RATE YOUR REEF: is it beautiful or interesting?

[Livewreck]

Maybe we can have some fun here, but there is a serious side to this thread. Recognition is given to “beautiful” marine aquariums (e.g., “Tank of the Month”) but not to the many, many “interesting” reef tanks that are simply fascinating to look at, even with their brown corals, patches of algae, etc..

 

I've seen gorgeous nano reefs and I've seen interesting nano reefs. And while many gorgeous nano reefs are also interesting, some of the less-than-beautiful reef aquariums I've seen are actually more fascinating than those with magnificent looking corals and a host of exotic fish. I guess it's the difference between a carefully tended garden and a field of wildflowers. One is not "better" than the other... just different.

 

So how would you rate your reef? Is it primarily interesting? Or is it primarily beautiful? It's your call. Even if your tank is gorgeous, you can still rank it as primarily interesting. No cop-outs, please. You have to supply one FTS and one rating. "Both beautiful and interesting" isn't a choice. It will be helpful to state the size of your nano reef.

 

As time goes on, I'll keep a list under each of the two categories with a link to your FTS. If you update your FTS as your nano matures, I'll link the first and last FTS you submit. (Note: those choosing both interesting and beautiful will not be included in either list).

 

I'll start the ball rolling. Here is my beautiful 10g nano reef. It's pretty to look at, but so far, it's not all that interesting.

 

 

(List updated on 4/15/2015, 14:20 EST)

 

Beautiful (5) Interesting (6)

 

cchsoracle (reef tank) vlangel

reefporn righttirefire

ml86743 skyscraper2290

k4ndyk1ng pp90

Azedenkae

cchsoracle (jar)

[vlangel]

Since it's not beautiful I am hoping that it at least qualifies for interesting! LOL It's a 30g XH seahorse fuge tank.

[righttirefire]

FTS 041015

I feel INTERESTING is the better qualification of my reef.

[D Z]

Hmmm, not sure which way to go here....I guess if I have to choose, I choose beautiful.

20150412_225847 by cchsoracle, on Flickr

[skyscraper2290]

This isn't my most current FTS but a pretty recent one, I would say my tank is interesting as it is my first SW tank and I have a variety of corals in there. Corals were not planned out a lot which is something I think would be needed to have a beautiful tank. PicO III 18"x18"x16" approx. 20 gallons.

 

[Livewreck]

You guys are great. Thanks for playing along. All entries so far are winners in my book!

 

I'll start a list of links when I get home this evening.

[Arson]

A great idea for a thread

[righttirefire]

Lol... my tank looks so bare without anything attached to the rocks. There are a lot of beautiful tanks on this site. How about friendly nudge to get some more volunteers

[Reefporn]

I feel like my tank was more interesting in the beginning and has become less interesting but more beautiful as it has matured, so I'm gonna go with beautiful.

How do you guys get your photos to show up larger?

[skyscraper2290]

I feel like my tank was more interesting in the beginning and has become less interesting but more beautiful as it has matured, so I'm gonna go with beautiful.image.jpg

How do you guys get your photos to show up larger?

 

Best way I have found is to upload to photobucket and then copy and paste the image link into your post

[righttirefire]

That's how I do it. Photo bucket copy image

[pp90]

 

Definitely interesting lol, I will get to beautiful one day!

[ml86743]

Im gonna go with beautiful...Only because I think every tank has its own brilliance!

IMG_0243 by tduplaga12, on Flickr

[Azedenkae]

 

I am sure mine's not beautiful, so let's go with interesting instead.

[vlangel]

I feel like my tank was more interesting in the beginning and has become less interesting but more beautiful as it has matured, so I'm gonna go with beautiful.image.jpg

How do you guys get your photos to show up larger?

I think you are on to something with our tanks starting out as interesting and becoming beautiful. When I set up a tank I can't wait for all the coral or macro algae to grow so that it looks full and mature. However, there is so much promise, mystery and excitement when the tank is a 'blank canvas' so to speak. It is interesting seeing the foundation of a new tank with the aquascape and such.

[Livewreck]

I think you are on to something with our tanks starting out as interesting and becoming beautiful. When I set up a tank I can't wait for all the coral or macro algae to grow so that it looks full and mature. However, there is so much promise, mystery and excitement when the tank is a 'blank canvas' so to speak. It is interesting seeing the foundation of a new tank with the aquascape and such.

 

Well put, vlangel.

 

There is a serious side to this thread. Recognition is given to “beautiful” marine aquariums (e.g., “Tank of the Month”) but not to the many, many “interesting” reef tanks that are simply fascinating to look at, even with their brown corals, patches of algae, etc.. Those of you who scuba dive on reefs know that many of them, while spellbinding, are not populated with brightly colored corals.

 

I'll update the list later today.

[k4ndyk1ng]

I think mine is beautiful, but it isnt as nice as most tank on here

im more impressed with my coral growth, my acro is 50% bigger in 3 months :0

[D Z]

Well, I submitted my larger tank as a "beautiful" tank, so I figured I might as well submit my jarquarium, which is definitely in the "interesting" category.

2015-03-26_10-36-23 by cchsoracle, on Flickr