sunlight.

 

[nate82]

i have big windows in my room and honestly never thought it was anything less than beneficial

 

[tuckrule]

Definetely need a good stable tank with filtration. I agree with Blockhead it would most likely tear up a standard nano.Nate you have a Nano what kind of filtration set up do you have on yours? Thanks for getting me those links Gary. Nice picks by the way. TMZ I have heard a lot about you're tanks. Any way to post a pic?

 

[Jedistphn]

I have my tank in front of my window, and have seen NO ill effects.
However, having the back open to the window does seem to minimize the "look" of my tank.. I mean this only because looking into the tank I see the outside, and that seems to take away from the "pop" of the colors etc......

The Coraline algea DEFINATLY likes the sunlight ...

Jedi

 

[block head]

don't get me wrong, i love natural light and in lg systems that can handle it i say go for it. but in smaller enlclosed tanks , you are going to get the fart in a car effect. algea is not the big of issue. having an unregulated source of heat is the major problem. try sitting in your car on a hot summer day with the heater on. ambient light from windows is not that big a deal imo. sunlight is a complex variable that many chose not deal with. there's 1000's of factors in our tank that we can't control, avoiding a potential pitfall makes sense.