Tank positioning choices - El Natural

melauriga · 04-25-2009, 05:13 AM

So as you might know from my previous post, I am setting up my first NPT this weekend and I was hoping to get opinions on what would be the best placement to take advantage of sunlight from the windows. I have two windows in this room; one facing approximately northeast, the other east. My two choices are:

Directly opposite the northeast facing window. Will also get light shining in from the east window. The advantages of this I think are that light will shine through the front to get the shorter foreground plants. The disadvantage would be that I don't think it would help much with emergent growth.

Underneath the northeast window. These windows are set very high on the wall, so light would not shine in the back of the tank. This would be great for emergent growth, however. Probably very little light from the east window would be available in this position.

Thanks. I am very excited (and nervous) to try this method out!

Erin C. · 04-25-2009, 11:57 AM

Since you are aldready adding lighting you can put it where it looks best. I wouldn't put it under the northeast if it doesn't just look "right" there.

Good luck!
Erin

Diana K · 04-27-2009, 02:43 PM

Go with 2 tanks and let us know what happens

If the sunlight (or room light) is mostly from the top then the lid and light over the tank will block out a lot of it, and this will not add much light to the tank. I have one tank directly under a skylight, and use a glass lid and just one light fixture, so half the top area is glass to let in the light from the skylight.

If the sunlight can come in from the side (back, front) of the tank then this is going to help more than if the light is at the top, but cannot enter the tank.

If you (or a friend) does any photography, and has a meter, I would set up the tank (dry) in both locations, and check the light levels in various places in the tank. Go with the brightest location.

melauriga · 04-27-2009, 03:38 PM

Thanks, the tank fits better on the wall where the sun will shine in the front, so I put it there.

[quote=Diana K;470173]Go with 2 tanks and let us know what happens

Lol, I am up to three tanks now, in a relatively short period of time. I am trying to restrain myself for awhile.