Lighting Cycle with natural sunlight

[Huskymaniac]

I am going to be running a hydra 26 on my reefer 170. Its going to primarily an anemone and softie tank. Around 7am the tank starts to get natural sunlight. I am trying to figure out what is the best way to incorporate the natural sunlight as part of the tank light cycle. Is a 15 hour cycle ramping 6 ramping up 3 max and 6 ramping down to much?

 

[User1]

Interesting question. I would say it depends on how much light the tank is getting and from what source. Are we talking the back to a window or are maybe we using solar tubes. Vastly different in both amount and spectrum. One thing to consider is that the natural light will be affected by both seasons and weather. I would just set up a traditional schedule and monitor how the natural light affects your tank both in color and growth (corals and algae).

I had a tank using sunlight from a window and found it to be a bit yellow and while some corals liked it some didn't and algae grew more on that side. Now my blenny and tang enjoyed it but me, not so much. I've not used solar tubes but have seen a few tanks that did and they are pretty impressive.

 

[Gonebad395]

I’ve noticed if I keep the blinds open in the summer across from my tank I get some unwanted algae compared to when I keep the blinds closed.

 

[Huskymaniac]

It would be from a window.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Here is a picture.