confused

[jamest0o0]

Well I have a bunch of zoa frags in my tank and they all seem to be doing good, but the one thing I noticed is they don't seem to have near the color as some of the pics I see on here. I currently just have PC's and the only food they get is what floats around when I feed my fish. what can I do to improve the color? I know my one pink zoanthid improved in color a lot after about 2 months from when I got it at the LFS.

thanks!

[JonK]

Having used VHO lighting, PC lighting and currently MH lighting. I can say from my experience that PC lighting didn't give me the kind of coloration I got from VHO and MH.

[fishnfool]

I think most of the pics you see are taken under MH/actinic combos or some T5 configuration. I had PC's as well and never got the color seen in many pictures.

[ficklefins]

I have gone from PC -> MH -> T5 and I will admit that MH was by far my favorite light fixture, followed closely by T5. PC lights will keep zoas alive and growing but they will not be able to give you color definition like higher light fixtures will.

Picture Example:
PC Lights:
Eye of Rah
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/47280nips-med.jpg

MH Lights:
Eye of Rah
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d168/ficklefins/eyeofrah.jpg

So, to answer your question: Lights can play a big role in what a zoanthid/paly looks like.

Good luck!

[fishnfool]

ficklefins, if you don't mind me asking what MH bulb are you using? Sorry jamest0o0, no intent to hijack this thread

[killingseed]

cheep lighting , cheep color. had pc's and there is nothing like what i view now with MH and t5's. good lighting great colors.

[Reefman79]

This is true lighting is a big factor in good looking zoas...

[killingseed]

yellowish ones on the left under PC's and no's t12's
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/IMGA0442.jpg

some rock some yellow zoa's under MH and t5 mix.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/yellowzoa2.jpg

[Reefman79]

Omg god Jhon the zoas that got lost in the Mail why man your killing me !!!

[jamest0o0]

that's it, I NEED MH's!!!! very nice zoas!!! thanks everyone!

[capture]

now im really excited! my MH fixture is coming today or tomorrow.
Do most of you supplement your MH fixtures with actinics of some sort?

[Skeptic_07]

photoshop helps alot too. many people play with the color levels to achieve nicer and clearer photos

[650-IS350]

there nothing wrong with photoshop as long as its used to achieve the real life look of the actual coral and not over accentuate it from the original look and looking much better than what it really is. But still it looks nice especially the yellows.

I'm almost done with my 37cube with a 250mh 14K phoenix and 4 T5s ( fiji purple, 420, 460 and 3500K Red )

[Skeptic_07]

Oh yeah no, I wasnt trying to say theres something wrong with photoshop.

It can be used to mis-represent actual colors and thats no good but in reality most of the pictures taken could use a little photoshoppng to make the polyps look more like what they look like in real life.

[650-IS350]

Understood.

[.::Jun77::.]

hi james,

here are some pics taken from my tank with PC's. using a regular canon (point and shoot), and no photoshop.



http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc131/junedelle/reeftank/msg%20board/swap003-1.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc131/junedelle/reeftank/msg%20board/aprilI-1.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc131/junedelle/reeftank/msg%20board/march52-1.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc131/junedelle/reeftank/msg%20board/march50-1.jpg

my advise is to observe and know your zoas, look for the right placement, where theyre happy, observe for the flow rate they like, check the parameters, clear the water. love them and take good care of your corals and theyll give you colors!

happy reefing!

jun

[.::Jun77::.]

these two tank is my inspiration and favorite among all TOTM. check out their lighting, and the pictures are the awesome.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-08/totm/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/totm/index.php

[Reefman79]

Jun77 those 2 Zoa tanks are sweet !!!

[hk855]

Those are 2 sweet tanks, currently in need of upgrading my lighting myself.

[goldmaniac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12397737#post12397737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ficklefins
I have gone from PC -> MH -> T5 and I will admit that MH was by far my favorite light fixture, followed closely by T5. PC lights will keep zoas alive and growing but they will not be able to give you color definition like higher light fixtures will.

Picture Example:
PC Lights:
Eye of Rah
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/47280nips-med.jpg

MH Lights:
Eye of Rah
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d168/ficklefins/eyeofrah.jpg

So, to answer your question: Lights can play a big role in what a zoanthid/paly looks like.

Good luck!

FICKLEFINS, I have to ask as well: what lighting and depth are you keeping your Eye of Rah's? I have some and they've turned drab green on me.

I'm currently with 150w HQI Phoenix 14k's and a couple 92w CF acitinics

Thanks, G.