Truth or Myth?

Plants and algae prefer the red and yellow spectrums of sunlight.
If you ran two tanks sharing the same water sumps side by side. One tank with direct sunlight and one with Bluer spectrum aquarium lights the tank with sunlight will be the one with algae growth. The nutrient level will determine how much algae can grow. Algae needs light and nutrients.

 

I think BTowned here on 3reef takes advantage of natural sunlight on his tank...

All honesty its nutrients in your tank.

Freshwater tanks that use tap water want to be as far away from sunlight as possible. Cause the sunlight is more intense than the regular strip lights that are typically on freshwater tanks. One of the golden rules in setting up a freshwater tank using tap water. so many nutrients that they feast on the sunlight causing horrible algae. Similar to why we dont use tap water in our reef tanks with intense lighting.

my lfs takes advantage of the sun on his front tanks near the window.

 

yup!!!