Naturally lit fish

[mort]

I'm considering a new tank that will hopefully be lit with mainly sunlight where possible and supplemental led when needed, which got me thinking what species look their best as nature intended?
Any one have some suggestion? I know some of the flashier species like flame angels still look similar with no extra pop but what about those commonly overlooked species who arent as flashy. I once had some kliens butterflies and chalk bass in a tank naturally lit when I worked in the shop and everyone wanted them as they looked stunning.

So basically looking for things that I might like to add and seeing how the tank develops around them.

 

[tdileo]

harlequin tusks look incredible in natural light.

 

[lake985]

My orange-back fairy wrasse stands out beautifully during the morning hours when a sliver of sun light pierces my tank. It's awesome to watch him glow as he swims through the beam of sun light. Wish I was capable of capturing a pic at that perfect moment.

 

[netdawg]

I have a flasher wrasse that looks good even when the lights are OFF! Assuming you're going FOWLR?

 

[Trev]

Dori blue tangs look awesone with natural light.

 

[lion king]

When I put full spectrum leds on my 210 fowlr, I was blown away by how fantastic everything looked compared to just blue and white leds. The full spectrum leds gave me too many unwanted consequences, so all of fowlrs are now blue and white only. The red and lower k whites in the full spectrum fed algae and cyano in my very high nutrient fowlr tanks. But you are going to see colors and markings on almost everything that you may not have otherwise seen with limited spectrum lighting. As great as some tangs and angels look under limited spectrum lighting, under natural light they will blow you away.

 

[Jesterrace]

Surprisingly my Coral Beauty Dwarf Angel looks great with the lights off, and nothing but some ambient light.

 

[mort]

I have a flasher wrasse that looks good even when the lights are OFF! Assuming you're going FOWLR?

It will be a full reef which is why I know I will need leds as well. To be fair I doubt the natural light will contribute massively but it should highlight and naturalise the look quite a bit. I already light my refugium in this way and haven't had nuisance algae problems, actually have problems with getting nutrient levels high enough..

 

[lion king]

It will be a full reef which is why I know I will need leds as well. To be fair I doubt the natural light will contribute massively but it should highlight and naturalise the look quite a bit. I already light my refugium in this way and haven't had nuisance algae problems, actually have problems with getting nutrient levels high enough..

You can find some naturally lit tanks on youtube. The ones I've seen with 100% natural light didn't look that great. I am not sure if the tanks were not getting enough light or intensity of light. Maybe leds in the evening for your enjoyment with the natural daylight during the day.

 

[MUSBFRANK]

Every naturally lit aquarium I've seen looked like crap, the corals, the fish, and even the tank itself, but that's just my opinion on the handful that I've seen versus artificial lighting which will bring out all the colors of a tanks inhabitants.