Natural sunlight for Temperate ATS?

[AquaticEngineer]

Would it be possible to utilize natural sunlight on an ATS?

The algae I am going to be growing would be native to the temperate region that I am already simulating in my tank.

I have my tank backed up to a north facing window and an area where I could incorporate my ATS.

[rossigeologo]

Why not? the only issue could be the temperature, because the high IR content in sunlight allows to warm quickly any thin layer of water, although flowing.

[kerry]

I have seen a couple posts on here that were using the sun to power their growth.

[SantaMonica]

Solar is easy. It's just 1-sided.

[AquaticEngineer]

Yeah I have my plumbing list already made for a trip to HD tomorrow.

Already picked up 2 sheets of the plastic canvas in clear. I have a 19" high x 28" long area to fit the ATS and hang my plastic canvas from, so I think I am going to get a 3rd sheet and cut them all down an inch or so. That way since I'll only be able to light it from one side I will have 3 seperate algae sheets and I can rotate through them.

I will have a total of 384 sq inches of surface area for algae to grow on.

It'll be lit with natural sunlight from a north facing window (so not a whole lot) and an LED array I had laying around.

[SantaMonica]

Keep the LEDs in a tight area and not spread out.