75 Gallon Natural Lit Tank

[Fortheloveofplants]

Did an experiment with a naturally sun lit tank and its going fine up til now.

Tank Started. Jan 2009. Very unhappy with results - Until i visited "The Fraternity of Dirt"

The Top Looks a bit messy. But its works for me. Pic dated 20th April 2012

[Fortheloveofplants]

This is what it looked like before adding Dirt in Dec 2011.

[Fortheloveofplants]

This tank gets natural sun light from dawn to dusk then the tubes come on at dark. Have no problem with algae. Except for the temp used to go up really high. in peak summer. So i have a fan on the top left hand side lets see how it works out this summer. Also i use old UGF plates to filter the light. The left hand side has a home made filter; the water cycle is maintained with two power heads.

[nesopheus]

Beautiful mud pie

[GMYukonon24s]

The tank looks good

[Fortheloveofplants]

Originally Posted by GMYukonon24s

The tank looks good

Thanks.

[Fortheloveofplants]

Was very dissappointed cause I lost the Red Indian sword as the roots started to rot. But that did not stop me went out and got a Red Flame Sword and had the same problem. So i dug arround the net further and like "Method" advised to poke arround the gravel as the gravel was anoxic (thanks Method for pointing me in the right direction). The good news is that I think its working as i can see some new leaves on both the pods. Oh ya i just stuck them in the foreground as i wanted to keep a really close eye on them.

Pic's taken June 28, 2012.

[Fortheloveofplants]

Originally Posted by nesopheus

Beautiful mud pie

Thanks

[JasonG75]

if you decide you want to drop the trash bag look, you can always pick up some black poster board from your neighborhood Walmart.

Looks awesome

[NWA-Planted]

Looks good, curious, so your effectively running lighting 24/7?

[Fortheloveofplants]

Originally Posted by JasonG75

if you decide you want to drop the trash bag look, you can always pick up some black poster board from your neighborhood Walmart.

Looks awesome

Thanks. It does have poster board at the back of the tank. Just that i did not realize that light would be coming in from the bottom if i kept the curtains drawn. Thanks for the idea.

Again may be I am just being cheap!!!!!

[Fortheloveofplants]

Originally Posted by NWA-Planted

Looks good, curious, so your effectively running lighting 24/7?

No, i only turn on the lights some times after dark if i need to check something. Otherwise its just natural sun light. The curtains are drawn like this


This picture was taken when i had newly started the tank as an experiment which is working out quite well at the moment (so you might be wondering why the light is on like i said its just sometime.). The idea was that if plants could be grown in Concrete Vats by commercial growers under direct sun light why cant it be grown in an all glass tank. Its been six months now i have not had any problem with algae whereas many have advised not to place a tank in direct sunlight.

Call me cheap!!! I also had the idea of saving on hydro if it worked.

Will post some pics taken in the day time.

[Lichard]

I want more pics! It's been a month, this tank looks promising

[Fortheloveofplants]

Originally Posted by Lichard

I want more pics! It's been a month, this tank looks promising

Nothing much to report, except that all is going just the way I like it. Am sure these pics are worth a thousand words.

Sorry the light is not too good in these pics. Its a bit cloudy outside. So will try again when the sun's out.

[Jegli09]

Wow, this thing really grew, nice job