Are tanks only clean after water change?

[albertski]

(when I had my tank) After I did a water change / clean my tank, everything (sand bed, rocks, etc.) looks great. But within a couple of days, the sand bed starts looking dirty again and I see algae popping up again. The tank just doesn’t look as nice.

When I look at photos and videos online, the tanks always look super clean and pristine. So I’m wondering:

• Are most of those shots taken right after a cleaning?
• Or do experienced reefers actually keep their tanks looking that clean all the time?

Trying to figure out what’s realistic vs. what’s just perfect timing for photos.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Definitely dosen't look like that all the time.

When the tank matures and you have the right clean up crew you can keep it looking fairly good most of the time.

But if you see something online generally they have just cleaned the tank. Sometimes they take out wavemakers etc for the photo

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am sure that most folks posting pictures are trying to show the best way the tank can look. Like combing your hair before a portrait photo.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Personally I would say that tank maturity, good flow, and overall good husbandry will keep a tank looking clean. The glass on my tanks is the only thing that looks dirty, otherwise my tanks look the same before an after a water change.

 

[jackintheboxfish]

Reminds me of this meme

 

[exnisstech]

Once upon a time there was a saying "seeing is believing" . Unfortunately that is no longer true

 

[Ann Enomy]

I would say yes and no. If I keep up on Regular water changes and dosing of Diatom/Phyto cultures things will stay pretty good between cleanings. But this is not a set and forget hobby. Good habits will produce good results. Also if you look close enough every tank has a little something going on. A little patch of GHA that a crab/tang seems to ignore on purpose, a little patch of something on the sand but when viewed as a whole you wouldn't notice.

 

[CHSUB]

I clean the glass daily, WC weekly, socks twice a week, and remove unwanted stuff whenever it appears….so my tank looks great all the time, however it requires effort!

Picture just now!

 

[albertski]

I clean the glass daily, WC weekly, socks twice a week, and remove unwanted stuff whenever it appears….so my tank looks great all the time, however it requires effort!

Picture just now!

I used to use a mitten and cleaned up the algae between the glass and sand. Is this something that can be prevented?

 

[Reefer Matt]

Many photos and videos on social media are for marketing. Just like those hamburger commercials from McDonald’s etc. Influencers rarely show the realistic side because they think it will devalue their notoriety.

 

[CHSUB]

I used to use a mitten and cleaned up the algae between the glass and sand. Is this something that can be prevented?

I don’t clean there. So guess I’m not quite perfectly clean…lol!