Placing a tank near a window?

Ok so I have decided on doing hydroponics with my tank and was wondering can I put the tank near a window if I had a cover on the tank? what kind of material should I use as a cover?

 

I've placed aquariums near windows before, and I wouldn't do it again unless my tank was properly shaded. The issue is that direct sunlight can cause algae blooms as well as more dangerous temperature fluctuations. We underestimate the power of the sun compared to artificial lighting. It can really heat up a tank really quickly.

If you insist on placing it near a window, shading the sides of the aquarium from the sunlight is essential. Also you'll want to meticulously monitor the temperature of the tank, maybe have a thermometer with an alarm or something, that will alert you to high temps. If the room is air-conditioned it will be somewhat helpful.

Hope this helps.

 

I also had a tank near the window and DAILY I would have massive amounts of algae covering the glass. I once didn't clean it for two days and I couldn't see into the tank anymore..

 

I got my 20 gallon by a window that faces east, so after the sun comes up I open the blinds, and get extra light, but not direct sunlight, and while I always have some algae its never been a big issue for me

 

My husband is building a tank stand (made from an old wooden futon!). We will be putting our 40 gallon breeder on it and it will sit in front of a window that only gets morning sun for maybe an hour or two. We will be putting a tiered shelf over it with a panel on the back, so technically it won't be getting any sun. If you have an option to do something like that (like the top part of an entertainment center or computer desk). That way you can also rig lights to hang above the tank, too!

 

Well I was planning on putting some sort of cover on the back and sides and I have a light on top just no hood so would that work?

 

Keep in mind too, that even if the side facing the window is covered, that it can still bring up the temperature of the tank quite a lot.

 

Keep in mind too, that even if the side facing the window is covered, that it can still bring up the temperature of the tank quite a lot.

That depends where you live, in Ireland it is opposite land, the sun is cold here and post cards send people home from trips abroad.

 

That depends where you live, in Ireland it is opposite land, the sun is cold here and post cards send people home from trips abroad.

That's because the earth is like a balloon and Ireland is all twisted. It had to be tied SOMEWHERE. Duh.

 

My main display tank sits in the foyer of my house and gets direct sunlight from a large palladium window that faces east every morning. It also continues to get indirect sunlight for the rest of the day from that window and from another south-facing palladium window that is over my stairwell.

I had my 55 gallon tank sitting there (which is now in my office) and now my new 100 gallon tank is there. My tanks are heavily planted though, and the plants are thriving. I do have to keep a VERY close eye on algae however. Regular water changes and maintenance are a MUST... if I miss a water change or cleaning then the tank and plants can get covered in algae very quickly. Staying on top of my fertilizer and CO2 dosing, is also really important. And I have to be very careful about how much I feed my fish.

Initially when I had the 55 gallon tank in that spot, I struggled with algae for several months. It was definitely a learning experience to figure out what balance of lighting, ferts, co2, feeding and cleaning was necessary to keep the tank clear of algae. But once I got if figured out, then it seemed pretty simple... it was just a matter of staying on schedule.

Also, I bought a brown tablecloth that matched the color of my wood stand, and was the perfect size to cover my tank. At one point when algae was getting out of control, I would drape the tablecloth over the tank at night before bed. In the morning, I would wait until the direct sunlight had passed over the east-facing window (usually by 10am) and then I would remove the tablecloth, fold it up, and store it under the tank.

Anyway, my point is, that with experience and time you can learn how to keep algae under control (even in direct sunlight). However, I certainly would not recommend to a beginner that they set up their tank in a spot with direct sunlight unless they are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to go through a big period of learning. Not to mention all the work involved in keeping the tank clean.

Can it be done? Yes! Is it easy? No.

 

My main display tank sits in the foyer of my house and gets direct sunlight from a large palladium window that faces east every morning.

What direction does the large palladium window face in the afternoon?