Whenever I go to the aquarium store; I see this beautiful Red Sea reefer tank with MH lights on it; and the water and sand just look amazing; so clear and vibrant and these ridiculously good colors and everything. I don't get it? I have a acrylic tank with no scratches and I'm using a kessil ap700 but I just can't seem to capture this same look? What is it I need to change? My water is clear but I just can't get the same look.
Clear water?
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revhtree
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Are you running carbon or some type of floss? Also for most of the photos the pumps are turned off! 
Are you running carbon or some type of floss? Also for most of the photos the pumps are turned off!
Well not even photos; just looking at display tanks at the aquarium store. Theirs something about them that just looks... EXTREMELY CLEAR and crisp. I don't know if that's what the difference between MH and LEDs are? It's like the white or something is just different. It actually looks like you're looking into a ocean with the way the tanks look (not the aquascape). And yes I run floss and carbon and such
-Logzor
2500 Club Member
This is why people still love the 400w Radium MH's. Super crisp and awesome looking. I'm always jealous when I see these type of MH lit reefs. LEDs or T5's just can't replicate the feel of a MH lit aquarium.
I'll be home from work around 2 I'll post a video and you can see what I mean; maybe it's because my back wall is covered with corraline. I'll do a side shot also; I know my tank has almost no detritus floating around.
cjd
Well-Known Member
I know what you mean. Not all activated carbon is equal . if you use the "cheap carbon" nothing wrong with it , but the difference is very noticeable to my eyes. some people might not even pick up on it and cant tell. Sounds to me you see the difference and I suggest picking up some original chemi pure. they have some with phosphate remover and now a chemi blue. but original works the best imo for that crystal clear high def look. I've been using it since 1998 , you can thank me later.
K100286
Active Member
I suspect it's not the lights. I have 6 kessil lights and my water seems crystal clear, and they are not as good as your ap700. By the way Bulk Reef Supply picked 2 kessil ap700 and 4 t5's for there 160 gal. display tank and they could have used any type lights they wanted. Could be your back ground or the carbon your using.
I'm using acrylic so glass or no glass my tank should be clearer; it's something else. Just can't put my finger on it. I'm thinking it may be that I have a colored back. Or maybe it's my aquascape or my canopy I don't know..
ReefQueen
Amphiprion Admirer
Does the lfs use a lot of actinic? I always think more blues make a tank look sharper. For what it's worth it think your tank looks great, and very clear
Aznxgqboyx
Active Member
Im using purigen.
Lights just turned on tangs were still in sleep mode so their color is off
Does the lfs use a lot of actinic? I always think more blues make a tank look sharper. For what it's worth it think your tank looks great, and very clear
thats why im also thinking it may be lighting. i cant figure out how to customize a color on the ap700; i have a color wheel but i need to get full white and add in like 2% actinic or something along those lines.
Aznxgqboyx
Active Member
You said the tank was running halides, the difference is that you get more coverage with lighting and no shadows? Maybe thats why it looks more clear? My old 175w halides is brighter in terms of lighting the tank then the kessil 350w that im currently using, because leds suck imo. if that make any sense lol . Only reason im using kessil led is because 90w to run it i think vs the 175+ halides
Waters
"...in perfect isolation, here behind my wall."
I think it is definitely the lighting. I have noticed the same thing looking at different tanks lit by different types of lighting. Some tanks just seem to have that perfect spectrum/intensity....the key is trying to duplicate that look.
