Supplementing my lighting with the sun?

chipmunkofdoom2 · 02-19-2009, 06:16 PM

Okay, so odd quesiton, but my tank sits by a window and if I were to open the blinds, for the latter part of the day it would get hit with sunlight. Would it be harmful if I were to open the blinds and let my tank get some natural sunlight?

certainti420 · 02-19-2009, 06:30 PM

It won't really be harmful but you will have to watch the temp very closely and you will probably have an issue with algae if you do it for long periods of time I think the temperature would be your biggest issue I know you are in PA I lived in pittsburgh for a while I think that this time of year you will be ok but come spring and summer it may get too warm for the reef

funkpolice · 02-19-2009, 06:38 PM

My tank gets hit with sunlight for about 3hrs a day. I can't say whether or not it's actually helping, but I haven't had any temp or algae issues. I'd say give it a shot and monitor everything closely for a week or so.
bill

BigAl07 · 02-19-2009, 06:40 PM

I've had some "Sun Issues" with algae on the glass itself. During this time of year the afternoon sun strikes the front of my 90g tank. I have to scrape it daily for that very reason. Once we "Rotate" a little bit and the leaves come back out the sun no longer hits the glass and it's back to once a week or so.

yungreefer2410 · 02-19-2009, 06:59 PM

my tank is in front of a wall of windows so it gets hit by sun all day long. only prob is a corraline type algae that i have to razr off every other day (but i don't

). also i think it helps my tank and so does my "lfs" they have most of there tanks supplemented with the sun with no ill effects

chipmunkofdoom2 · 02-19-2009, 07:51 PM

Interesting. I think I'm going to try it. I already have a little algae issue going on, so that's not a concern, haha. Thanks guys!

02-19-2009, 06:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
chipmunkofdoom2 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,307 View Gallery Karma Komment	Supplementing my lighting with the sun? Okay, so odd quesiton, but my tank sits by a window and if I were to open the blinds, for the latter part of the day it would get hit with sunlight. Would it be harmful if I were to open the blinds and let my tank get some natural sunlight? __________________ Will sell my body for ricordea DIY High Power LED Retro!

02-19-2009, 06:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
certainti420 Star Polyps Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Fayettehell, NC Posts: 152 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Supplementing my lighting with the sun? It won't really be harmful but you will have to watch the temp very closely and you will probably have an issue with algae if you do it for long periods of time I think the temperature would be your biggest issue I know you are in PA I lived in pittsburgh for a while I think that this time of year you will be ok but come spring and summer it may get too warm for the reef __________________ ~Jon http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...tank-grow.html Pictures in thread 36 gal bow-front glass tank Koralia #3 850 gph powerhead 300w heater 25 gal sump/refuge combo Mag-Drive 750 return pump Corallife 33000 protein skimmer 25 lbs of live rock 30 lbs of black Tahitian moon sand 20 lbs of crushed coral and live sand 9w UV sterilizer Current USA sundial T-5, LED lighting system Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loriculus) Yellow Tang - Hawaii (Zebrasoma flavescens) 2 Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) Ricordea Mushroom, Green (Ricordea yuma) Long Tentacle Anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis) Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)

02-19-2009, 06:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
funkpolice Reef Lobster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orland Park IL Posts: 1,396 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Supplementing my lighting with the sun? My tank gets hit with sunlight for about 3hrs a day. I can't say whether or not it's actually helping, but I haven't had any temp or algae issues. I'd say give it a shot and monitor everything closely for a week or so. bill

02-19-2009, 06:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Supplementing my lighting with the sun? I've had some "Sun Issues" with algae on the glass itself. During this time of year the afternoon sun strikes the front of my 90g tank. I have to scrape it daily for that very reason. Once we "Rotate" a little bit and the leaves come back out the sun no longer hits the glass and it's back to once a week or so. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

02-19-2009, 07:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
chipmunkofdoom2 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,307 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Supplementing my lighting with the sun? Interesting. I think I'm going to try it. I already have a little algae issue going on, so that's not a concern, haha. Thanks guys! __________________ Will sell my body for ricordea DIY High Power LED Retro!

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