Direct Sunlight Resulting in > 1100 PAR!!!

[ksliech]

I just discovered that for many hours a day, much of my tank is getting > 400 PAR, and some spots it's over > 1100! I need some help with ideas for how to solve this mess.

Here's the story: I have my 60G cube near a few large windows, and as the sun has been moving its position in the sky throughout the year, it's been getting more and more direct sun. I've also been having issues with SPS, mushrooms, and zoas all showing signs of way too much light. I took a bunch of PAR measurements (when there was no direct sun) and found that the SPS was getting around 290 PAR and the softies were in the 75-100 PAR zone, both of which are within good ranges. HOWEVER, when the tank is getting bathed in direct sun, I am getting wayyyyyyy too much light. Here's what the tank looks like (past peak sun).

To the left of that window, there are more even larger windows. None of these windows have shades of any sort. Currently, it gets blasted by sun through the window in the picture for several hours. Even spots on the other side of the rocks are getting blasted just from internal reflections. It's bonkers!

Help me work through ideas to solve this! Some ideas:

• Put up shades on all the windows and manage those throughout the day
  • The most obvious option but not acceptable to my other half (it messes up our view, and I get it)
  • I'm looking at putting shades just on that one window that's in the picture, but it may come through more windows over time. I need to check carefully
• Move the tank
  • There aren't really any good options for where it could go, but I'm looking
• Put up a folding room divider to block the sun during peak times
  • What a pain in the butt to manage, and also kind of an eyesore
• Hang something off the side of the tank to block the light

Any other ideas? I can't believe I've been letting this happen for so long!

 

[Reefing102]

I’d just put up a piece of black poster board cause I’m cheap and moving the tank is a hassle.

At the same time, if you still want “benefits” of sun, you could put up window screen (some is thicker/more light filtering than others) to help block but not completely eliminate the light.

Just thoughts.

 

[Mschmidt]

Can you put up a canopy, shade, pergola,... outside the house without ruining the view or curb appeal?

 

[FUNGI]

Remove your brown end table and replace with a large bushy/leafy plant

 

[FUNGI]

White Bird of Paradise....

 

[Mschmidt]

Take a picture on a particularly average day and print it out real big. Then glue it to the window.

 

[2Flash1]

0% Window Tint!

 

[FUNGI]

Here you go....put it in a nice pot for you....LOL

 

[taricha]

Any other ideas? I can't believe I've been letting this happen for so long!

or, make it a feature - change the system theme to natural sunlight driven.

 

[MoshJosh]

Lucky!!! My lights are only pushing out like 400PAR (guestimate) and my acros are hungry for more light!!!

 

[gbroadbridge]

I just discovered that for many hours a day, much of my tank is getting > 400 PAR, and some spots it's over > 1100! I need some help with ideas for how to solve this mess.

Here's the story: I have my 60G cube near a few large windows, and as the sun has been moving its position in the sky throughout the year, it's been getting more and more direct sun. I've also been having issues with SPS, mushrooms, and zoas all showing signs of way too much light. I took a bunch of PAR measurements (when there was no direct sun) and found that the SPS was getting around 290 PAR and the softies were in the 75-100 PAR zone, both of which are within good ranges. HOWEVER, when the tank is getting bathed in direct sun, I am getting wayyyyyyy too much light. Here's what the tank looks like (past peak sun).

To the left of that window, there are more even larger windows. None of these windows have shades of any sort. Currently, it gets blasted by sun through the window in the picture for several hours. Even spots on the other side of the rocks are getting blasted just from internal reflections. It's bonkers!

Help me work through ideas to solve this! Some ideas:

• Put up shades on all the windows and manage those throughout the day
  • The most obvious option but not acceptable to my other half (it messes up our view, and I get it)
  • I'm looking at putting shades just on that one window that's in the picture, but it may come through more windows over time. I need to check carefully
• Move the tank
  • There aren't really any good options for where it could go, but I'm looking
• Put up a folding room divider to block the sun during peak times
  • What a pain in the butt to manage, and also kind of an eyesore
• Hang something off the side of the tank to block the light

Any other ideas? I can't believe I've been letting this happen for so long!

Rule #1 - never put an aquarium near any windows. :)

 

[MoshJosh]

Or if plants aren't you thing. . . a nice piece of modern art?

 

[MoshJosh]

But on a more serious note I think blinds/shades are your best bet. If you are willing to foot the bill, you could get some kind of automatic blind and have it scheduled to cover the window at only necessary times.
Oh, actually a better option might be to black out the side of the aquarium. Could paint it black or: https://www.homedepot.com/p/BuyDeco...BZ6j_SdBu4v2qqiyH6oMOgzcCGabFx4TZWIw4pY&gQT=1

 

[Dorsetsteve]

What are the symptoms of too much light?

 

[FUNGI]

Or if plants aren't you thing. . . a nice piece of modern art?

or Classic...

 

[Tahoe61]

No algae issues? My tank is next to a window and gets direct light for 6 hrs. Only housing hermits and corals and 2.5 months old.

 

[ksliech]

I’d just put up a piece of black poster board cause I’m cheap and moving the tank is a hassle.

At the same time, if you still want “benefits” of sun, you could put up window screen (some is thicker/more light filtering than others) to help block but not completely eliminate the light.

Just thoughts.

Doing the black poster board thing on one side for the time being! Attached it with a couple of small strips of velcro so I can remove it easily. You can't see it from the rest of the room, only when you go up to the tank, but what a pain this will be to put up and take down daily. This is not a long term solution...

 

[ksliech]

Can you put up a canopy, shade, pergola,... outside the house without ruining the view or curb appeal?

A good idea but this is a rental.

 

[ksliech]

Remove your brown end table and replace with a large bushy/leafy plant

I love this idea! However, I made a discovery about the directions the light would come from that I'm posting about momentarily... (Also the stupid end table is full of equipment: Apex, Trident, second energy bar, etc)

 

[ksliech]

What are the symptoms of too much light?

Mushrooms and zoas are partially bleached and pretty small, and the mushrooms have actively retreated to the undersides of rocks to get the hell out of the light (leaving little mushroom babies in some cases). My green slime acro bleached initially then came back and is doing great, and a blue tipped acros has been partially bleached and struggling. Same with an orange montipora.