Bland Looking Tank?

[cm11599ps]

My brother started a 46 gallon reef about 1.5 years ago. He has a painted black background and a lot of black in his substrate. He has a 4 bulb t5 with a purple, blue and 2 whites. I don't know what brand but I know they are not ati or kz.

I started my 55 a year ago white white aroganite and dark blue background. I've also for a t5 with a kz purple, ati blue and two ati whites.

My tank looks bright and colorful. His tank looks drab. We have many of the same coral and they pop in my tank. His, not so much. Theres just not that color definition in his tank. Everything kind of looks similar.

Do you think the bulbs gave anything to do with it? Do you think it has something to do with the black background and black in his substrate?

 

[cm11599ps]

Anyone

 

[llewoh05]

i think pictures and water params of each tank would be alittle more helpful.

 

[asonitez]

Well to be totally honest I have seen quite a few black backgrounds make corals pop but the lighting in the tanks always seem dimmer than they really are. This is mostly because the black background absorbs light and does not reflect it back. I have always loved black backgrounds but I do find my self settling for a slightly darker looking tank. I find over time that the background will eventally get coraline covered and the bright purple makes the tanks a little better.

As far as the bulbs i think hey can very well be the culprit. Really good T-5 bulbs from the ATI or KZ or even Geissman and WAVE cause a lot of corals to flouresce. Try changing his bulbs to 1 or 2 of yours and see if it makes a difference in the coral "pop"