Thinking about doing an experiment

Alirghty so here's what im thinking about doing.

My tank is right next to a large window in my room so my tank gets a lot of NSL *natural sunlight*. I run my 4x39 T5HO Tek from 12pm-9pm and moonlights from 9pm-8am. So my tank has a period of 4 hours without light. During the period that the lights are off the tank is running purely on NSL.

From observing my corals, the zoas which are the furthest away from the window are fully open, my bubble coral is open but not fully expanded, my brain, hard to say, its been closed for past couple of days, my birdsnest always looks the same, never notice any difference and its the closest to the window, and my candy cane is in the middle of the tank and is open as well

So my question is, is it worth experimenting on coral growth based purely on NSL? I just ask because i dont want to have any bad effect from not running the light fixture. My tank wont be as pretty looking with the lights off but they will get the NSL for growth

so what are your opinions and how long should i try it if i do it?

here are some pics

the tank before the lights come on

the window

tank and window

 

I'm sorry to say that I think that your experiment would only grow algae. Unless your corals get direct (tropical strength) sunlight from above the tank, there is no way that they're going to get enough light to live from indirect sunlight. Also, keep in mind that windows have a coating on them that blocks UV light.

 

ohhh ok that's the exact answer i wanted to hear would be cool though if someone has a setup like that

 

There are tank setup that us nsl it is like a sky light set up

 

Some people do use natural sunlight but they tend to use it in a greenhouse type environment or by using products such as Sola Tubes.

Solatube Daylighting System and Tubular Daylighting Devices for residential or commercial daylighting and sunlighting needs are the smart, green and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional skylights

If your tank is getting indirect sunlight during the day, it might explain why you have green hair algae (assuming that problem is not being caused by low alk/mag/calcium levels).

 

the sun causing the bit of GHA does kinda make since, i also have a small patch of cyano on the sand thats right next to the window, and i have noticed that at night it basically disappears but then it comes back during the day