Why does my tank look so blah...pics

ken123 · 02/07/2006, 05:13 PM

It's been going for over 4 months. Wife just said it looks grayish. It does look blah. Water parameters are good. Coraline is growing over lr and base rock. Any idea why?

BenH98 · 02/07/2006, 05:18 PM

put some corals or some other things to bring colors!

FEEDERFISH · 02/07/2006, 05:19 PM

It looks blah becasue you have nothing in there, wheres the corals..? Looks like you have MH lighting what K rating are your lights, maybe add some actinic and add some corals for Florescence

alphaferret · 02/07/2006, 05:20 PM

may want to change rock around- it looks a lil 1 dimensional- move some way up front and move some way back - create islands and bridges! - but i ditto the above statement too!

cwegescheide · 02/07/2006, 05:20 PM

I don't see ANY coraline on your rocks. FWIW my coraline isn't really taking off either and my tank is about 6 mos old. My rocks didn't have ANY coraline either so I "seeded" the tank with some coraline covered rock rubble and its slowly spreading.. Just make sure your salinty, ph, CA and alk are within the proper parameters and eventually it will come. Get a few pieces of rock that are totally covered in coraline and that should help.

ken123 · 02/07/2006, 05:39 PM

Light is an Outer Orbit 2x150w HQI & 2x130w PC. Believe it or not there is coraline starting to spread, but slowly. Ya can't see it much in the pics. Was going to order some zoas this week along with some green chromis. The pictures do make it look 1 dimensional. The pile on the left has caves and ledges but they are hard to see. The pile on the right has 3 pillars that the clowns call home. They swim & hide in the holes. It's just that the overall color of the rock looks dull. Was going to maybe order some BR from reeferrocks.

unsane · 02/07/2006, 05:59 PM

Get some ricordia, or some shrooms, zoos, acro, whatever but right now you have a FOWLR tank. It will look good with some new corals in there. a orange fungia plate might set the sand bed off nice.

shawn1965 · 02/07/2006, 06:04 PM

Try painting the back of the glass, I did my first tank blue and the second tank black. I perferred the black paint.

One Eyed Bunny · 02/07/2006, 06:15 PM

It takes patience for your live rock to really look "cool" depending on the type of live rock and if it was cured or not. Also, you could definately do with some landscaping like some other said above. You can definately do it. Just think of yourself as a fish and what you would enjoy to swim around, under and through.

ken123 · 02/07/2006, 06:18 PM

OK, will work on some shrooms, zoos etc. I was thinking if as part of the normal cycle that the rock has some sort of growth, algae, on it to give it it's current dull look or color. The rock started looking like this a few weeks ago.

chocolateblnt · 02/07/2006, 07:32 PM

Maybe it's partly your camera settings ... it seems like the white balance and light type is screwin' with the picture. Also that is why we might not be able to "see" the coraline you see :P

Physically it's bland because the rock setup ... partly due to the fact you have very oblong large rocks that seem better as base rock... however fill those wholes with some nice LR that has corals on it and Whammo! ... well it won't be like that but it will look much nicer

excuse me I have to go take my ritalin now

lfjewett · 02/07/2006, 07:36 PM

O'boy.. I hate critisizing others work expecially if they really like what they've done.. BUT you asked for it..

Your rocks really look like you droped them from the buck straight into the tank. Having the smaller rocks on the right discnnected from the main body completes the "dropped" look. This is not a recent picture of my tank but I think it underscores "one" method of aquascaping.

Basically I tried to keep all the rocks tied together, I tried to flow from low to high in a nice even slope. Other methods such as a rock wall or cave style can also look great. One scape I like the best ( but don't have the room for ) is 2 platos(spelling) with a center "channel". Anyway move them puppies around and get some colorfull coral in there and take another picture.. At least you don't have hair algea problem

ken123 · 02/07/2006, 08:17 PM

I spent so much time moving the rocks around and this was what I came up with. Have to scape with everyone out of the house or they think I'm nuts spending so much darn time moving the rocks around. It was frustrating just to get them how I have them now, thought they looked OK at the time, guess not. I have 60# of base hirocks and 50# of Dr Mac Tonga rock. Certainly looks like I need more. Maybe reeferrocks base next. Hate this rock scaping. Thanks for the opinions all. Anymore?

BurntOutReefer · 02/07/2006, 08:37 PM

looks ok to me.....albeit, I'd add some life...maybe a yellow Fiji leather, one frag of a Starburst polyp, some shrooms......maybe a Xenia......and a anenome for the clown...ime

viceversabrd · 02/07/2006, 08:57 PM

try some of the methods in the link below, I would reccomend getting no more rock, stick with what you got and see what you can do with it
http://www.reeferrocks.com/DIY/index.htm
viceversabrd

NoIdeaWhatToDo · 02/07/2006, 09:40 PM

I think you can aquascape however you like. Try adding a featherduster and some button polyps or something. Easy to care for and will add color.

dots · 02/07/2006, 10:18 PM

Add some coral.....and even after you add some it will take it a while to grow in and be camera friendly. I always think of mine as a work in progress as not to get too inpatient of having the tank I want NOW. There is no instant gratification in this hobby

dchao · 02/07/2006, 11:26 PM

Ken,

I don't understand, you have an overflow, so I presume you have a sump too, why don't you hide the skimmer in the sump?

For Coraline to grow, you also need to dose some calcium, (and seed it with some LR's covered with coraline too). You need a calcium test kit, and make sure calcium level is between 380-420. Coraline will grow everywhere even in the low light area too.

You will also need to test alkalinity too.

Brewen · 02/07/2006, 11:46 PM

Your tank looks fine you have nice rock placement JMO. As we all should do, slowly add corals and fish and build up our reef tanks. The reef was not built over night. You have a good light system pick your corals to fit the light are you looking for soft, leathers,LPS or SPS.
To others it might look plain but what does it look like in your eyes. The hobby is exciting enjoy it JMO. Brewen

capefear · 02/08/2006, 01:32 AM

i think you need some back round color on the back, black or midnight blue, not pet store blue.

sunfishh · 02/08/2006, 01:51 AM

Have you considered adding macro algae? This will definately add color to the tank.

phil5613 · 02/08/2006, 07:00 AM

Your rockscaping is fine its kinda the point of keeping a reef tank so you can design it the way you want. What are you adding to the tank as suppliments? With as much baserock as you had you will need to add some type of calcium or kalk or something to help the coraline along. Also what flow do you have in the tank Coraline starts in high flow areas first and spreads from there. I dust/clean the rock every few days with a turkey baster and that helps spread the coraline too. Adding rubble or a piece or 2 of good covered rock.

unsane · 02/08/2006, 05:50 PM

go to autozone and get some 5% tint. put it on the back you wont regret it. Dont paint it, if you dont like it you have a mess, just get the tint, you'll see. I keep telling everyone this and noone wants to listen, its the way to go for sure.

dhnguyen · 02/08/2006, 06:18 PM

My first thought. What a waste of MH lighting when there's no corals

Time to go shopping bud

D.

alphaferret · 02/08/2006, 06:25 PM

I love the car tint idea- have it on my freshy- works great!- also keeps outside light out of tank

02/07/2006, 05:13 PM	#1
ken123 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lakewood, New Jersey Posts: 874	Why does my tank look so blah...pics It's been going for over 4 months. Wife just said it looks grayish. It does look blah. Water parameters are good. Coraline is growing over lr and base rock. Any idea why? __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA, RemoraPro w/Mag3, Outer Orbit 2x150w HQI & 2x130w PC, sump (no fuge)

02/07/2006, 05:18 PM	#2
BenH98 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 515	put some corals or some other things to bring colors! __________________ Go KINGS!!! Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon

02/07/2006, 05:19 PM	#3
FEEDERFISH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Waupun, Wisconsin Posts: 1,060	It looks blah becasue you have nothing in there, wheres the corals..? Looks like you have MH lighting what K rating are your lights, maybe add some actinic and add some corals for Florescence __________________ --Roads?..... Where were going...... We don't need.......Roads --Doc. Brown Current Tank Info: Custom AO 30 Gal Starphire Display , 2x150DE Hamilton Reefstar - Reeflux 12k / XM 15K, IceCap 430 24" T5-UVL Super Actinic, Aqua C EV-180 w/ Mag 9.5, Closed Loop on a Panworld 40px, Return Mag 12

02/07/2006, 05:20 PM	#4
alphaferret Pitcher Hill Reef Society Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nor' Syracuse Posts: 2,824	may want to change rock around- it looks a lil 1 dimensional- move some way up front and move some way back - create islands and bridges! - but i ditto the above statement too! __________________ "With what little time we have we must..." Current Tank Info: 46 bow w/20 gal sump/30 gal. fuge/Reef Octo 150/Seio m620/koralia 3/mag5/Nova extreme t5/Powerbrite actinic LED

02/07/2006, 05:39 PM	#6
ken123 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lakewood, New Jersey Posts: 874	Light is an Outer Orbit 2x150w HQI & 2x130w PC. Believe it or not there is coraline starting to spread, but slowly. Ya can't see it much in the pics. Was going to order some zoas this week along with some green chromis. The pictures do make it look 1 dimensional. The pile on the left has caves and ledges but they are hard to see. The pile on the right has 3 pillars that the clowns call home. They swim & hide in the holes. It's just that the overall color of the rock looks dull. Was going to maybe order some BR from reeferrocks. __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA, RemoraPro w/Mag3, Outer Orbit 2x150w HQI & 2x130w PC, sump (no fuge)

02/07/2006, 05:20 PM	#5
cwegescheide YOU have been ignored! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 5,231	I don't see ANY coraline on your rocks. FWIW my coraline isn't really taking off either and my tank is about 6 mos old. My rocks didn't have ANY coraline either so I "seeded" the tank with some coraline covered rock rubble and its slowly spreading.. Just make sure your salinty, ph, CA and alk are within the proper parameters and eventually it will come. Get a few pieces of rock that are totally covered in coraline and that should help.

02/07/2006, 05:59 PM	#7
unsane Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 217	Get some ricordia, or some shrooms, zoos, acro, whatever but right now you have a FOWLR tank. It will look good with some new corals in there. a orange fungia plate might set the sand bed off nice.

02/07/2006, 06:04 PM	#8
shawn1965 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lakeland Posts: 50	Try painting the back of the glass, I did my first tank blue and the second tank black. I perferred the black paint.

02/07/2006, 06:15 PM	#9
One Eyed Bunny Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Poughquag, New York Posts: 143	It takes patience for your live rock to really look "cool" depending on the type of live rock and if it was cured or not. Also, you could definately do with some landscaping like some other said above. You can definately do it. Just think of yourself as a fish and what you would enjoy to swim around, under and through.

02/07/2006, 06:18 PM	#10
ken123 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lakewood, New Jersey Posts: 874	OK, will work on some shrooms, zoos etc. I was thinking if as part of the normal cycle that the rock has some sort of growth, algae, on it to give it it's current dull look or color. The rock started looking like this a few weeks ago. __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA, RemoraPro w/Mag3, Outer Orbit 2x150w HQI & 2x130w PC, sump (no fuge)

02/07/2006, 07:32 PM	#11
chocolateblnt Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sunnyvale, Nor*CAL Posts: 1,736	Maybe it's partly your camera settings ... it seems like the white balance and light type is screwin' with the picture. Also that is why we might not be able to "see" the coraline you see :P Physically it's bland because the rock setup ... partly due to the fact you have very oblong large rocks that seem better as base rock... however fill those wholes with some nice LR that has corals on it and Whammo! ... well it won't be like that but it will look much nicer excuse me I have to go take my ritalin now

02/07/2006, 07:36 PM	#12
lfjewett Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 275	O'boy.. I hate critisizing others work expecially if they really like what they've done.. BUT you asked for it.. Your rocks really look like you droped them from the buck straight into the tank. Having the smaller rocks on the right discnnected from the main body completes the "dropped" look. This is not a recent picture of my tank but I think it underscores "one" method of aquascaping. Basically I tried to keep all the rocks tied together, I tried to flow from low to high in a nice even slope. Other methods such as a rock wall or cave style can also look great. One scape I like the best ( but don't have the room for ) is 2 platos(spelling) with a center "channel". Anyway move them puppies around and get some colorfull coral in there and take another picture.. At least you don't have hair algea problem

02/07/2006, 08:17 PM	#13
ken123 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lakewood, New Jersey Posts: 874	I spent so much time moving the rocks around and this was what I came up with. Have to scape with everyone out of the house or they think I'm nuts spending so much darn time moving the rocks around. It was frustrating just to get them how I have them now, thought they looked OK at the time, guess not. I have 60# of base hirocks and 50# of Dr Mac Tonga rock. Certainly looks like I need more. Maybe reeferrocks base next. Hate this rock scaping. Thanks for the opinions all. Anymore? __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA, RemoraPro w/Mag3, Outer Orbit 2x150w HQI & 2x130w PC, sump (no fuge)

02/07/2006, 08:37 PM	#14
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	looks ok to me.....albeit, I'd add some life...maybe a yellow Fiji leather, one frag of a Starburst polyp, some shrooms......maybe a Xenia......and a anenome for the clown...ime

02/07/2006, 08:57 PM	#15
viceversabrd Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hamburg, NY Posts: 296	try some of the methods in the link below, I would reccomend getting no more rock, stick with what you got and see what you can do with it http://www.reeferrocks.com/DIY/index.htm viceversabrd __________________ 55 gal FOWLR, 260w pc's, 100 lbs. live rock Current Tank Info: FOWLR

02/07/2006, 09:40 PM	#16
NoIdeaWhatToDo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 68	I think you can aquascape however you like. Try adding a featherduster and some button polyps or something. Easy to care for and will add color.

02/07/2006, 10:18 PM	#17
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	Add some coral.....and even after you add some it will take it a while to grow in and be camera friendly. I always think of mine as a work in progress as not to get too inpatient of having the tank I want NOW. There is no instant gratification in this hobby __________________ ~Doug

02/07/2006, 11:26 PM	#18
dchao Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 910	Ken, I don't understand, you have an overflow, so I presume you have a sump too, why don't you hide the skimmer in the sump? For Coraline to grow, you also need to dose some calcium, (and seed it with some LR's covered with coraline too). You need a calcium test kit, and make sure calcium level is between 380-420. Coraline will grow everywhere even in the low light area too. You will also need to test alkalinity too.

02/07/2006, 11:46 PM	#19
Brewen Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Maria,CA Posts: 1,618	Your tank looks fine you have nice rock placement JMO. As we all should do, slowly add corals and fish and build up our reef tanks. The reef was not built over night. You have a good light system pick your corals to fit the light are you looking for soft, leathers,LPS or SPS. To others it might look plain but what does it look like in your eyes. The hobby is exciting enjoy it JMO. Brewen

02/08/2006, 01:32 AM	#20
capefear Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 263	i think you need some back round color on the back, black or midnight blue, not pet store blue.

02/08/2006, 01:51 AM	#21
sunfishh Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Fullerton, Ca Posts: 1,875	Have you considered adding macro algae? This will definately add color to the tank. __________________ It's nice to be important, but important to be nice

02/08/2006, 07:00 AM	#22
phil5613 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wheaton IL Posts: 428	Your rockscaping is fine its kinda the point of keeping a reef tank so you can design it the way you want. What are you adding to the tank as suppliments? With as much baserock as you had you will need to add some type of calcium or kalk or something to help the coraline along. Also what flow do you have in the tank Coraline starts in high flow areas first and spreads from there. I dust/clean the rock every few days with a turkey baster and that helps spread the coraline too. Adding rubble or a piece or 2 of good covered rock. __________________ Its always this way sometimes Current Tank Info: getting back into the addiction!

02/08/2006, 05:50 PM	#23
unsane Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 217	go to autozone and get some 5% tint. put it on the back you wont regret it. Dont paint it, if you dont like it you have a mess, just get the tint, you'll see. I keep telling everyone this and noone wants to listen, its the way to go for sure.

02/08/2006, 06:18 PM	#24
dhnguyen Moved On Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kingston, WA Posts: 4,751	My first thought. What a waste of MH lighting when there's no corals Time to go shopping bud D.

02/08/2006, 06:25 PM	#25
alphaferret Pitcher Hill Reef Society Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nor' Syracuse Posts: 2,824	I love the car tint idea- have it on my freshy- works great!- also keeps outside light out of tank __________________ "With what little time we have we must..." Current Tank Info: 46 bow w/20 gal sump/30 gal. fuge/Reef Octo 150/Seio m620/koralia 3/mag5/Nova extreme t5/Powerbrite actinic LED