Dilan Patel
2500 Club Member
So since my tank sits in front of my curtains where sunlight can come in. Does leaving them open pose any benefit for the tank with corals to get natural sunlight or does it only cause nuisance algae?
Natural Sunlight
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Labridaedicted
Wrassetastic
Corals will appreciate the full spectrum light and will grow exceptionally well with it.
Downside, they will likely brown out.
The other drawback as you mentioned, is that algae also really appreciates the full spectrum light. You also can't easily control the photo period this way and algae tends to take hold. (not all natural light tanks get algae bombed, though, I've seen some impressive skylight tanks)
Downside, they will likely brown out.
The other drawback as you mentioned, is that algae also really appreciates the full spectrum light. You also can't easily control the photo period this way and algae tends to take hold. (not all natural light tanks get algae bombed, though, I've seen some impressive skylight tanks)
yes it adds a spectrum you don't normally get. Its not 100% that you will get algae. and it also does not actually cause it.
why do you say that?
Labridaedicted
Wrassetastic
Full spectrum tends to cause the symbiotic algae to come in denser in the tissue. (especially with a little extra nutrients) I used to run 10k and 6500 bulbs on a system which I think mimics sunlight fairly well in terms of spectrum and found I had awesome growth, but everything was a little dark colored and tended to hide the more desirable colors.
That being said, a super low nutrient system would avoid this problem.
That being said, a super low nutrient system would avoid this problem.
OP
OP
Dilan Patel
2500 Club Member
well I have it lit with kessils I just wanted to know if leaving my curtains open would be beneficial if anything. Seems like it wouldn't hurt.
I am kind of curious of this as well i have my tank in a loft area and high windows let some early morning light in before my lights kick on. Theres nothing i can really do about it at the time but i am curious i guess time will tell.
SoCoFlyFisher
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My tank gets some afternoon sunlight that moves from left to right as the sun gets lower in the sky. So far corals are loving it as an addition to the leds I have over the tank and I have not noticed any increase in algae growth. I also have lightly loaded tank and keep the nutrient level low.
Rommel Mateos
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For me don't expose your tank to natural sunlight. Bad.
corals dont like sun?
Best Fish-Jake
Valuable Member
The only reason why I wouldn't, is that it poses the threat of variability. I would only reccomend a single light source that you can control, and won't vary day to day... like your kessils.
McMullen
Valuable Member
@Best Fish-Jake. What?!
Best Fish-Jake
Valuable Member
There really isn't a reason to use sunlight consistently unless you're planning on decreasing your kessil's intensity- which as stated before, can lead to a decrease in coloration. On top of that, the weather isn't the most reliable thing in the world. One day it can be bright and sunny and your corals are nice and happy, but the next day its densely clouded and the tank receives only the lighting from your fixture.
Is it harmful to leave your curtains open every once in a while? No..
Are there benefits to using natural sunlight as a core light source over your kessils? Not really..
This is just my opinion, I see no reason to add another variable to our fragile ecosystems
Is it harmful to leave your curtains open every once in a while? No..
Are there benefits to using natural sunlight as a core light source over your kessils? Not really..
This is just my opinion, I see no reason to add another variable to our fragile ecosystems
I wouldn't do it. I mean it's not the end of the world if it gets sun but just keep in mind the PAR values so you don't bleach anything out (especially lower light deeper corals) and heat issues (if any) from the sunlight. Even some shallow corals might bleach combined with artificial lighting and lack of flow in our tanks compared to the ocean. Of course this is in addition to algae problems if you have any develop with the additional light.
Being natural is very "in" right now, but there is nothing less natural than a box of water in our living rooms that can be thousand miles from the ocean. We can't unilaterally apply what is natural to our tanks despite many threads and posts advocating it.
I mean sure, sunlight is great for coral without question - if we put the coral in the ocean at the depth and location they were collected from.
Being natural is very "in" right now, but there is nothing less natural than a box of water in our living rooms that can be thousand miles from the ocean. We can't unilaterally apply what is natural to our tanks despite many threads and posts advocating it.
I mean sure, sunlight is great for coral without question - if we put the coral in the ocean at the depth and location they were collected from.
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McMullen
Valuable Member
Interesting thoughts shared. Perhaps we'll agree to disagree here.
There is no harm from sunlight and very likely benefit no matter what lat and longitude a person lives. The bleaching argument makes no sence, deepwater acros are maricultured alongside other acros. UC had a post discussing this.
Just to be clear, the OP isn't lighting the tank with sunlight only. There will be no browning of coral here.
Natural is and always will be 'in.' The arguement isn't if a glass box is natural.
No benefits to sunlight? For real? If kessils grew coral better than the sun coral farmers would take advantage of this so called supreme technology. Where does the term full spectrum even come from, the sun. Our lights are simply trying to balance coral health, growth, and aesthetically pleasing color.
There is no harm from sunlight and very likely benefit no matter what lat and longitude a person lives. The bleaching argument makes no sence, deepwater acros are maricultured alongside other acros. UC had a post discussing this.
Just to be clear, the OP isn't lighting the tank with sunlight only. There will be no browning of coral here.
Natural is and always will be 'in.' The arguement isn't if a glass box is natural.
No benefits to sunlight? For real? If kessils grew coral better than the sun coral farmers would take advantage of this so called supreme technology. Where does the term full spectrum even come from, the sun. Our lights are simply trying to balance coral health, growth, and aesthetically pleasing color.
