"Coloring-Up"

[Malenurse]

I've only been collecting zoas for about six months so I have a lot to learn. I've bought a wide variety of zoas/palys for my Aquapod 12, but none of them have the bright, intense colors that they do in the photos. I've tried the stock 14K JBL bulb in my Viper 150w clip-on fixture and a 20K Hamilton, but my zoas still look pale and washed-out, despite being healthy and multiplying. I've read in some posts about zoas taking time to "color-up." Do I just need to be patient or do I need a different bulb? It seems like the Phoenix 14K is a popular choice for coloration, but I hate to spend another $60 for a bulb if it isn't going to make a definite difference.
Chris

 

[killingseed]

differnt lights will show them differently. they might have been running some super actinics when they took the pictures. actinics can make the color stand out. depanding on how long you have had them you migh just need to give them time still. i have goten some in that took a couple months to colorup.
and then there is photo shop, images can be edited to add color, its a down side but happens.

the Viper is a good light and 20k is a good bulb. do you have pictures?

 

[Malenurse]

As requested, here some photos (as you can see, my photography skills are very poor!):

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As you can see, the Eagle Eyes (right), Sunburst (middle), and Tubs Blue (left) aren't vibrant at all.

 

[killingseed]

it all looks good to me. at most you could use a nice super actinic and it will bring them out even more. one reason i went with the 175mh 15k and t5 for actinic. it allowed me to add some super uv bulb's make some color stand out a lot more. nothing like those bulb's i have them in t12 , VHO and now t5's. i havent tried any other mh bulb's but will in time.

 

[aquarius77]

I see your sps are doing well so i assume the water quality and stability are in good order and thats not an issue.
The Giessemann Megachrome blue 150w hqi made my stuff pop the min i turned it on, i did not have atinics. I see you dont have atinics and would have to retro something on there most likely wich could be a pain. No bulb will take drab zoos and make them super bright but some can bring out the colors and accent them. If you really want the corals you have already got to show colors you have never seen in them i would go for some atinic additons before the new bulb. Without atinics i would try the Gmann.

 

[650-IS350]

attinic supplements do help.

 

[grouper25]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11270260#post11270260 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquarius77
I see your sps are doing well so i assume the water quality and stability are in good order and thats not an issue.
The Giessemann Megachrome blue 150w hqi made my stuff pop the min i turned it on, i did not have atinics. I see you dont have atinics and would have to retro something on there most likely wich could be a pain. No bulb will take drab zoos and make them super bright but some can bring out the colors and accent them. If you really want the corals you have already got to show colors you have never seen in them i would go for some atinic additons before the new bulb. Without atinics i would try the Gmann.

Would this bulb work in a Sunpod 150 watt fixure which only has moonlights but no flourecent bulbs. Would suspect the tank would look deep blue all the time???????

 

[aquarius77]

Besides the name it is actually a beautiful white light with crisp hints of blue.

Thats the fixture i run it in...


This is a picture taken just a few nights ago, same light its just on my fuge now. keep in mind this tank is painted blue so dont look at the walls for a reference.

 

[aquarius77]

Heres a better look at it.

 

[TONY DELBRIDGE]

My last tank was a 24gal JBJ nano. I had the 70watt sunpod. The colors looked ok and they thrived, but I then went with a Current 24 inch fixture with a 150 watt MH (10k) and 2 colors of T5's. When the actinics only, WOW how the colors looked much better !! The 10K MH was too white for me, so I changed to a 15K and the colors were more pronounced. Nothing beats the actinics though. I even swapped out the white moon lights with blue moons. I have a total of 6 blue moons now. This effect is cool also.. I now have a 30 gal tank with refugium.

 

[Malenurse]

Aquarius 77 - Is the Geissman Megachrome Blue 150w a 20K?
Where did you order it from?

 

[aquarius77]

I got it at marine depot. Its referd to as a 20k i belive, i also read somehwere it was 23k.

 

[aquarius77]

heres the bulb.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~MB2815.html

 

[Malenurse]

Thanks, Kevin. The price is a bit steep, but I've been "chasing" zoo coloration with 3 bulbs already and have ordered a fourth (Ebay). Your photos say it all. If this one doesn't do the job, I'll stop eating for awhile and order the Geisemann!