Thanks, guys! Now I'm going to just wait for the stargrass to start growing a bit more--giving more height back to the left side and covering up the filter and heater. This will also cover up the back of the tank some more.
I think the same goes for reeftanks. Most people go for the black or blue, thinking it looks more natural...but you never get that gradient of light or color tone like you see in the ocean or even most pictures. Granted, so much of the back usually ends up cover with rock, frags, or coralline that you rarely notice it, but I think a tank with a more open aquascaping could really benefit from a more thought-out background. If it's mimicking shallow water, why not go with a much lighter color of blue? More along a washed-out turquoise color? To be honest, what I've noticed in snorkeling and diving is that the substrate tends to affect your perception of the water and horizon, so I think reefs replicating really shallow areas could benefit from even a tank colored background as it gives the eye the impression that the substrate continues on past what you see. Anyway, I've seen a lot of tanks with no background that are just a few inches away from a white wall, and the gradient of light that changes down the back gives a VERY realistic impression of a natural reef, IMO. Also, I think using black starboard can do the same for the substrate--having less of a separation in appearance and color provides a more gradual movement from the rock and substrate. Rather than looking at the obligatory isolated bommie on some sand, you subliminally assume you're just looking at a spot on a larger reef structure.
I have thought about putting the original light strip over the tank with some DIY curly PC's from Home Depot, but I haven't. I would really like to get a halide effect over the tank with some ripples and glitter lines to simulate the stream effect a bit more, but we'll see what happens. But, if I did decide to go halide, it would probably end up over a reef far sooner than this.
The bulbs are just Phillips daylight, full spectrum, I think around 6500K. Anything less (as you know) tends to be too yellow for my eye, even if it's okay for plant growth.
No, it's actually right up against that wall--it's the only place in the office where there was room. To be honest, the solid black and royal blue backgrounds so often used (IMO) tend to actually works against simulating depth rather than for it...and they just don't look natural. I think a properly designed absence of a background does for more to give the impression of depth and causes a person to unconsciously ignore the background. The problem is that my office used to be a childrens' nursery...hence the wallpaper. But hopefully later in the spring or summer I'll be taking it down and painting the walls...and I think I've found a color that will actually look a bit more natural.
I think the same goes for reeftanks. Most people go for the black or blue, thinking it looks more natural...but you never get that gradient of light or color tone like you see in the ocean or even most pictures. Granted, so much of the back usually ends up cover with rock, frags, or coralline that you rarely notice it, but I think a tank with a more open aquascaping could really benefit from a more thought-out background. If it's mimicking shallow water, why not go with a much lighter color of blue? More along a washed-out turquoise color? To be honest, what I've noticed in snorkeling and diving is that the substrate tends to affect your perception of the water and horizon, so I think reefs replicating really shallow areas could benefit from even a tank colored background as it gives the eye the impression that the substrate continues on past what you see. Anyway, I've seen a lot of tanks with no background that are just a few inches away from a white wall, and the gradient of light that changes down the back gives a VERY realistic impression of a natural reef, IMO. Also, I think using black starboard can do the same for the substrate--having less of a separation in appearance and color provides a more gradual movement from the rock and substrate. Rather than looking at the obligatory isolated bommie on some sand, you subliminally assume you're just looking at a spot on a larger reef structure.
It's a 4' shoplight, solely because I can't afford PC's or halides to put over the tank. It hangs over both ends about 6", but I just ignore it.
I have thought about putting the original light strip over the tank with some DIY curly PC's from Home Depot, but I haven't. I would really like to get a halide effect over the tank with some ripples and glitter lines to simulate the stream effect a bit more, but we'll see what happens. But, if I did decide to go halide, it would probably end up over a reef far sooner than this.The bulbs are just Phillips daylight, full spectrum, I think around 6500K. Anything less (as you know) tends to be too yellow for my eye, even if it's okay for plant growth.
