How do they do it?

[Damayn]

Hey, so I got a couple of rice off DD last weekend, but they don't look anywhere near as bright blue as the Divers Den pictures. Now I totally understand that lighting is probably the main factor, but what kind of lights would I have to use to get the same electric blues?
I've attached pics of the dd corals versus how I see them.

Edit: sorry the in-tank photos are sideways

 

[grant778]

I got a blueberry ricordea about a month ago, it was WYSIWYG as well, not from live aquaria though, and in the photo it was an incredibly bright blue. I received it in excellent condition and it is a wonderful piece with nice coloration, but not as blue as the photo. I think you will find online that its not so much lighting is the main factor in the difference, but more so photoshop. Yours looks particularly brown though compared to the photo. Perhaps stress from shipping, but if it doesn't perk up in a few days I would increase lighting intensity or move the coral up. What kind of lights do you have now?

 

[Damayn]

I kinda snapped those photos on the fly (The first one in the photo is eating and the second one had just finished) but both of them are opening up to their full size and responding well to food, so I don't think they are too stressed out (although the second one just fell off his frag plug http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2443240
so its being weird)

My lighting is a marine land LED double bright. I'm assuming the corals look browner because the white lights are only 6000K lights combined with actinics. But I'm still pretty surprised at just how different the pics are, especially since under just actinics, they arent even as bright.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

Hmmm. I don't know about them turning brown because of shipping. I ordered from Coralmorphilogic when they were in business, and the shrooms came through shipping looking vibrant.

But I would not give up on these shrooms. They may yet color up for you. But they sure look unhappy right now. :sad2:
Good Luck

 

[triggreef]

I'm pretty sure that light is crap. It uses those .2w Led's and just barely breaks the surface of the water. Seriously I'm not dis- ing your choice in light but its no good for even lower light corals. Just trying to help you out. I use it on one of my sumps (cuz I got a free one) and it barely grows macro algae. I know the pet stores market these things to no end. I dont know why though.

I also have a par meter and although its been a while, I think I only got a reading of like 60 just under the surface with the light just over the surface. And it drastically went down to nothing. Maybe like 5 at the bottom of my 55g sump.

 

[Damayn]

I'm pretty sure that light is crap. It uses those .2w Led's and just barely breaks the surface of the water. Seriously I'm not dis- ing your choice in light but its no good for even lower light corals. Just trying to help you out. I use it on one of my sumps (cuz I got a free one) and it barely grows macro algae. I know the pet stores market these things to no end. I dont know why though.

I also have a par meter and although its been a while, I think I only got a reading of like 60 just under the surface with the light just over the surface. And it drastically went down to nothing. Maybe like 5 at the bottom of my 55g sump.

Haha I totally get it, plus it explains why they aren't really that expensive. My system is a 20H, what fixtures and bulbs would you guys recommend to bring out blues in corals while not totally dampening the entire tank in blue?

also, heres another pic of the ric that was eating. Its fully opened, so I assume its not that stressed. let me know if I'm wrong.

 

[Fish Ed]

Good lighting and...ehrm...photoshop.

 

[zn00py]

liveaquaria runs 20,000k metal halides for those photos


I believe 10,000k start off with blue tints

Both fixtures below start around 115 bucks.Those would be fine for mushrooms,zoas

Marineland Reef Capable LED Lighting System w/Timer

AquaticLife EDGE LED Fixtures

 

[triggreef]

Haha I totally get it, plus it explains why they aren't really that expensive. My system is a 20H, what fixtures and bulbs would you guys recommend to bring out blues in corals while not totally dampening the entire tank in blue?

I like these 165w or 300w fixtures on eBay. I have one on my 20h frag tank. can be had for about $80. Make sure it's the one that looks identical to reef breeder. There is another version where the leds are closer together & a bit different shape I can't vouch for that one.

 

[moulton712]

+1 on the ebay fixtures, plus yes get the full spectrum one that looks like reef breeders.

 

[c.rob]

I have bought from Vivid and they use 20k for thier tanks as well as DD. My 14k is spot on with thier web site pics on all except one frag. Need alot of actinic to get them to pop. I need more actinic for some corals but then my yellow tang starts to look funny.

 

[Calappidae]

+1 on the ebay fixtures, plus yes get the full spectrum one that looks like reef breeders.

-1 on Ebay fixtures.. bought 4 evergrows for $500 and they all lasted 6 months, brand new in packaging and all. Looks EXACTLY like reefbreeders.

Don't buy what "looks" like reef breeders.. buy what IS reefbreeders..

Also take note that images can sometimes look even brighter cause of the camera flash sometimes. One time I ordered a flowerpot coral that was bright red.. like glows red. Put it in my tank under Reefbreeders, was a dull deep red.. like blood almost and you couldn't see the darn thing in daylights or atinics.. or both.

WYSINWYAG (What You See Is Not What You Always Get )

But yeah.. alot of my corals never "glowed" until I actually used a good LED system. You'd be surprised how ugley the most beautiful coral you seen at the lfs could look in your tank under your current lighting.

Both fixtures below start around 115 bucks.Those would be fine for mushrooms,zoas

Marineland Reef Capable LED Lighting System w/Timer

AquaticLife EDGE LED Fixtures

TBH, the "reef capable" part of that LED is rather a joke, it has the spectrum to make them glow.. but that's about it, doesn't supply them with enough light, just not enough output.

The fluval and aquaticlife fixtures are the same, they actually have the right spectrum but the issue is there is not enough power in them to reach the appropriate PAR half way through the tank.

Ricordae does need some higher lighting than regular shrooms as well.

 

[philosophile]

A kessil a150 would be a good light, just make sure it's the bluer light. The a350s are better but more expensive. If you're looking for something cheaper, get a t5 that will fit your tank.

 

[Damayn]

Does this seem like an adequate fixture?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13822+23590&pcatid=23590

 

[philosophile]

I actually used that brand on my first tank. It worked fine for me.

 

[organism]

Does this seem like an adequate fixture?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13822+23590&pcatid=23590

No, that's moving backwards instead.

You get what you pay for on eBay so I'd be careful there, and you get what you super-overpay for with the usual hobby lights. My recommendation would be to build a DIY fixture which is a great way to get a cheap light, or stop considering lights based only on their lower price and get something that works for corals.

 

[Greyson]

t5 will give you the best color and growth IMO ... however anything around 15k spectrum will make any coral look good.

 

[JoelA7]

The LA site says they use 20k kelvin color temp for their photos. My canon 60D only programs up to 10k!!

Otoh my Radions on full blue approximate 20k though off the top of my head not sure how dead on that is.

So if you want the big blue get a fixture with at least a 14,000 kelvin or higher ability.

 

[joshky]

I seriously doubt DD uses photoshop on anything. I can't say much about other online vendors, but DD is by far one of the best there is for WYSIWYG. FWIW I've seen florida rics just like those photos in person, it's not photoshop. This time I think people are right and it's your lights.