harnassing the sunlight for planted tank

**angus** · 21st Sep 2013, 23:21

I understand that direct sunlight promotes algae, especially because of heat.
However sunlight is possibly the best lights for plants as compared to expensive led or mh or t5.
Has anyone tried to harness sunlight for plants via reflectors or mirrors or fibre optics cables?

**qngwn** · 22nd Sep 2013, 00:32

Fibre optics cables. WOAH that is going to cost a bomb.

The best way to harness, perhaps is to leave your tank outside or against the window like some of us do.

Its a price to pay if you can control the amount and timing of the lighting your plants receive. Which would be a make or break for our tanks when it comes to algae.
Unless you have a method of controlling the intensity as well as the timing your tank received sunlight, I myself would pay abit more for a much greater chance of success.

Maybe you can think of it this way, a $300 LED set would cost less than $1 a day

thats how departmental stores make you think that it's cheap to buy the items on installment..

**felix_fx2** · 22nd Sep 2013, 01:10

Originally Posted by angus

I understand that direct sunlight promotes algae, especially because of heat.
However sunlight is possibly the best lights for plants as compared to expensive led or mh or t5.
Has anyone tried to harness sunlight for plants via reflectors or mirrors or fibre optics cables?

The tech is already out there, compared to led/mh/t5 it is even more expensive

that excludes the effort to renovate your house (local HDB sorry, landed folks got chance at this) for the fixtures.

Image credits Ecogeek.org, .himawari-net

Himawari system
http://www.himawari-net.co.jp/e_page13.htm

**Urban Aquaria** · 22nd Sep 2013, 01:29

I guess putting the tank next to the window and automating motorized blinds to open and close on timer would be easier (and cheaper).

**felix_fx2** · 22nd Sep 2013, 01:39

Originally Posted by Urban Aquaria

I guess putting the tank next to the window and automating motorized blinds to open and close on timer would be easier (and cheaper).

Just put mirror even cheaper. But these systems do have some filter, unlike what i am doing myself (exposed to full fledged sunlight)

**David** · 23rd Sep 2013, 16:13

angus, just put it near the window. The biggest concern with sunlight is GW (greenwater) if you have some sort of CO2 injection and nutrients, I don't think heat is much of an issue. If it does, put a fan. If you want to be more cautious, stick UVA and UVB solar film on your window...

**angus** · 23rd Sep 2013, 22:24

haha, my 4 ft tank is already beside the window with solar film on the tank and the window!
last I suffered from the Cladophora algae, but not green water.
Now I use reflector, but to reflect away the sun. I use car windscreen reflector on my tank.
I also use a 30cm by 10cm mirror to reflect some of the evening sunlight back to the tank.
end of the day, it is about seeing a lot of sunlight that is blocked, but wonder if it can be redirected for good use. Himawari looks like a science/tech prototype.
beside mirror, has anyone used anything else? how about a light reflector like the camera light diffuser type? or any other DIY contraption?

**David** · 24th Sep 2013, 18:32

Not all solar films are created equal. If yours is ceramic based the rejection rate is not as good as metallic based.

You need good water circulation and good amount if CO2 and nutrients. I have seen very successful planted tanks here in KL and they placed it at the front porch with at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight.

I do noticed a lot or high nutrients sucking stemmed plants.

Barley straws maybe the trick as well.

**Urban Aquaria** · 24th Sep 2013, 19:50

I guess when using the sun to light up a tank, the management techniques would become more akin to pond keeping.

In our aquariums we can control the amount and duration of light artificially (which is already tough to keep in balance)... but when using sunlight its left to the mercy of the fluctuating weather, one day could be rainy and not much sun, the next day could be heat wave with super intense sunlight, mega challenge to control.

**David** · 24th Sep 2013, 19:57

Agreed....

**felix_fx2** · 24th Sep 2013, 20:54

Originally Posted by Urban Aquaria

I guess when using the sun to light up a tank, the management techniques would become more akin to pond keeping.

In our aquariums we can control the amount and duration of light artificially (which is already tough to keep in balance)... but when using sunlight its left to the mercy of the fluctuating weather, one day could be rainy and not much sun, the next day could be heat wave with super intense sunlight, mega challenge to control.

Tell me about it

, argh everyday WC....

http://impervious-endeavors.blogspot...aded-farm.html