Colour balance in a Reef Tank

[Brianemone]

Alot of tanks have great colours and fantastic corals but still dont please the eye.

I remember someone posting a while ago about the guy over in italy that dosed human growth hormones and his tank had the most amazing colours i have ever seen, yet the general consensus was that it was a bit gawdy and not natural looking.

So how do you strike that magical balance, which colour should be dominant and in which form?

Personally im going to try and strike a more natural balance of colour and form. starting by eliminating some of the more radical colours in my tank (flouro's) and some corals that are of a colour that is already too predominant. (red surprisingly)

After i have moved i will be on the hunt for some natural forms and colours but would like some input as to what that would be

[Feelers]

Do people here try and match species to what would naturally occur on a reef? I dont know much about coral species - for example - are the species compliments of different areas pretty simliar or are there endemic local flavours. Ie - could you set up a Tonga reef tank , would it be different to a Fiji tank?

In freshwater tanks you can set up an Amazon tank ect - and this limits your options, however the plants tend to have the balance you are talking about.

Is this idea transferable to a reef tank? Or do the ocean currents make all the places the same?

[Brianemone]

most people will mix and match. the only biotope reef tank i have seen is Bombers tank

[lduncan]

most people will mix and match. the only biotope reef tank i have seen is Bombers tank

You might have a bit of trouble finding some of those corals though.

... or alternatively get in a bit of trouble if you ever find some of those corals.

Layton