Can Sunlight Be Used To Sustain Corals?

[psyparrot]

Hi, Its been a long time since I posted last.
My tank is doing fine so far, both my clown fish and dwarf lion seem happy

(Oh and I got my fuzzy lionfish to eat brine shrimp, something my local pet store considered impossible)
Anyways now that summer vacation has started, I plan on improving my tank, hopefully putting in a sand bed and replacing the gravel(If I can), getting more snails/algae eaters, and hopefully adding corals and maybe a fish or two.
My question is, since my tank is in sunlight and the algae growth is just incredible, is it possible for the sunlight to support corals or clams w/o additional lighting? (I would install better lights, but my tank cover can't support them)
Thanks, and its nice to be back and finally have time to spend on my fish

 

[reefreak29]

of corse sunlight would be great for corals and clams but like u said u could get crazy algae action

 

[myreef05]

Not possible I do believe as the algea would take over big time if left exposed to the sunlight. Plus windows decrease the PAR's needed for corals.

 

[ophiura]

It is possible certainly, but not necessarily "easy." I think there have been some work with things like solartubes or whatever those ceiling things are. Then you have things like the outdoor tanks at the Waikiki aquarium in Hawaii and similar.

 

[psyparrot]

I thought that the sunlight plus the meager lights I have might be enough for low-moderate light species, especially because I'm in Southern California, and the sun is almost always shinning, at times through the window directly at the tank (closer to the end of the day)
Is there any way to check how strong the lighting really is? I'm thinking of trying a clam, to see how it does, but I have no interest in killing it because my conditions weren't good.

 

[zeroc]

get a light meter? I clam would need a reading of atleast 22,000 lumens for atleast 6 hours a day. But like everyone said you're going to get alot of algae unless you have a huge system. There's a guy near me that has coral tanks in a green house so all his corals just use sun light, but they're in 4 2000gallon vats with tons of filtration, and care.

 

[psyparrot]

I was at my LFS and bought a single mushroom polyp (green) to see if it will get enough light.
I hope it does well and that will show that I might be able to have corals/clams. If it doesn't then corals/clams will just have to wait till I get better hood and lights.

 

[rbaldino]

Originally Posted by psyparrot
I would install better lights, but my tank cover can't support them.
I'm a bit confused by this. Are you talking about the plastic hood that comes standard with most tanks? If so, ditch it. Besides, most light fixtures either sit on the top edge of the tank or are propped up by legs (which sit on the same edge).

 

[psyparrot]

Unfortunately, my setup is such that the filter, biowheel and the lights are built into the hood, so if i replace one I have to replace all.
I will replace it eventually, but right now that may be a little too expensive

 

[reefkprz]

the biggest problem I see with trying to use the sunlight that comes in through your windows is this: most windows these days are treated thermal glass. blocking almost the entire blue end of the spectrum wich is the end you want more of. letting in red spectrum light only. which while good for photosynthesis is better for algae than it will be for your corals. sunlight wont directly cause algae, only available nutrients can do that, but it will help the nusciance algae grow better than it will your corals

 

[petjunkie]

I saw a nano tank that was lit by sunlight on another forum, they had a little greenhouse type cover to slow evaporation. Problem was almost everything looked brown with supplemental lights, had to produce more zooanthelle, so not the prettiest tank but seemed to work. Google search sunlit pico and you will likely find it.