Don't shoot me for asking this (possibly condescending) question...

[fcmatt]

15ish years ago 10 to 14k was popular. It looked pretty natural. The best hobbyists had gorgeous color on their sps. Most could not attain that look. This was MH dominant days.

When t5 came along you could now easily go 14k to 20k lighting with atinics which is bluer. It made corals pop more and stick lovers felt elite cause they now had sps colors sorta like the MH folks. The best hobbyists could still get great color with 14k tho with t5.

So now everyone wants those colorful sps. They all want to be elite like the big boys. Thus the 20k to 24k led look. You could take a dog turd and put it under that kind of light and it would show some colors. Everyone is now elite.

Basically if you put a 10k to 14k light over everyone's tank and said that is all you get most would quit the hobby cause they sure ain't going to have a tank like people from the old days. Their "color" is gone. 500 dollar little frags look average all of a sudden. Over priced zoanthid all look similar. Now a bit of skill comes back into play again.

Basically these super blue tanks are the great equalizer of mediocrity of the hobby. I think i said that correctly. Everything pops when you put that kind of light over it. Everybody is "elite". It is a safe way to be a pro! Everything is so blue it is like wow!

Fyi.. i run about 14k. T5.

 

[Daddy-o]

I was telling my son the same thing. A lot of tanks we looked at were like polished diamonds and I really wanted that rough diamond right out of the mine look.

 

[monti mike]

I like a little bit of a mix. I have a yellow branching porite and Oregon tort. They don’t glow and look best under more of a white light. I also like have some fluorescent pops of color too. I just picked what catches my eye and I’m not trying to create a specific biotope. It’s kind of like living art to me! To each their own!

 

[User1]

I don't want anyone to think I am knocking their particular vision. I was just hoping for you guys to point me in the direction I myself would be looking to go when I set up my reef (hopefully next month when I move into my new house).

Makes sense. Best of luck and dive safe!

 

[samnaz]

I could not agree with you more. I started a reef tank because I love the ocean, simple. Initially I wanted the ocean to be my coral restoration frag tank if you will... but being landlocked the only I can connect with the ocean is through a tank in my house.

Couldn't care less about trendy coral “fire” and all that. Many tanks these days look like psychedelic black light displays which is totally fine, just not my style. Nor is spending hundreds-thousands of dollars on a toxxxic fire neon rainbow coral.

I prefer the natural slice of a reef look. I’m certainly in the minority here.. But we ALL love the hobby and that’s what brings us together and makes it great. ;-)

ps welcome to R2R !!!!

 

[dimik]

It's all in the lighting, including what you see on real dives. Which is why a lot of dive photographers have some very expensive flash kits for their cameras & why a good under water torch is essential..

The blue light is cranked up on reef tanks to give that shock and awe vibe, but that light doesn't "add" colors to the coral, it just makes what they already have pop. You're right that what we see is mostly rustic colors under the ocean but there have been plenty dives where I've seen some very vivid pinks, blues, yellows etc.... Speaking as a Padi instructor with 1k+ dives all around the world.

 

[TaylorPilot]

I agree. When I scuba dive, I never see those colors, not even close. What I notice though is that underwater pictures look better than what I see with my own eyes. Colors are decent snorkeling but 20ft? 40? 60ft? forget it. That said... I think corals look much better (and fish) with our unnatural lights...

The problem is in the real world, all the color is filtered out of the water, so all you see is a flat shade of blue. The photos you are seeing are using flashes, so it adds back a full spectrum light to see all the colors. When I was into diving, they made torches (lights) that were designed to add the colors back so that you could see the cool colors. Apparently, now they even do it at night with great effect...

FULL ON FLUORESCENCE - DIVE Magazine

A guide to the wonderful world of fluo diving - what causes it, when was it discovered, why some marine animals go with the glow and where to see it

divemagazine.co.uk

 

[dimik]

The problem is in the real world, all the color is filtered out of the water, so all you see is a flat shade of blue. The photos you are seeing are using flashes, so it adds back a full spectrum light to see all the colors. When I was into diving, they made torches (lights) that were designed to add the colors back so that you could see the cool colors. Apparently, now they even do it at night with great effect...

FULL ON FLUORESCENCE - DIVE Magazine

A guide to the wonderful world of fluo diving - what causes it, when was it discovered, why some marine animals go with the glow and where to see it

divemagazine.co.uk

Correct. The color on corals is still there, it's just not visible because the color spectrum dissipates the deeper you go. Shine some good light on the coral and you'll see those fluorescent colors in the ocean.

 

[ReefHomieJon]

The blues is the spectrum that hits the corals In
n the ocean and that they utilize the most. It’s the focus in a tank for that reason. Not our Fault that it magnifies the fluorescence Of the corals and makes them pop in an artificial environment. I do t see the issue or even why you’re asking it. I mean get a tank and use halides if you want it to look realistic, or more bland. I mean but what’s the problem. We take things that are from nature for food, veggies and meat, add them together in a cooking vessel and create things that do t taste how they would on there own correct? Even that is taking things as they are naturally and being creative with flavors and techniques and making them different/better.....

 

[Andy Macro]

As an avid scuba diver, and someone who has pined for a reef tank for a long time, why is it that so many setups seem to look so.... fake? Day-glo corals and purple hues just make everything seem unrealistic. I'm sure that there are plenty of reefers who have tanks dedicated to keeping reef critters typical of particular underwater ecosystems, i.e. the Caribbean, but it seems all the tanks I come across on the web look like they came out of a cheesy, black light illuminated theme park ride and not the ocean. How do I create a reef environment that looks like a... reef environment?

Flame suit on!

i agree, that's why my tank has white light used for freshwater and I love the natural look to it

 

[Crustaceon]

Running that much blue is a tradeoff. Your corals will pop, but your fish coloration will look weird. I’d say halide or t5 is a good way to get a more natural look. I have led moonlights to get the unnatural coral pop for at least a few hours after the end of the light cycle because why not.

 

[Tamberav]

As an avid scuba diver, and someone who has pined for a reef tank for a long time, why is it that so many setups seem to look so.... fake? Day-glo corals and purple hues just make everything seem unrealistic. I'm sure that there are plenty of reefers who have tanks dedicated to keeping reef critters typical of particular underwater ecosystems, i.e. the Caribbean, but it seems all the tanks I come across on the web look like they came out of a cheesy, black light illuminated theme park ride and not the ocean. How do I create a reef environment that looks like a... reef environment?

Flame suit on!

Because you never offered to bring me scuba diving so how am I to know any better when I live in Wisconsin.

 

[ChineyRas]

I too have mine more blue ramp up and ramp down time but more white throughout the day. However, I have noticed that people who aren’t in the hobby are more drawn to, and interested in, the tank under the bluer light with the fluorescent colors.

 

[fcmatt]

Oh. Dont forget probably the main reason for the trend. The people who sell flashy coral take pics of 400 dollar frags under 25k light and everything is blue. The only way to "get your moneys worth" is to run at 20k plus.

But all these posts about diving and light penetration.. lol. I understand but that is not what happened over the last 15 years at all. It was the name game, pic taking, "pop", competition among reefers, status, etc.. monkey see, monkey do is what happened. Everyone wanted to emulate the money people.

My two cents. Keeping it real. Anyone who has been doing this and watching the trends on forums for 15 plus years knows this was the cause pretty much. Oh? U don't have tyree purple durple pink splash under 22k light? Hm. Well. That is an ok tank I guess.

This same pressure is still driving the trends. End of story. Only old schoolers and independent thinkers break away from the stereotype which is soooo common now days.

Want evidence? Go to the bottom of the main page and click on media. Scroll through 10 pages of pics. SO MUCH BLUE IT IS RIDONKULOUS

 

[naterealbig]

As an avid scuba diver, and someone who has pined for a reef tank for a long time, why is it that so many setups seem to look so.... fake? Day-glo corals and purple hues just make everything seem unrealistic. I'm sure that there are plenty of reefers who have tanks dedicated to keeping reef critters typical of particular underwater ecosystems, i.e. the Caribbean, but it seems all the tanks I come across on the web look like they came out of a cheesy, black light illuminated theme park ride and not the ocean. How do I create a reef environment that looks like a... reef environment?

Flame suit on!

Way to stir the pot on your first post. And, lots of us I think can appreciate your perception. Many people are talking coral species, ect, but the phenomenon you mention mostly has to do with lighting color temperature. Many posts reference bland corals, but just because you want a natural look, doesn't mean the tank has to be bland.

I've never been scuba diving, but I know the "look" you're talking about. Super-bright, white light with the glitter lines. I am shooting for this "sun-lit" look for my next reef, and I'm going with 400 watt 10k halides for the more natural appearance.

This being said, I (like many here). also like to see the fluorescent proteins that many corals exhibit. I am adding some blue LED to my halide setup so I can see these very cool, but "unnatural" colors when I want.

If you are gunning for the more natural look, simply buy lower Kelvin halides, or LED with higher white capability. Many have this, and you can achieve the specific look you are after.

Check out this thread for some good dialogue....

Anyone still prefer the 10K look, or even 6.5K? What's with all the windex colored tanks?

I think my absolute favorite were the Acqualine Bushke DE 10K's. I ran those in an Aquamedic Fixture for years, but they were hard to source so I switched to Ushio. Here's an old 180g I used to run with Ushio bulbs: Awesome tank! I love planted marine tanks. I think my absolute favorite...

www.reef2reef.com

Here is Fernando D'amora's tank lit with 10k halides...

Paolo Piccinelli's 340 g lit with 400w 10k

 

[Debramb]

Way to stir the pot on your first post. And, lots of us I think can appreciate your perception. Many people are talking coral species, ect, but the phenomenon you mention mostly has to do with lighting color temperature. Many posts reference bland corals, but just because you want a natural look, doesn't mean the tank has to be bland.

I've never been scuba diving, but I know the "look" you're talking about. Super-bright, white light with the glitter lines. I am shooting for this "sun-lit" look for my next reef, and I'm going with 400 watt 10k halides for the more natural appearance.

This being said, I (like many here). also like to see the fluorescent proteins that many corals exhibit. I am adding some blue LED to my halide setup so I can see these very cool, but "unnatural" colors when I want.

If you are gunning for the more natural look, simply buy lower Kelvin halides, or LED with higher white capability. Many have this, and you can achieve the specific look you are after.

Check out this thread for some good dialogue....

Anyone still prefer the 10K look, or even 6.5K? What's with all the windex colored tanks?

I think my absolute favorite were the Acqualine Bushke DE 10K's. I ran those in an Aquamedic Fixture for years, but they were hard to source so I switched to Ushio. Here's an old 180g I used to run with Ushio bulbs: Awesome tank! I love planted marine tanks. I think my absolute favorite...

www.reef2reef.com

Here is Fernando D'amora's tank lit with 10k halides...

Paolo Piccinelli's 340 g lit with 400w 10k

That’s beautiful! My fav look for a tank, oh I’m an old schooler from Buffalo who went to the auditorium for ocean movies at school!!

 

[hammet]

I would assume some particular types of corals need specific wavelengths of light but in general, am I correct in saying that the overall "color tone" of the tank is it just a personal preference?

 

[naterealbig]

I would assume some particular types of corals need specific wavelengths of light but in general, am I correct in saying that the overall "color tone" of the tank is it just a personal preference?

Yep

 

[Sump Crab]

As an avid scuba diver, and someone who has pined for a reef tank for a long time, why is it that so many setups seem to look so.... fake? Day-glo corals and purple hues just make everything seem unrealistic. I'm sure that there are plenty of reefers who have tanks dedicated to keeping reef critters typical of particular underwater ecosystems, i.e. the Caribbean, but it seems all the tanks I come across on the web look like they came out of a cheesy, black light illuminated theme park ride and not the ocean. How do I create a reef environment that looks like a... reef environment?

Flame suit on!

The new fad in reefing is exactly as you describe. A sterilized flourescent living art project. Its not for me either man.

I got into reefing to have a slice of the ocean in my house. If you want that then throw out at least 65% of the advice on this site.

Invest in some real liverock from the ocean, shipped in water or wet newspaper. This will be the foundation of your tank. Go with about 2" of sand. Invest in a nice skimmer and a nice light in the 14k range. Throw in a heater and you will be pretty good. Add critters slowly but surely. If possible add a refugium to complete your little self contained ecosystem. Good luck!

Ps I am hoping a trend in the hobby will be more people like you! Less psychedelic dead heads getting in just to flip $500 corals like a sack of weed lol.

 

[najer]

I would suggest a T5 / led hybrid, this is a touch yellow as I am down a pair of T5s due to a ballast issue.
I am not a fan of the blue look, this is the colour they are.