A direct sunlight planted tank

[GQsmo]

Today it occurred to me - what if it was possible to have a planted tank in my conservatory. It has never occurred to me before because I have it deeply engrained that too much sun on tanks = bad.
Not looking to do it, just curious.

Does anyone run a planted tank successfully with loads of direct sunlight? Does anyone have any theories on what could be achievable beyond green soup? Could the right plants, ferts and enough co2 beat the algae? It's possible in nature, how do we do it in a tank?
My conservatory roof is supposedly made from UV blocking glass. Do we think this would have any effect? Some of my houseplants seem unaffected by this glass, some are definitely affected. Could an aquarium be made from specialist glass to mitigate too much sunlight?

Thought it could be an interesting discussion.

 

[Myrtle]

Got the time for an experiment? Sometimes there's only one way to find out

 

[LMuhlen]

If the light comes mostly from the top, you could try a blanket of floating plants to dim it down.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Does anyone run a planted tank successfully with loads of direct sunlight?

Clive (@ceg4048 ) had one in a conservatory, I'll see if I can find it. Found it <"Sunlight and background color?">.

cheers Darrel

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Does anyone run a planted tank successfully with loads of direct sunlight?

I'd be more worried about high temperatures in the summer / low temperatures in the winter than the sun aspect. Fish definitely enjoy some natural light, <"it induces spawning"> (assuming everything else is in place) in some species as well.

cheers Darrel

 

[Myrtle]

I think it would have to be plant only for at least 12 months first to test the temperature extremes

 

[mort]

I have had a tank setup for about 10 years or so that is in a room with a south facing window. The tank is a couple of feet from the window but slightly to the side so the sun isn't directly shinning on it until the afternoon. It's not quite the same as having one in a conservatory with light all around but I've never witnessed, to the best of my knowledge, any negative effects of the natural light. I have had blue green algae at the substrate layer but I think that was flow related.
For me I think of natural light as a positive, the fish absolutely love it and look far better under it. I can't really imagine a tank without utilising it somehow.

There are lots of great examples of marine reefs in conservatories but they tend to be more like glass rooms with proper heater and cooling. I'd echo the above concerns of varying temperature throughout the year. With my tank in the south facing room I can shut the blinds and keep it relatively stable (this year it reached the high 20's c but no higher without any intervention from me) but it was impossible to keep our conservatory cool during that high 30's c heatwave and now the conservatory isn't much above freezing on some nights.

 

[MichaelJ]

I definitely had issues in the past with a tank partially getting hit by sunlight for several hours each day. I would get a lot of algae in the area that was exposed. This was a low tech tank and scarcely planted, it might be that an already highly lit heavily planted CO2 tank will take some measure of direct sunlight better. Fish and plants looks absolutely amazing under natural light as @mort points out. If I would have an ideal setting for it and not having it being direct I would go for it.

Cheers,
Michael

 

[rdk1402]

Hi there,

Big fan of direct sunlight myself in no tech indoor pond-like, heavily planted tanks. I don't measure anything in my tanks, so can't give you numerical details on trends and parameters. Except that direct sunlight never surpasses 4 hrs a day. Dutch spring is great for this. Dutch summer is when I need to make adjustments to prevent different green algae from appearing. I partly block sunlight with a screen.

The following describes fairly well the approach I have been practicing this century, including the cultivation of critters inside the tank: Biotope in my study, a low-tech natural aquarium - tuncalik.com - Natural Aquariums and Sustainable Life
Not sure if this is compliant with forum policy - apologies in advance.

 

[mort]

My tank is low energy and no co2 but it is absolutely full of plants (including weedy najas guadalupensis) and has an enormous amount of emergent growth including about ten meters or so of pothos (grown as a single, non branched vine to see how long I can grow it as I'm a bit sad) . It's not the most photogenic but it works. I only have a few ramshorns (which are now being eaten by my laetacara dorsigera) but no other algae eaters since I lost my ancistrus about 18 months ago. I keep meaning to get another one but I've never had a tank with less algae tbh. I don't know if bioload helps but it's really lightly stocked.

I've always wanted a tank that just gets sunlight from above and looked into solar tubes for quite a while but can't justify the cost or work out how to get it to where I want without a lot of building work that I'd get into trouble with the family about. Either that or a tank on a very low stand in front of the window with three sides covered which is far simpler but slightly less appealling.

 

[rdk1402]

Either that or a tank on a very low stand in front of the window with three sides covered which is far simpler but slightly less appealling.

Have a look at static, semi-transparent window films. These come in different tints.
I use them for aquascaping, as they diffuse the background, while allowing light to penetrate. But they also might help for the purpose of partly blocking the sun.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Biotope in my study, a low-tech natural aquarium - tuncalik.com - Natural Aquariums and Sustainable Life
Not sure if this is compliant with forum policy - apologies in advance.

Definitely compliant.

It <"is a blog"> that has had a <"mention a few times">. In terms of philosophy it is certainly something that <"some of our members have bought into">, in Marcel's (@zozo) case fairly enthusiastically.

The following describes fairly well the approach I have been practicing this century, including the cultivation of critters inside the tank

I'm a <"tank janitor"> fan, I wouldn't ever have an aquarium <"without them">, and Asellus aquaticus, particularly, are just great survivors. If you don't have fish that will eat them too enthusiastically <"Crangonyx pseudogracilis"> are a good addition to any tank.

I've spent a <"lot of time with ecologists"> and it has just reinforced for me the idea that our aquariums are ecosystems and <"that diversity brings stability">.

cheers Darrel

 

[rdk1402]

Hi all,

Definitely compliant.

It <"is a blog"> that has had a <"mention a few times">. In terms of philosophy it is certainly something that <"some of our members have bought into">, in Marcel's (@zozo) case fairly enthusiastically.

I'm a <"tank janitor"> fan, I wouldn't ever have an aquarium <"without them">, and Asellus aquaticus, particularly, are just great survivors. If you don't have fish that will eat them too enthusiastically <"Crangonyx pseudogracilis"> are a good addition to any tank.

I've spent a <"lot of time with ecologists"> and it has just reinforced for me the idea that our aquariums are ecosystems and <"that diversity brings stability">.

cheers Darrel

Absolutely love that tank!

Similar to your canary-in-a-mine floater, I'm working on the equivalent for fish food

Here's one of my tanks that also houses Dario tigris fish. Don't be distracted by the ramshorn snails and the shrimplet factories.

 

[hypnogogia]

The following describes fairly well the approach I have been practicing this century, including the cultivation of critters inside the tank

Fabulous looking tank.

 

[Vardo]

Hi all,

Definitely compliant.

It <"is a blog"> that has had a <"mention a few times">. In terms of philosophy it is certainly something that <"some of our members have bought into">, in Marcel's (@zozo) case fairly enthusiastically.

I'm a <"tank janitor"> fan, I wouldn't ever have an aquarium <"without them">, and Asellus aquaticus, particularly, are just great survivors. If you don't have fish that will eat them too enthusiastically <"Crangonyx pseudogracilis"> are a good addition to any tank.

I've spent a <"lot of time with ecologists"> and it has just reinforced for me the idea that our aquariums are ecosystems and <"that diversity brings stability">.

cheers Darrel

That's a beauty of a tank!