sunlight

[ny3papi]

would sunlight hitting a tank would cuase algea growth?lately ive been getting this brown film of algea growing.

 

[charliethetuna88]

i would think so

 

[zahner]

i think direct sunlight by itself is not a problem aside from heat issues; algae will only grow if there are also excess nutrients present.

 

[ny3papi]

I 4got to mention that the film is on the glass part of the tank,i just did a water change like 2 days ago so its very unsual for that to grow quick, just wondering.

 

[House of Laughter]

Sunlight causes algea growth, regardless of nutrients (of course they make it worse). Direct sunlight is not a good thing.

House

 

[jenniebutterfly]

actually sunlight is good for your tank. it does not cause algae. in the summer in alaska we would get 20+ hours of sunlight and thats what my tank was lit with and i had no algae problems

 

[spykes]

alaska? isnt it a bit cold there ^^

 

[joseney21]

it is dave, but it's probably much easier to keep a tank warm than cool.the difference in cost for equipment is... well you know.jennie you used to live in alaska??COOL!!!lol.

 

[nanoreefer22]

20 hours of sunlight!!!

I wanna move there now.

 

[alrha]

why would sunlight cause any more algae growth than any other light? the oceans are lit with sunlight. as long as nutrients are under control algae will be starved.

 

[ShaunW]

Originally posted by zahner:
i think direct sunlight by itself is not a problem aside from heat issues; algae will only grow if there are also excess nutrients present.

I completely agree! What is the difference between the lights we provide to our corals (HIGH intensity MH lighting) and the sun?

Heat is the major problem! I have always dreamed of a tank like O2manyfish in LA (frags under the sun!). Unfortunately, keeping the rain away is another problem, .

 

[jhale]

there are lucky people using solatubes to light thier tanks.
what could be better than the sun to grow your corals?

 

[jenniebutterfly]

haha yes i was born in alaska, but raised in florida, and my mom moved us back up there when i was 17. i met my husband up there when he was in the army, and he moved me here but yes sunlight does have it's heat issues, but so do metal halides. just use a fan

 

[House of Laughter]

I can disagree - my tank used to get heavy green algea on the side where the sun shone. Now that I keep the shade down, it has gone.

My experience FWIW

House

 

[Deanos]

I think sunlight promotes a "certain" type of algae which feeds on a wavelength not available in any aquarium lighting. I had green algae as well on the glass facing direct sunlight. This occurred in both FW and SW tanks. After getting a better shade for the window, green algae gone. JMO

Dean

 

[ny3papi]

yea im defetnatly going to have to get a better shade for my windows.