Natural Sunlight

TinFury · 08-17-2006, 01:32 AM

Just out of curiosity. Could you use real sunlight to light a tank?

Urban_s · 08-17-2006, 06:29 AM

Defenitly. Some people use skylights that funnel light down. I saw somewhere were a person used a greenhouse. Corals would love natural light. The only real problems that I have herd of beacause of using sunlight are that you can not control the spectrum so algae blooms could be a problem.

Matt Rogers · 08-17-2006, 08:22 AM

I wanted to do this in a greenhouse that I used to have, but the floor was really unlevel. The one thing I noticed is that you'd have to figure out a way to deal with heat as it could get pretty hot in there. Once you figure that out (using mesh or chillers or both, etc.) I think you can do it. A lot of frag growers go this route.

serotonin · 08-17-2006, 08:50 AM

I've been considering the idea of opening up my patio door blinds. It lets direct light into the tank durring sunrise. Maybe for an hour tops. I toy with the idea of a nice gradual wakeup for the fishes and corals by using the lower intensity sunrise light to 'wake up' the tank. I would think that it is much less stressfull than 110 watts of actinics just popin on at 8am.

./shrug!

rickzter · 08-17-2006, 10:45 AM

You know, most coral farmers and collectors use big tubs outside and use natural sunlight. I think it's pretty neat. You can even supplement some VHO actinics with the natural sunlight to change the spectrum up a bit.

Urban_s · 08-17-2006, 01:39 PM

I would love to do this. But being that I live in montana we dont get a whole lot of good reef light.

TinFury · 08-17-2006, 03:33 PM

Wow... awesome... thanks for the replys

nemo79 · 08-17-2006, 04:35 PM

I do the same thing. I keep the blinds open at night so in the morining the fish get gradual sunrise, then i turn the lights on when i wake up at 7am and then i feed them at 7:30. they seem pretty happy.

amcarrig · 08-17-2006, 06:44 PM

Indirect sunlight from a door or window will most definitely cause algae blooms. Not sure you want to keep doing that.

Covey · 08-17-2006, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban_s

I would love to do this. But being that I live in montana we dont get a whole lot of good reef light.

Almost all of the greenhouse system need to use that sun shade cloth as coral is almost always farther under water in nature than it would be in or systems. It would stilll work in montana!

08-17-2006, 01:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
TinFury Fire Shrimp Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 311 Skin: Mint Karma: 38	Natural Sunlight Just out of curiosity. Could you use real sunlight to light a tank?

08-17-2006, 06:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Urban_s Sea Dragon Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kalispell, MT Posts: 533 Skin: Mint Karma: 47	Defenitly. Some people use skylights that funnel light down. I saw somewhere were a person used a greenhouse. Corals would love natural light. The only real problems that I have herd of beacause of using sunlight are that you can not control the spectrum so algae blooms could be a problem. _________ Senior Noob Setting my 75 back up soon Main SW Tank: 55gal, 70LBS of Tonga/LFSDIY, 50lbs LS, 1x250watt MH(20k), AquaC Remora Skimmer Live stock: Velvet Damsel, (12)Blue legged crab, lawnmower blenny, (1)cleaner shrimp, Yellow Tang, Featherduster CoralsRandom Zoo's(like 10), more zoo's,red mushrooms and hairy mushrooms, Sinularia

08-17-2006, 08:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Matt Rogers KingFish Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 40 Posts: 9,086 Skin: Mint Karma: 55257	I wanted to do this in a greenhouse that I used to have, but the floor was really unlevel. The one thing I noticed is that you'd have to figure out a way to deal with heat as it could get pretty hot in there. Once you figure that out (using mesh or chillers or both, etc.) I think you can do it. A lot of frag growers go this route. _________ Go slow, let it grow. My tank build thread <-- Support 3reef! - Now with monthly option for only $2! 3reef shirts here! - Now with free bumper stickers! Help Me with unanwered posts! Promote!

08-17-2006, 08:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
serotonin Purple Spiny Lobster Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Berlin, WI Age: 31 Posts: 498 Skin: Mint Karma: 205	I've been considering the idea of opening up my patio door blinds. It lets direct light into the tank durring sunrise. Maybe for an hour tops. I toy with the idea of a nice gradual wakeup for the fishes and corals by using the lower intensity sunrise light to 'wake up' the tank. I would think that it is much less stressfull than 110 watts of actinics just popin on at 8am. ./shrug! _________ Learn about my tank at: http://www.tankprofiler.com/displayT...t.php?tankID=1

08-17-2006, 10:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
rickzter Torch Coral Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 1,197 Skin: Mint Karma: 218	You know, most coral farmers and collectors use big tubs outside and use natural sunlight. I think it's pretty neat. You can even supplement some VHO actinics with the natural sunlight to change the spectrum up a bit. _________ 30g reef tank, CPR CY192 filter w/ DIY plumb running Rio 17HF return, Coralife 3x 9w UV Sterilizer, 3 24W T5-Helios 10K Daylights/3 24W T5-Helios Blue lights, 2 Logysis blue meteor light strobes (moonlights/24 Blue LEDs). Tiger tail cuke, asst. snails/hermits, asst. feathers, rainbow acan,zoos,shrooms,bubble,galaxea, asst. shrimp, 2 ocellaris,mandarin,zebrasoma xanthurum,pink-spot watchman,red-striped pistol.

08-17-2006, 01:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Urban_s Sea Dragon Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kalispell, MT Posts: 533 Skin: Mint Karma: 47	I would love to do this. But being that I live in montana we dont get a whole lot of good reef light.

08-17-2006, 03:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
TinFury Fire Shrimp Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 311 Skin: Mint Karma: 38	Wow... awesome... thanks for the replys

08-17-2006, 04:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
nemo79 Zoanthid Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 1,116 Skin: Mint Karma: 199	I do the same thing. I keep the blinds open at night so in the morining the fish get gradual sunrise, then i turn the lights on when i wake up at 7am and then i feed them at 7:30. they seem pretty happy. _________ 20g 25lbs LR 1 hydor koralia rio nano skimmer FISH: blk/white clown, damsel, yellow watchman goby CORAL: grn open brain, acan, torch, rics, toadstool, zoo's INVERT:[/U] hermits, nassarius, astrea, turbo's, nerites, crocea clam .

08-17-2006, 06:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
amcarrig 3reef Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: CT Age: 40 Posts: 8,236 Skin: Classic Karma: 64047	Indirect sunlight from a door or window will most definitely cause algae blooms. Not sure you want to keep doing that. _________

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