Does anyone have systems lit by sunlight in BC?

[Ryan7]

Thanks for your reply's, however, I think I should be more specific.

I am an advanced aquarist and I currently and purposely have set up a 220G reef under solarium style skylights with 2x 100w led eco cannons, I get natural sunlight across the tank for about 7-8 hours per day. I have no concern over algae, the purpose of the post is to gather others experience with our bc sunlight and different types of corals ect..

My experience with our summer sunlight is some corals are finding it too bright, as I expected. I would like to know what others with similar lighting setups have found? What corals love it, what corals may be finding it too much?

I know someone here has setup a greenhouse aquarium, hopefully this post find you.

Thanks,

[LeeR]

get some shade cloth if its to bright.. i think you can even get it in blue.

oh and picture or its not real

[imisky]

how long has this tank been running? would be interested to see pictures as well . Ive never heard of anyone attempting a sky light lite tank in the northern hemisphere due to the climate we get here. you have suppliment lighting so I think your fine and can see some benefit during summer times in that you wont really need the LEDs to be on at all. Im assuming during the other 3 seasons the LED is on as the main? and whatever light comes through the skylight is additional light.

In regards to what you are finding about our summer daytime hours, this is what i mean by photo inhibition, once the corals get enough light they literally stop utilizing it. Anything after that pretty much stresses them out and either causes them to bleach or turn brown (usually bleach). Some corals dont mind it at all, they'll soak up all the light you throw at them (figuratively). though there is a point in which all corals will stop utilizing the light available to them. and this is what i mean by algae could take hold, not always but there's a higher chance than compared to other sw lights we use.

Show us some pictures, I'd be really interested to see this project as it was something i was looking into.

EDIT: as for filters, you can grab blue filters from places like industrial plastics and or other plastic shops they would be able to get them in any gradient you want.

[phi delt reefer]

green house supply/building companies sell the shade cloth you are looking for.

[MKLKT]

My tank is essentially back-lit with natural sunlight for a few hours during the day. Doesn't contribute nuisance algae, but it hasn't had an appreciable effect on coral growth that I can tell. You'd need the light to probably come from straight above to be most effective/not passing through glass if possible to avoid it filtering.

[TimT]

I've had tanks in a Greenhouse from 2000 to 2005, then in 2005 I moved into a large shop with 4'w x 5'h south facing windows. Half of the tank now gets direct sunlight all day. I supplement the tank with 800watt of 20k radium. When the sun is shining it totally eliminates the halides. Even a cloudy day overpowers the halides. SPS grows fast but not too colourful. Zoos and Paly's do well, I have Fungia, Echinophyllia, Trachyphyllia, Duncanopsammia in the sunlit area as well.

Do be concerned about macro algae as it grows so fast it strips the CO2 out of the water.

[Ryan7]

I will get some pics soon for those interested.