Natural Sunlight

Why is natural sunlight not used for fish tanks? To my knowledge metal
halides are the closest match to the real thing, but not as good. Using
natural sunlight makes a lot of sense, but whenever I ask the LFS, I get
answers like 'algae problems' etc.

I have a tank 3 ft from the roof, a permanent fixture that replaced the wall
that divides the lounge from the kitchen. It was used to keep malawi
cichlids, so the lighting (life glo's) was purely for aestetic purposes.

I want to convert this to a marine setup. I have no experience other than
freshwater.
What is the viability of removing the corrugated iron roof above the tank,
and replacing it with the see-through equivalent (corrugated plastic)? The
tank will use a protein skimmer (probably Berlin) with ozone injection.
This should take care of possible algae problems.

Am I missing something, as if using natural sunlight is so viable (IMHO),
why are so few people doing it?

Thanks in advance
Rob

thanks for the answer, I didn't think of that..

"Dragon Slayer" wrote in message
...
direct sunlight does cause algae problems but the major setback to it is
it
induces a massive amount of heat into the tank. then when its night, the
tank cools conciderably this is very devistating to the life in the tank.

kc

"Rob MacMillan" wrote in message
...
Why is natural sunlight not used for fish tanks? To my knowledge metal
halides are the closest match to the real thing, but not as good. Using
natural sunlight makes a lot of sense, but whenever I ask the LFS, I get
answers like 'algae problems' etc.

I have a tank 3 ft from the roof, a permanent fixture that replaced the
wall
that divides the lounge from the kitchen. It was used to keep malawi
cichlids, so the lighting (life glo's) was purely for aestetic purposes.

I want to convert this to a marine setup. I have no experience other
than
freshwater.
What is the viability of removing the corrugated iron roof above the
tank,
and replacing it with the see-through equivalent (corrugated plastic)?
The
tank will use a protein skimmer (probably Berlin) with ozone
injection.
This should take care of possible algae problems.

Am I missing something, as if using natural sunlight is so viable
(IMHO),
why are so few people doing it?

Thanks in advance
Rob

Why is natural sunlight not used for fish tanks? To my knowledge metal
halides are the closest match to the real thing, but not as good. Using
natural sunlight makes a lot of sense, but whenever I ask the LFS, I get
answers like 'algae problems' etc.

In my experience the algae really does take off under natural sun light, but
if you keep it starved of phosphates and nitrates then it does not seem to
run out of control. I found the key seems to be keeping a low bio-load
etc... Rowaphos and a good skimmer helped alot also...

As for any heating effects caused by the sun I found that evapouration was
more than able to compensate, it also allowed me to add more calcium in the
form of Kalk. The only downside being that it makes the room very humid and
an external extraction fan is recommended.

For me the main problem with keeping my tank in the conservatory was the
room temperature dropping at night. This upset my mangroves and they needed
to be separately protected... However they seem to love the natural light...

Rob

Natural Sunlight

Group: rec.aquaria.marine.misc Date: Tue, Sep 16, 2003, 2:25pm (PDT+7)
From: (Stephen=A0Oakes)
induces a massive amount of heat into the tank.
thanks for the answer, I didn't think of that..
No, nor did I ... I am new to marine, but I have had tropical freshwater
aquaria for years, and I have usually located them near a window which
receives some sunlight. I have noticed occasional algae problems (easily
rectified) but no heat problems.
--
Stephen Oakes
************************************************** ****
Tropical marine life lives within a zone between 1 and 3 meters and up
to 10 meters in depth, where sunlight's spectrum is filtered upwards.
Direct sunlight is 5800=B0K which greatly benefits algae growth, and is
therefore not generally desireable. Sunlight should not create a heat
problem unless you live in the US Southwest or the Tropics. However, It
is great for FW plant life, but also encourages Algae growth. HTH


http://community.webtv.net/deflizard/doc
regards, John =

"Dragon Slayer" wrote in message
...
direct sunlight does cause algae problems but the major setback to it is
it
induces a massive amount of heat into the tank. then when its night, the
tank cools conciderably this is very devistating to the life in the tank.

I believe the problem is in the lower spectrum (Infra-red end). That is
where the heat and the red light that causes algae to grow is. The correct
type of filter may be able to solve that problem. It would block the main
component causing the heat build up and could shift the color spectrum
upward (more blue).

The cooling effect could be minimized by use of an energy efficient windows,
or a simple electronic heater (of the right size).

If I could squeegee a film (might even be available at home depot) on the
windows and get free light for my reef tank, that could save $'s and cooling
costs. Plus be a pseudo-natural system.

Nah. Too complicated.

Henry

heaters, heaters can keep it warm at night.

sunlight is shifted towards blue end under ocean water, not in a tank. we
need to mimic the color light that reaches the ocean reef, not the color of
th sunlight itself.

wolfhedd

"Rob Marston" wrote in message
...
Why is natural sunlight not used for fish tanks? To my knowledge metal
halides are the closest match to the real thing, but not as good. Using
natural sunlight makes a lot of sense, but whenever I ask the LFS, I get
answers like 'algae problems' etc.

In my experience the algae really does take off under natural sun light,
but
if you keep it starved of phosphates and nitrates then it does not seem to
run out of control. I found the key seems to be keeping a low bio-load
etc... Rowaphos and a good skimmer helped alot also...

As for any heating effects caused by the sun I found that evapouration was
more than able to compensate, it also allowed me to add more calcium in
the
form of Kalk. The only downside being that it makes the room very humid
and
an external extraction fan is recommended.

For me the main problem with keeping my tank in the conservatory was the
room temperature dropping at night. This upset my mangroves and they
needed
to be separately protected... However they seem to love the natural
light...

Rob

a water chiller could be used to help maintain the water temperature, as far
as the upper temperature range is concerned.


"Dragon Slayer" wrote in message
...
direct sunlight does cause algae problems but the major setback to it is
it
induces a massive amount of heat into the tank. then when its night, the
tank cools conciderably this is very devistating to the life in the tank.

kc

That has been the generally accepted mantra, but there are several cases
where greenhouse lighting has been proven more effect

"wolfhedd" wrote in message
news
heaters, heaters can keep it warm at night.

sunlight is shifted towards blue end under ocean water, not in a tank. we
need to mimic the color light that reaches the ocean reef, not the color
of
th sunlight itself.

wolfhedd

"Rob Marston" wrote in message
...
Why is natural sunlight not used for fish tanks? To my knowledge metal
halides are the closest match to the real thing, but not as good.
Using
natural sunlight makes a lot of sense, but whenever I ask the LFS, I
get
answers like 'algae problems' etc.

In my experience the algae really does take off under natural sun light,
but
if you keep it starved of phosphates and nitrates then it does not seem
to
run out of control. I found the key seems to be keeping a low bio-load
etc... Rowaphos and a good skimmer helped alot also...

As for any heating effects caused by the sun I found that evapouration
was
more than able to compensate, it also allowed me to add more calcium in
the
form of Kalk. The only downside being that it makes the room very humid
and
an external extraction fan is recommended.

For me the main problem with keeping my tank in the conservatory was the
room temperature dropping at night. This upset my mangroves and they
needed
to be separately protected... However they seem to love the natural
light...

Rob