Direct Sunlight om Tank

[Ippyroy]

I am planning on a show tank for the hotel where I work. I can do a 4 foot tank, but part of it would get direct sunlight from an east facing window. The window has blinds so most of the light would be blocked. Due to it being a show tank, I can't have algae growing heavily in a part of the tank. I am wondering if maybe pulsing Xenia growing on the glass might help? The window is double pained and lightly tinted.

 

[theMeat]

Have direct sunlight on parts of my tank, depending on season, without issue.

 

[Uncle99]

My DT got only an hour of sunlight each day.
It was actually about a 6” strip that moved across the tank.
Loved it, looked great, gotta be good cause it’s natural sunlight right....Wrong.
In 6 months it became loaded with pest algae to the point of giving up.
A member told me to block that light. The light contains the reds spectrum, one algae loves.
I put up a blind and blocked the sunlight.
The algae receded in weeks and was completely gone in 6 months with no other changes.
Now, after 4 years, still no algae.

if your going to block, what about GSP on the glass?

 

[Ippyroy]

My DT got only an hour of sunlight each day.
It was actually about a 6” strip that moved across the tank.
Loved it, looked great, gotta be good cause it’s natural sunlight right....Wrong.
In 6 months it became loaded with pest algae to the point of giving up.
A member told me to block that light. The light contains the reds spectrum, one algae loves.
I put up a blind and blocked the sunlight.
The algae receded in weeks and was completely gone in 6 months with no other changes.
Now, after 4 years, still no algae.

if your going to block, what about GSP on the glass?

GSP or Pulsing Xenia are options if they work. I have blinds on the window so that is also an option. The tank will be partially in front of the window. If the blinds will work then it will be a non issue. Thank you so much.

 

[theMeat]

Reflective mirror tinting on windows can help and can look nice

 

[Dr. Jim]

Aren't there "coral growers" who use natural sun light? Maybe ORA? I thought there has been some good success by using natural light for SPS and I have been contemplating incorporating some kind of sun roof on my next build when I move. Has anyone had experience with this? Thanks! (OP, I hope my question is related-enough and that you don't mind me asking this.)

 

[blasterman]

Yeah, the sun is bad for coral and has to much red spectrum. We need to block it out of the sky like we did in the Matrix to help corals.

If low angle sunlight coming in from a window for an hour causes algae growth and hurts corals you have other water issues.

 

[Ippyroy]

Yeah, the sun is bad for coral and has to much red spectrum. We need to block it out of the sky like we did in the Matrix to help corals.

If low angle sunlight coming in from a window for an hour causes algae growth and hurts corals you have other water issues.

That's funny since the algae I had in the one tank with sunlight hitting it only grew in the exact spot of the sunlight. The other half of the tank was perfect, other than the heat.

 

[theMeat]

Aren't there "coral growers" who use natural sun light? Maybe ORA? I thought there has been some good success by using natural light for SPS and I have been contemplating incorporating some kind of sun roof on my next build when I move. Has anyone had experience with this? Thanks! (OP, I hope my question is related-enough and that you don't mind me asking this.)

Look into sun tubes. They’re cool for some applications, even reef tanks. Google ‘sun tube reef tank’ will surely get you onto some builds. Have seen one in real life, was awesome. Something about natural light we can’t mimic

 

[Dr. Jim]

Look into sun tubes. They’re cool for some applications, even reef tanks. Google ‘sun tube reef tank’ will surely get you onto some builds. Have seen one in real life, was awesome. Something about natural light we can’t mimic

Ah ha! I actually have one of those "Solatubes" in my kitchen (coming through roof and attic) and it really does a great job lighting up the room. Didn't think of using one on a tank but that is definitely what I will do with my next build (along with halides and XR15's). Here's a nice setup if anyone is interested:
(66) 1200 gallon reef aquarium with 3 Solatubes - YouTube

 

[RedReefer]

My Display gets 2-3 hours of direct sunlight daily with no issues. I've also had tanks in the past and direct sunlight was never a problem.

 

[theMeat]

Ah ha! I actually have one of those "Solatubes" in my kitchen (coming through roof and attic) and it really does a great job lighting up the room. Didn't think of using one on a tank but that is definitely what I will do with my next build (along with halides and XR15's). Here's a nice setup if anyone is interested:
(66) 1200 gallon reef aquarium with 3 Solatubes - YouTube

Amazing how effective they are at getting lights now 6,8,10 feet.
The tank makes my 220 look nano

 

[John bryant]

Aren't there "coral growers" who use natural sun light? Maybe ORA? I thought there has been some good success by using natural light for SPS and I have been contemplating incorporating some kind of sun roof on my next build when I move. Has anyone had experience with this? Thanks! (OP, I hope my question is related-enough and that you don't mind me asking this.)

Yes, Tidal Gardens was one of them but I think he switched over when he put his new building up. He also had to use T5 to help with coloration of the coral. Think the sun has a browning affect